#rowaelin family fic

[leiawritesstories]

A Memory of Your Love

Rowaelin Month, Day 19: Telling the kids about their tattoos

Word count: 1.8k

Warnings: none, it's sappy melty fluffy goodness (i swear)

Enjoy!

@rowaelinscourt

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

“Mama.” The small voice was accompanied by a series of rapid knocks on Aelin’s partially-open office door. “Are you very busy, Mama? Da said you’d be busy.” 

Aelin set down her quill and turned away from her desk, finding her second child, her son, poking his head through the crack in her door. “No, my boy, I’m not busy.” She stood, digging one hand into the small of her back–gods, sitting down for too long was terrible for her spine–walked over, and opened the door. “Come in, Bran. What do you need?” 

Bran–Prince Brannon Whitethorn Galathynius–shuffled into the office, uncharacteristically quiet and shy. Normally, he was the most vivacious of the royal children, always with a laugh on his lips and a prank brewing in his mischievous mind. He got that from his mother. “I want to practice with the knives,” he said slowly, haltingly. 

Aelin nodded. “And do you need someone to go with you?”

Sheepishly, he nodded. “Yeah. Da said I can’t be there alone, not yet.” 

“Not yet,” she agreed. “When you’re a little more comfortable with the blade work, or maybe when you’re a little older, then you can go alone. Just not yet.” 

He frowned. “Why not? All the other boys my age go out into the yard by themselves.” 

“Ah, but they’re with each other, no?” 

“Uh…yeeeeees?” 

“That’s right, my son.” Aelin cracked a grin at her son’s slight flush. “You’re welcome to train with them, you know.” 

“Don’t want to,” he mumbled. “I’m not good enough.” 

“Now that’s just horseshit,” she scoffed. 

In her mind, Rowan flinched. Fireheart!

What? she snarked. You know he’s heard worse from those hulking brutes you call friends. “Bran, you are good enough. They aren’t going to make fun of you.” She ruffled his hair affectionately. “Yes, I’ll go practice with you.” She winked. “Anything to sneak away from the boring paperwork.”

That made him snicker. “Are you going to make Da do the paperwork, then?” 

“Maybe.” She led him out of her office and down towards the training yard. “It’s good for him to pretend like he has responsibilities every once in a while.” 

I heard that.

I know. She blew her grumpy buzzard an invisible kiss. 

Bran was at the door to the training yard. “Come on, Mama!”

“Just a minute,” she laughed. “I can’t train in this dress, it’s too frilly.” She ducked into a side room and changed into a loose, comfortable tunic and pants. “All right, I’m ready.”

“Come on!” Bran pushed open the door and bounded out into the training yard, running for the fenced-off area used for knifeplay. “I beat you, Mama!” 

“You did,” she laughed, catching up with him. “I must be getting old.” 

~

For a good hour, she sparred against her son, working with him on his form and his technique, especially taking a chunk of time to show him how to throw a knife. Bran had been wanting to learn that skill for a while, and she decided he was ready, no matter what his overprotective father and uncles thought. 

Bran drew a deep breath, locked his turquoise eyes on the target, exhaled, and released the knife. It sliced through the air and embedded itself in the ring just outside the bulls-eye. “I did it!” he screeched, jumping up and down in thrilled excitement. “I did it, Mama!” 

“You certainly did,” she praised. “I don’t think I could have done any better.” 

He beamed. “Dare you, Mama!” 

“Oh do you, now?” Challenge sparked in her bright eyes. “Stand back, B. I don’t want to hurt you.” She took her mark on the chalked line, inhaled, locked her eyes on her target, tipped her arm back, and launched her blade. Her tunic slipped, partially exposing her shoulder–perils of wearing her mate’s clothing rather than her own–but her knife flew straight down its intended path and buried itself right next to Bran’s knife with a thunk. “How’s that, Your Highness?” she teased. 

Bran sprinted over to check the target and came back with the biggest, brightest smile plastered all over his face. “Mine was closer!” 

“No!” Aelin exclaimed in contrived shock. “I really am losing my touch!” She grinned down at her son. “Congratulations, Bran, you’ve just out-thrown your queen.” 

His attention flicked from the target to his mother and back again, a question creasing his forehead. 

She knelt and met his eye level. “What is it, my son?” 

“Your tattoo,” he said, unexpectedly. “I know you have one, I just…it looks like wings. Why is it wings, Mama? Shouldn’t it be fire?” 

Aelin was quiet, thinking through how much to say. I can’t just brush him off.

No. We knew we would have to tell them eventually.

Right. Just…how much?

As much as you want. Rowan sent reassurance pulsing down the bond. We can talk to him and Lana later tonight, both of us.

I’d like that. With Rowan’s strength at her back, she took Bran’s hands. “Da did it for me.” 

His childish face lit up with interest and wonder. “When?” 

“Before…” She trailed off, her gaze going distant for a moment. “Before we settled. Before you and Lana were even thoughts in our minds.” She noticed his furrowed brow, and she squeezed his hands in comfort. “Da and I are going to tell you and your sister about it later tonight, because you’re old enough and you deserve to know more of our story. I’m not dismissing you, I promise; you just need to wait for a little longer, okay?” 

Slowly, he nodded. “Okay,” he replied. “Can I ask you one more thing?” 

“Of course.” 

“Did it hurt?” 

“Some,” she said, honestly. “But your father was with me, and that made it easier.” 

~

Rowan wore a sleeveless shirt to dinner that night, the soft gray linen exposing the defined grooves of his muscles and the full breadth of the script inked down his arm. Aelin chose a dress that dipped low in the back, low enough to display the wings unfurled across her shoulder blades. She frowned as she laced the silken material up the side–it was almost at the point where she couldn’t wear it in public, else it would reveal too much. Just to be sure, she turned to the side and checked her profile, relieved when her reflection showed that the skirt still billowed out high enough to conceal the swelling of her abdomen. 

Stunning. Her husband padded up behind her on near-silent feet, slid his powerful arms tenderly around her waist. His tattooed hand splayed over her stomach. “How much longer?” 

“Another few weeks before we tell the children.” She laid her hand over his. “At least a month before anyone else even suspects.” Lest we…lose them.

“Of course.” Rowan dipped his head and brushed a whisper of a kiss across her pulse point. I love you, he murmured into her soul. 

Aelin melted into him. As I love you. 

Lana and Bran were full of anticipation and eager chatter at dinner, both children more than willing to ramble on about their days. Bran seemed to be back to his usual mischievous self, busily flicking tiny crumbs and a pea or two at his sister when he thought nobody was watching. Lana returned the favor by gradually increasing the heat of her brother’s chair, silverware, and even clothes, making him squirm in mild discomfort and drop his fork with a yelp when he picked it up and it nearly burned him. 

Unsurprisingly, though, when dinner was over and they moved into the small, cozy, private living room reserved exclusively for the family, both Lana and Bran went quiet, settling down onto the small sofa and watching their parents expectantly. 

Aelin settled into her chair and spoke first. “So you want to know about our tattoos.” 

“Mhmm.” Lana nodded. “Well, I know about Father’s. Mostly.” 

“Do you?” Rowan wore a half-grin. 

“Uncle Lorcan told me it’s a record of your life and a memory of your love.” 

“Uncle Lorcan talks too damn much.” 

Aelin snickered. “Admit it, buzzard, that was a very lovely description.” 

Rowan grumbled. “Fine. Lorcan can be civil once in a while.” He nodded. “Yes, that’s the most basic description of my tattoos.” 

“You did them yourself, right?” Bran asked. 

“Mostly. Gavriel helped, a little.” 

Bran tilted his head. “And you did Mama’s?” 

“He did,” Aelin confirmed. “Both times.” 

“Both times?” Lana and Bran chorused, wearing twin expressions of disbelief. 

“Both times.” Aelin shared a long, laden look with Rowan. “This set–” she turned around and let her children see the full expanse of the ink scripted across her back–“was done just before we kicked the shit out of the Valg once and for all.” 

“Language,” Rowan sighed, teasingly. 

Aelin huffed a laugh. “Says you. Like your father’s, my tattoos are my story. All of it–who I once was, who I became, who I am now.” She whispered under her breath, and two of the symbols glowed blue for a few seconds. “Those are your names, my loves, in the Old Language.” 

“That’s us?” Lana breathed, both awe and tears clogging her words. 

“That’s you,” Aelin murmured. “Your idiot father also wrote a whole entire spell into my tattoo–didn’t even think to tell me, oh no–in yet another language.” 

“It was a protective measure!” Rowan protested. “And it worked, didn’t it?” 

“Oh, all right, it did.” She laced her fingers with his. “Your father is boring; all his tattoos are just Old Language.” 

“Can you read them?” Bran asked. 

“I can.” A yearning smile curved Rowan’s lips. “It’s been a very long time since I spoke the Old Language, but I can read it, yes.” 

“What’s this one?” Lana pointed to a sequence of characters on Rowan’s bicep. “It repeats a lot. There, and on your forearm, and on your neck, too.” The firstborn Whitethorn Galathynius always had been perceptive. 

“It says Fireheart,” Rowan murmured. 

A crooked little smile lit Lana’s face. “That’s…extremely sappy of you, Father. Aren’t you supposed to be the hardened old warrior?” 

Aelin burst into laughter. “Oh, my daughter,” she wheezed. “Never change, Lana love.” 

“I’m trying very hard to be unimpressed,” Rowan intoned, his lips twitching with the effort of holding back his merriment. 

Lana giggled. “We’re all thinking it.” 

Rowan laughed. “I suppose we all are.” 

Bran’s smaller hands touched the ink spiraling up his father’s arm. “When I grow up, I want tattoos too!” he declared. 

Aelin and Rowan shared a very long look. 

“Maybe you will have tattoos,” Aelin told her son, running her thumb over his knuckles. “If you do, know that you carry the weight of every name and event written into your skin.”

“Even the ones that hurt?” 

“Especially those ones.” Aelin gathered her children close. “It is the weight of the people we have loved and lost that guide us through life. They are always with us, even when they fade.”

[mariaofdoranelle]

The Courtship Deception - Part 9: Refresh

Fic masterlist

Written for @throneofglassmicrofics

You should know I have a rough draft of this chapter written since last year!! I had the fic idea for last Rowaelin Month, but I had very little time to write it then 🫣

Warnings: none?

Words: 791

“I’d like to introduce you an acquaintance of mine, suitor for Aelin’s suitor.” Fenrys said from the other side of the door, inside Rhoe’s office.

The weight of Rowan’s suit on his shoulders felt heavy in a way he hadn’t felt in years. He decided not to wear a tie, but it didn’t help the gnawing feeling of claws crawling up his neck, constricting it constantly as Rowan couldn’t forget that he was about to claim a family he swore to never relate to again.

“He has to be either a prince or a billionaire,” Rhoe’s reply was firm.

“I guess you’re in luck, sir, because he’s both.”

Lies, lies, lies.

Some hushed conversation Rowan couldn’t understand from where he was, then, “For Mala’s sake, Fenrys, you left a prince waiting outside?!”

“Should I bring him—“

“Obviously! Bring Aelin too.”

Immediately after, the door opened to Fenrys’ shit-eating grin. “Your Highness,” he teased.

He nodded, his chest heavy in a way he hadn’t felt in years, and his friend’s smirk faltered when he saw Rowan’s expression.

He’s doing this for Aelin, is what he had been telling himself since overhearing that phone call between her and Rhoe. However, since then, the butterflies she’s been growing in him have been replaced by a nauseating feeling.

To be fair, this decision was 75% because of Aelin and 25% because he’s a jealous bastard. Still, even if she decides to go her own way after the wedding, he’ll let her. Rowan’s fascinated by her soul, and he can’t imagine letting her fire be dimmed by a loveless marriage and a controlling royal family. He’d marry her as her way out, and whatever happens to him after is up for her to decide.

Though the idea of calling her his gets more appealing each day.

“Prince Rowan,” Rhoe called, making a small curtsy that almost made him puke his breakfast.

A strained smile. “There’s no need for formalities.”

“Very well then.” He gestured for them to sit. “I’m surprised to see you here, Rowan. Your last public appearance was at…”

Fucking Mala, he must be a real royal aficionado if he knew about Rowan’s life. He was one of the least known Whitethorn cousins.

“My parents’ funeral, yes. I’ve been traveling a lot, but the family thinks it’s time for me to settle down.”

Not a complete lie. He had an entire history of mostly unanswered calls from Sellene and Enda.

“That’s perfect, then.” Rhoe smiled at him, leaning closer from the other side of his desk. “I’m sure you’re making the right choice. Look, before we go through this, you should know that Aelin has some… issues. With her temper, sometimes. She can be a bit of a rebel without a cause, but she’s mostly pleasant to be around. Good on the eyes, fun company, plays the piano beautifully, instructed in courtly manners and diplomacy. Our family has a history of infertility issues, but it’s nothing Doranelle’s very famous healers can’t fix.

He blinked and nodded, not knowing what to say.

Rhoe opened a binder. “Now, you should know I have some requirements for giving her hand away in marriage…”

Rowan’s quivering stomach got worse each word the man spoke. Because there was absolutely no way he could afford those requirements, yes, but mostly for how Rhoe dealt with this. The way this man talked about his own daughter, an unadvised person could think he was trying to sell Rowan a herd of cattle.

When Rhoe was halfway through his requirements, loud shouting stopped them short.

It was Aelin, screaming something about human rights he couldn’t quite discern from this far.

Her father winced. “Let me fix this,” he said before leaving his office in a hurry, leaving the door open.

Like Rowan predicted, Rhoe did not fix it. Instead, father and daughter talked in circles.

“You don’t need to marry me off to find a good investor, Father, we can—“

“Come. Meet. Your fiancé.” Rhoe’s voice was hard and reprimanding.

“I’ve already met someone! He’s broke, but he’s honest and reliable and—“

“Mine won. He’s a prince and a billionaire.”

“No, he didn’t! I can’t control my heart!”

“Well, I can. You have a week to forget about whoever this dickhead is and start liking your fiancé.”

“No!” She shouted, “I would rather die—“

When Fenrys pulled her inside the office, Aelin’s words died on her throat. She blinked. Opened her mouth, then closed. She turned to her father and shrugged. “But if you insist, I can marry him next week.”

“There you go, Mr. Galathynius,” Fenrys teased, “She’s tamed already.”

“Yeah, that was fast,” Rhoe said, eyes narrowed at her.

Aelin sighed. “What choice do I have other than obey you, father?”

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ROWAELIN MONTH: DAY 23

~ Domestic Fluff ~

Ahh, so as I wrote the prompt for today I think I may have slightly misunderstood the assignment, haha... Anyway. This works as a Part 2 to this fic I wrote a little while ago. Probably not my best work, but hey, it is what it is.

~~~~~

Rowan flew high above the palace, the brisk winds off the Staghorn’s helping him soar. When he had finished training with the palace guards the simplest way back to the royal wing was to simply walk through the grounds. But he hadn’t felt like it, he had woken up too late this morning to take a flight before his day started so this would have to do. He flew in easy circles, starting high and drifting lower and lower with each circular pass. Looking down his hawk eyes spied movement in a courtyard where the children of the court were playing in the sun. 

He longed to let out a screech of delight, but then Rowan had a better idea. Down he circled, waiting for the right current to send him on his way. The wind shifted, brushing past his wings and ruffling his feathers. It was exactly what he needed. 

Tucking in his wings close to his body Rowan was diving down like he was hunting, aiming for the kill. The children were so caught up in their own game that they didn’t notice him coming until there was a bright flash of light, making them squeal and yell in surprise. Elspeth recovered the quickest, her laughter filling the courtyard and she ran for him. Rowan caught her, spinning her through the air, up and down like she was a bird too. 

The little princess loved every moment of it with her arms outstretched like wings. Elspeth was nearly two and was yet to shift, that was if she even could. Rowan suspected she would, although there was always a slim chance that a fae child would be born without the ability to shift especially when there was demi-fae in the bloodline. 

He hoped that she would, and that she might take on the form of a bird of prey like his family did. That was an experience he wanted to share with his child. Rowan would teach her to read the winds, how to angle her body to safely move through the sky. That was a dream he’d hold onto until it was decided otherwise. 

Rowan set the toddler down, making sure she was steady as she started walking. 

“That fun, Da!” she said as she held onto him, evidently not wanting to let go yet. “I was flying. Just like you.”

“You were, my little love.” Rowan couldn’t help it, he dropped into a crouch and kissed her chubby cheek. That set off another round of giggles, then she turned to hug him. Feeling another gaze on him, Rowan looked up and saw his mate watching from one of the windows above them. There was a soft smile on her face as she watched it all unfold. “Go, and play Elsie.”

His daughter listened and wandered off to watch the game some of the older children were playing. Rowan shifted again, flying low so Elspeth could chase him before he flew higher to find an open window. There was someone else that he wanted to see.

Aelin was still watching from the windowed alcove, now tracking his movements. He’d find somewhere closer to his mate to enter the palace. Rowan spotted a window that was open just wide enough for him to slip through. Not as close to Aelin as he would have liked, but it would have to do. After the smile had faded he had seen an odd look on her face and he was determined to discover what it had meant.  

~~~~~

Aelin watched as Rowan no doubt looked for an entry to come see her. Another male might have used the stairs, but her mate wasn’t like other males. He was impatient and had a flair for dramatics, aptly demonstrated by his little performance in the courtyard. Aelin knew he had spent the morning training with the guards and again, he could have walked back to the private residences of the palace. Instead he’d flown above the city and found his landing spot, much to the delight of their daughter. 

The sounds of children playing had drawn Aelin out of her study and the noise was distracting enough that the papers she had been going over lost all appeal. Seeing her daughter down there, playing with her friends, brought her more joy than expected. She had memories of the court children playing while she watched when as a child. Aelin had felt a profound loneliness and isolation, a heavy weight for a little girl. It was not just her title of crown princess that had set her apart—her powers had been too volatile. It had made her dangerous and the other children had feared her for it. 

Aelin lit a small flame in her hand, watching the yellows and oranges dance and weave. Her power was not what it once was, but she was still impossibly strong. Considering her parentage there was a high chance her daughter would be the same.

A squeal shook her from her sombre thoughts. Aelin watched as Rowan held Elspeth out in front of him as they spun. The pure joy on both their faces had Aelin letting out a breathy laugh. Gods, the way her mate adored their daughter, it was making her fall in love with him all over again. It was no surprise that Aelin had fallen pregnant not even two years after the birth of their first. She rested a hand on her stomach as the child in her womb kicked. The movement only started happening a week or so ago and Aelin had forgotten how much she had missed those gentle reassurances. 

As a child Aelin had sat in this very spot, watching the children play and burning with jealousy. To soothe herself she had absorbed herself in books, letting those characters be her friends instead. It was not the healthiest way to cope, it was unfortunate that little Aelin hadn’t many choices. 

Rowan looked up, spying her up in the window. He set Elspeth on her way and then shifted again. Now Aelin just waited, knowing what would happen next, her ever observant mate had probably noticed the shift in her mood. It wasn’t too long before she heard footsteps coming from behind and then strong arms were wrapped around her. She lent into Rowan’s body, more than content to be held by him.

“What are you thinking about, Fireheart?” He asked, never one to skirt around the point. “I saw you watching and then I saw something in your expression.”

“Oh that,” Aelin said. “I was just remembering what it was like for me as a child, and how different Elsie’s life will be.”

“About how lonely you were?”

Aelin looked up and saw the concern on Rowan’s face. “Yes.”

“Aelin—’’

She shook her head, patting the arm that was braced around her to reassure Rowan that she was fine. “It is what it was, Rowan. Nothing to do about it now except to make sure our past is not repeated.” 

“Elspeth will have a blessed life, they all will,” Rowan said, placing his hand where hers rested on her stomach.

Watching the children Aelin knew her own would not share in the isolation she had experienced. All they had sacrificed for a better world had come to fruition. If their children had earth shattering powers, they would have everything that they needed right here to support them. Never again would Aelin have those she loved hide or diminish what they were. Her parents did the best that they could and if evil had not been so determined to destroy all that was good Aelin had no doubt they would have done everything they could to make her life wonderful. Aelin could never begrudge them over the future that should have been. Fate had been cruel to Rhoe and Evalin Galathynius, all Aelin could do now is honour their memory. 

“I remember my father found me here once,” Aelin said. “I told him that my dearest friends were characters from my books. There was one, about a princess and a dragon, if I recall. I wondered what it might be like to fly, he said I should ask a dragon.”

Rowan laughed softly.

The almost forgotten memory made her smile. “Preposterous I know, because dragons don’t exist, and I told him as much. I then told him one day I’d ask a bird.” Aelin looked up at her mate. “I suppose you’re the closest I’ll get. What does it feel like to fly, Rowan?”

“It feels… amazing,” Rowan said, a thumb grazing over Aelin’s cheek. “Thrilling and terrifying at the same time. But the way the wind lifts you and all that you can see of the world, it makes me feel free.”

Aelin looked back to the courtyard at where her daughter played, where the future she never thought she’d have was right in front of her. Aedion came to collect his son and Elide was doing the same, while Fenrys tended to the young princess. It was nearing supper time and they’d all gather in the dining hall soon and eat and talk and laugh. 

Her dearest friends were no longer words on a page, they lived and breathed, enriching Aelin’s life more than she had ever dared to imagine all those years ago. It had already been ten years of peace and Aelin knew in her heart that this hard won tranquillity would last for many, many years to come. She would fight for it until she had nothing left to give. 

“Fireheart,” Rowan said softly, worry edging his tone. 

“I’m thinking too much,” Aelin shook her head, trying to shrug off the heavy mood that had fallen over her. She knew the remedy for it, and she appeared at the end of the hallway now.

“Mama!”

Fenrys put his charge down and Elspeth ran for her mother and father. It was Rowan that caught her, bringing Elspeth high enough that Aelin could kiss her cheeks. Being in the presence of her family was enough to dismiss the shadows of the past. It reminded her of the future she had the blessing to live, and of those she had the honour to share it with.

~~~~

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@rowaelinscourt

[rowaelinscourt]

ANNOUNCEMENT: AELIN WEEK 2023

Hello friends!

It’s that time of year again where we celebrate the birthday of our beloved queen Aelin Ashryver Whitethorn Galathynius.

~~~~~

When:

Starting the 1st of May through to the 7th

Finer Details:

This year our prompts are a little simpler. We thought this would be a great way to encourage creativity and engagement from the fandom. It allows a little more freedom and the bounds are endless. We accept all forms of content: fics, moodboards, playlists, art, and just any way you want to express appreciation for Aelin. Please just make sure content warnings are appropriately added for the safety and enjoyment of all viewers.

To make sure the admin team can see your posts please tag us with @rowaelinscourt and/or #aelinweek

Prompts:

May 1: Beltane

May 2: Love Language

May 3: Aelin’s Birthday

May 4: Aelin and her family

May 5: Song Association

May 6: Rowaelin

May 7: Aelin and her fire

~~~~~

We’re very excited to host this event again this year and can’t wait to see the wonderful works you come up with!

Much love

Rowaelinscourt Admin Team

[writtenonreceipts]

Rowaelin Month Day Three: Rowaelin as Teens @rowaelinscourt

This is a prologue of sorts, the rest of the fic will come closer to the holidays, hopefully—unfortunately my fic writing will be slowing down massively here in the next little bit.  But, I’ve had this idea on the brain for a year now, so here we are!  I’m hoping this’ll only be 3 parts total, depending on how part two goes…

Rowaelin Month Masterlist Main Masterlist

Warnings: mild (teenage) angst, references to parental death. 

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

Like Best Friends Do—Part One

It was December eighteenth and the first snowfall had finally come to Terrasen.

Usually, the snow was a perpetual problem for the city beginning in late October and not slowing down until mid-April, at least.  This year was different.  And Rowan didn’t know how he felt about that.

He’d never been one for change if he were being honest with himself.  Even at eighteen years old (his birthday only occurring a few weeks ago) Rowan had learned that change incited problems.  Problems led to conflict.  And conflict made way for misery.  He knew the path quite well and was not welcome to any sort of change.  Ever.

Which was why he sat in his beat-up Honda just outside of his best-friend’s house.  Tradition demanded it.

He wasn’t waiting long when a shape dashed across the sidewalk toward him.  With far too much energy and fervor, Aelin Galathynius threw open the passenger door.

“Sorry, sorry!” she said as she tossed a grocery bag across the console at him. “I know I’m late.”

Rowan caught the bag easily and shook his head. He couldn’t be mad, not at her.

Aelin stuck her head in the car and scowled.  She wore a ridiculous winter hat with ear flaps, her blonde hair in a wild mess of waves beneath it.   “I couldn’t find any marshmallows because I live with a bunch of heathens apparently.”

She then eased into the car taking care to balance two steaming thermoses in her hands.  With her blonde hair flying about her face and the pink tint to her nose and cheeks, she looked far more angelic than he knew she felt.  Though, Rowan wouldn’t say anything of course.  He couldn’t.

As Aelin settled the thermoses between her legs, she closed the car door and buckled up.  Then she grinned at him with that reckless abandon he was so accustomed to seeing.

“I am ready.”

For as long as Rowan could remember, he and Aelin had spent their Christmases looking at the lights.  At first, their parents would make a carpool even of it.  Holiday music blaring from the stereo, hot cocoa freshly made, and windows rolled down for the best view.  For the young, impressionable kid in the prime of childhood: it was magic.

Then of course, Rowan’s dad died.  That had taken some magic out of things.  He’d been twelve and an only child.  His mother, brilliant woman that she was, persevered.  She ran the small family farm with grace and dignity, never once thinking about letting it go.  She always insisted that change was just an opportunity to grow and she would grow right where she was, thank-you very much.

Still, Rowan had always hated change.

But even as Rowan struggled with grief over his dad—some things remained the same.

Ever since he’d gotten his license at the tick of his sixteenth birthday, he and Aelin often escaped on adventures of their own.  During the holidays it meant it was just him and Aelin going around to look at the lights.  It was always at her insistence and Rowan found it impossible to say no to her.  The music and cocoa remained even when their parents no longer took them out themselves.

“What is all this?” Rowan asked.  He poked at the plastic bag and sighed.  Sitting on top was a giant bag of chocolate.  Below he could see a baggie of baby carrots.  Just for him.  “Seriously?”

“Snacks!”

“I don’t like food in my car!” He knew it was a weak argument, the weakest of all arguments that could possibly be made.

She blinked at him with her big blue eyes and pouted.  The streetlamps filtered through the windows creating a halo around her.  It was impossible that one person could be so beautiful.  

“Please?  It’s Christmas!”

And Rowan, being in love with his best friend, sighed. “You’re insufferable.”

Aelin beamed at him and leaned across the center console to smack a kiss to his cheek. “I won’t make a mess, I promise.”

It was a lie and they both knew it.  Aelin wasn’t the best at remaining organized even when she did try her best.  To be honest, that combination was one of her most endearing attributes.

“Yeah, yeah,” Rowan said, though he couldn’t help the small smile that escaped him.

He pulled the car out onto the road and headed down the street to the first neighborhood.  

They were seniors in high school and had spent the last two weeks busy with finals and essays.  This was going to be a fun, easy way for them to relax before Christmas.  And Rowan, knowing Aelin was also stressed out over basketball, wanted to make this the best round of Christmas lights possible.

He’d already done some scouting earlier in the week.  He didn’t care as much about the lights himself, but there was something about watching the joy and wonder on Aelin’s face that sent flutters to his gut and brought a smile to his lips.  

She always found joy in everything.  She was someone who wanted to see good, to be good.  He’d admired it about her for ages now and was on the list of reasons why he loved his best friend.

Not that he actually wrote anything on that list down.  He wasn’t an idiot, anyone could come across it.  But he kept a mental tally of all the things.

“How’s your mom?” Aelin asked as they drove.  She sipped her cocoa and hummed happily. “Is she making it through alright?”

“Yeah,” Rowan sighed. “Summer was a good season, so we’ve got hoards of lavender and honey stored up to sell, so she’s happy about that.”

The farm had a few acres of lavender plants and three beehives which kept them busy during the summer months.  Winter, however, was where the Whitethorn homestead made its money.  Starting in mid-November the farm turned into a certified Christmas Wonderland.  For the last fifty years it had been dedicated to growing Christmas trees.  Something Rowan did not understand, but his mother loved it.  Tradition.  And Rowan was not one to step on tradition.

“You know, it’s kinda funny that you hate Christmas as much as you do,” Aelin mused.

Rowan rolled his eyes. “I don’t hate Christmas. I hate snow.”

“Which is even more funny, you were born on the coldest day of November, Buzzard, you should be thriving in this weather,” Aelin reminded him, as she so loved to do.

There was no arguing with her so Rowan only rolled his eyes and kept driving.  His phone lit up with a text message but he ignored it.  For just a little bit, he wanted to remain in this moment with his best friend.  And maybe then it would imprint upon his mind for years to come.

“Oh, I love this song,” Aelin said suddenly.  She turned the volume on high as Michael Buble began singing one of his famous Christmas songs.  

“You say that about all the songs,” Rowan pointed out.

Aelin grinned at him. “Because it’s true.  All the songs are the best.”

Rowan couldn’t help but return the smile.  

As Aelin hummed along to the music, Rowan turned into the first neighborhood he’d found the other night.

Immediately, they were flooded with bright lights and inflatable machines.  Aelin squealed and rolled down her window so she could lean out and get closer.  She pointed everything out to Rowan as though he couldn’t already see it himself.

But he didn’t care.  Not as she was singing along and laughing as she was.

They continued for over an hour going to as many different neighborhoods as they could.  As it crept closer to ten and some houses began shutting off their lights, Rowan pulled them off in front of Aelin’s house, knowing that her dad would be watching for them.  Best friends or not, the man had firm rules of where his daughter was and who she was with.

“What happens next year?” Aelin asked as a Nat King Cole song came on.  She turned the volume down so it was a low rumble in the background.

“Next year?” Rowan frowned.  Why would next year be any different?

“I’m going to Adarlan, you're going to Doranelle,” she reminded him.

Rowan sighed.  He’d forgotten that.  Different colleges practically at opposite ends of the continent.

“We’ll figure something out,” he said with a shrug. 

Aelin sighed and hunkered down in her seat.  She held onto her thermos, though Rowan was certain she’d finished her cocoa ten minutes into their drive.

“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I don’t like it when things change so much.”

Rowan reached over and took her hand, twining their fingers together. “I know.”

“You’re my best friend, Rowan,” she said looking up at him.  There was panic in her eyes, Rowan could see.  It was strange seeing something so out of control in a gaze that was usually so calm and confident. “And I don’t want to lose you.”

Rowan’s chest gave a painful tug.  “Aelin--”

He cut himself off before he could say what he wanted.  Because really, he knew that he’d never be able to tell her how he really felt about her.  Though, maybe that was for the best.  After all, if it came to having Aelin in his life versus not--he’d always chose the first.  

His phone went off then with an incoming call before he had a chance to debate his inner thoughts further.  Before Rowan could reach for it, Aelin snatched the phone up.  They always shared their phones that it shouldn’t have been an issue.  But Rowan knew who was calling him.

“Cairn?” Aelin asked, looking up.  Her face was illuminated by the pale glow of the screen as the call continued to ring through and the dim green and red that bounced off from the lights on her house. “Why would he be calling you?”

Rowan turned away, out toward the street where snow was beginning to accumulate.  The truth burned like acid in the back of his throat.

“It doesn’t matter,” he muttered, “he needs help in history.”

“Finals ended last week.” Aelin practically threw his phone at him.  He could hear the displeasure dripping from her voice. “Seriously, Rowan?  He’s an asshole.  You can’t be friends with him.”

“We’re not!” Rowan dropped his hands from the car wheel and slouched in his seat. “C’mon Aelin, you know I don’t like the guy.”

“Then why’s he calling you?  You know what he and Erawan said about Elide, what Cairn tried with her.”  Aelin leaned back in her seat, simply staring at him.

“Which is why we’re not friends,” Rowan insisted.

The only reason Cairn was trying to call him was for something stupid, Rowan knew.  They played basketball together which supposedly curated comradery between them.  But Cairn wasn’t a nice kid.  They way he talked about the girls in their class and they had tried to spike Elide’s drink at a party a few weeks ago.  If Chaol Westfell hadn’t been the only sober one that night no one would have known…

But then Rowan had helped Cairn cheat on an exam so he could pass.  If he’d flunked, he wouldn’t have been able to play in the state finals…and…well.  Rowan never said he was a good person.

“Aelin,” he began.

But she was already throwing open the door, grabbing the empty thermoses and stuffing them into the now empty grocery bag.

“I gotta go, Rowan,” she said, not bothering to look at him.

“Aelin!” he yelled after her.  She slammed the door and trudged back up to her house.  

Rowan could only watch.  He waited until she was inside and he saw the shadow of her silhouette pass the front window, followed by the outline of Rhoe rising from the living couch.

Only then did he start up his car and drive away.

It wasn’t thirty seconds later when Cairn called him again.

“What do you want?” Rowan growled.

“Easy Whitethorn,” Cairn said on the other end.  He chuckled lowly and Rowan felt his hackles rise. “I just need a favor.”

“No.”

Another laugh followed by a shout from another person in the background.  Probably Erawan.

“What else are you doing tonight, Whitethorn?” Cairn asked. “Damn, boy.  You just wanna sit at home with your mama?”

The voice in the background spoke up louder. “Punkassbitch!”

Definitely Erawan.  Another, cruder, stream of expletives trailed after.

“It’s almost Christmas, man,” Rowan said.  He pulled his car over again, not wanting to drive and have this conversation.  His ma would kill him if he got into an accident. “So, yeah, I wanna be at home.”

“I’ll bring you a blankie to practice,” Cairn said.  Something clinked in the background; metal against metal that grated just a bit.  “You owe me.”

Rowan cursed to himself.  He wanted nothing more than to go back to Aelin’s, to pound on her door and beg her to let him in.

“Mr. Clark don’t like cheaters very much,” Cairn continued, “be a shame if someone told him what happened.”

“You’d be in as much trouble as me,” Rowan said.  He shut off the radio as his skin grew hot and panic began to swirl in his stomach.

“You wanna bet?”

It took too much effort for Rowan to ease his breathing.  Too much effort for him to calm down.  Hell.

“What do you want, Cairn?”

…

The warehouse seemed familiar to Rowan but he couldn’t quite place it.  They were in the cheaper side of the city, the side where everything was in disrepair and the video cameras were just for show.  The cops didn’t care what happened and the citizens knew their voices wouldn’t actually be heard.

Only recently a few local politicians had been making an effort of improving the area.  A few businesses had even tried moving in to give the lonely streets new life.

Hence the warehouse.

Why was it so familiar?

“Let’s go!” Cairn hissed.  He prodded Rowan sharply in the back.

They snuck down a shadowed alleyway around the back of the warehouse.  There was only one singular lamppost in the distance, but it kept flickering as though it would die at any moment.  Snow fell from the sky in lazy flurries, barely coating the ground.  The one time he would have actually been grateful for a snow storm.  Maybe that would have driven Cairn and Erawan back home.

Rowan gripped a flashlight in one hand and a pair of heavy bolt cutters in the others.  This was not going to end well.  He already knew it.  A chill swept through him in a mix of the actual cold weather and trepidation. 

Erawan led the way to a chain link fence, cutting along one of the poles and yanking the metal back.  Cairn ducked through the opening first, his own flashlight bobbing along.  The two had come prepared for this.  They’d planned it well too given how they moved.  Rowan was just a random extra body.  Someone to potentially blame this on if it all went sideways.

Erawan shoved him through the fence hole when he hesitated.

“Get off me,” Rowan hissed. 

“Then move!” Erawan snapped.  The stench of cigarettes and stale coffee wafted off of him.

Knowing better than to ignore the order, Rowan took off after Cairn.

“What’re we even doing?  You can’t think breaking into a warehouse is a good idea.” Rowan tightened his grip on his flashlight and wondered how much trouble he’d actually get in if he decided to whack Cairn over the head with the bolt cutters.  He was pretty sure he could out run Erawan if it came down to it.

Cairn didn’t answer, only led them to the side of the warehouse.  When Erawan reached them, he dropped the bag he was holding, it rattled with a messy noise of battered abuse.

“Just having fun.”

Which was how Rowan found himself gang tagging the side of a warehouse at one in the morning.  He shouldn’t have come, he knew.  The reality of the situation was beating relentlessly against the side of his skull with each pass he made of the green spray paint.  He should have told his mom what happened.  Should have gone to Coach Brullo who trusted him.  Should have—should have—

Erawan muttered under his breath as he spelled out a curse word in red paint, the c-u bleeding against the wall like a wound.  Cairn was practicing his anatomy skills and doing a terrible job.  And Rowan…Rowan just made splashes and slashes where he could.  That didn’t seem to offend the others, just as long as he did something.

“We should go,” he said after nearly half an hour.  A car drove by on the streets, slow and deliberate.  In the darkness he couldn’t tell the make or model and it only added to his panic.

While this side of the city was sketchy at best—people still talked and eventually the cops would show up.

Cairn scoffed and was about to say something—likely a mockery of Rowan’s want to get the hell out of there—when a burst of red and blue lights erupted across the street.

Rowan dropped the spray paint he was holding.  His mother was going to kill him.  He looked around, desperate for an escape while Cairn and Erawan were already halfway across the abandoned lot.  They didn’t get much further when a few uniformed officers flashed lights and their guns yelling for them to stop.

“On your knees!” One officer shouted.  It took Rowan a moment to realize the order was directed at him.  Coming up on his left was an officer, perfectly poised to take any necessary action.  

Falling to his knees, Rowan’s mind blanked out.  He did everything he was told to do, barely registering anything other than a muffled curse and an exclamation from one of the officers.

“They’re just kids.”

“Damn.  Just get ‘um cuffed.”

It wasn’t until Rowan was hauled to his feet that he managed to catch a look at the messy display of vandalism they’d created.  Only…Rowan finally latched onto the logo he’d noticed etched onto the metal door of the warehouse bay and his heart froze before his entire body seized up.  He knew that logo and he knew the name attached to it.

Galacorp.

Aelin’s father’s company.  That he’d just helped to vandalize.

“Let’s go kid,” the officer next to him said, guiding Rowan to his feet as he began to recite Rowan’s rights.

Rowan hardly listened.  Couldn’t.  Because in just the span of an hour his entire life turned over on its head.  He let the officer guide him to the police cruiser only tripping up when he caught sight of a familiar black SUV with tinted windows and sleek specially ordered rims.

Rhoe Galathynius leaned casually against the back of the car, arms crossed over his wool coat.  He watched Rowan closely with an unreadable expression.  And Rowan knew that nothing would ever be the same after this.

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

will reblog with tags. Please consider reblogging so others see it! <3

thanks for reading.

[sarahjswift]

Juie - Feysand Oneshot

Hello everyone! I apologize for none of my usual fanfic updates this week. Unfortuantately, a lot of this summer will be like that, including next week. I also thought I'd take a break and do some new stuff, like oneshots - which I have LOVED doing. There's no pressure to make a huge plotline, and I just love writing happy fluff.

As y'all probably know, I'm mostly a Throne of Glass girly, but I though I'd switch it up with some ACOTAR, which I also love. HOWEVER, because Feysand isn't AS MUCH - it still is, just smaller - of my baby as Rowaelin is, this writing isn't the best but - what ya gonna do, you know?

I hope you enjoyed! Tell me if you'd like to be added to the tag list or if you'd like to see more ACOTAR fics! If you have requests for a couple fic, just message me or comment :)

Warnings: Smut

Word Count: 1.1k

Enjoy!

--

No matter how hard she tried, Feyre’s painting just looked wrong. 

She cocked her head and chewed on the wooden end of her paintbrush as she surveyed her half-finished painting. It was supposed to be an abstract portrait of her family, the Night Court Inner Circle. It wasn’t to show her family’s true faces and bodies, but a blur of colors and shapes. In Feyre’s original vision, which had come to her in the middle of breakfast, the painting would leave viewers a bit spooked, or intrigued. She’d hoped to convey her loved ones' traumas through the paint, but it wasn’t working. Although the painting was beautiful, it just felt…flat.

Heaving a sigh, Feyre checked the clock on the wall of her studio. It was time to meet her mate and son for dinner. She packed up her supplies and waved at Ressina as she stepped out into the warm Velaris air. It was early summer, and the Square was filled with laughing people shopping. The sight filled her chest with buoyant joy. We did this, she thought to herself as she made her way to her home. 

She stepped through her threshold, shutting the heavy door behind her. “I’m home!” she called throughout the house. She smiled as she heard giggling around the corner, and she turned to see her five year old son running down the stairs to her. Nyx squeezed her tight, and Feyre picked him up and twirled him around, taking a deep breath of his perfect scent, made up of baby soap and stars. 

“Where’s your dad, baby?” she asked him, setting him down. Nyx’s black brows scrunched together adorably as he wracked his tiny mind. 

“Uhmmmmm…..,” he frowned. “Daddy said that…I think that he said he would meet us at the rest-y-raunt.” Nyx was still learning pronunciations for big words, which was so precious it made her heart burst.

“Oh - is that so?” Feyre raised an eyebrow. “Hmm. Well! Are you dressed for dinner, baby?” 

Nyx nodded, gesturing proudly to his boxers and huge gray shirt that smelled strongly of Cassian - the little boy worshiped his uncle and wanted to be him when he grew up. Although it certainly wasn't a proper dress code for the fancy new restaurant they were going to, Feyre had no problem with her son’s attire. She herself was wearing a white wool sweater and black leggings, her hair pulled into her usual braid.

The mother and son traveled through the streets of Velaris, hand in hand. People smiled and waved to them, forever adoring of the two who saved their world and the loveable child born from the union. Finally, they reached the huge building that they would dine at - Juie. Nyx was exhausted from the fifteen minute walk and his hunger, and was wining and dragging his feet. Feyre pulled him into the restaurant, searching for her husband. And there he was. 

Rhysand, standing with his hands in his pockets in the corner of the restaurant. He was dressed in his usual black attire, his hair effortlessly styled. As if sensing her eyes on him, he turned around to face them, and smiled. It lit up his whole beautiful face. 

Gods, would there ever be a day when his face didn’t make her heart tighten?

No, there won’t be, my Feyre darling. Rhysand’s voice slid into her mind, making her smile and instantly let him through her shields. 

Prick, she shot down the bond, and advanced toward him. He sped to them too fast to be casual, and she bit back a grin as he reached them. 

“Hello, family!” he cried happily, picking up his son and planting a kiss on Feyre’s lips. His hand grazed her arm before pulling it back to twirl a squealing Nyx around. 

___

Soon, they had been seated and were digging into a steak meal. Every taste exploded with flavor, and Feyre made a mental note to take her sisters and Mor out here one day. 

“How was your day, darling?” Rhys asked her, Nyx busy eating and coloring. He looked at her over their son’s head, smiling.

“It was alright,” Feyre shrugged, taking a sip of the iced tea she'd ordered(it was especially refreshing). “Do you remember that painting I told you about?”

“The Inner Circle one? It was abstract, right?”

“Yes, exactly. Only I can’t get it right. Something’s off. It doesn’t have the life I want it to have.” 

“Oh.” Rhys frowned and looked down at his plate, clearly wracking his brain for an artsy response. It made Feyre’s heart warm - her husband didn’t know a lot about painting, but he tried for her. “Maybe it’s the setting?” 

“Actually, maybe I could use a change of scenery,” Feyre replied, toying with the idea in her head. “I could continue at the house, but then I’d have other distractions-” she subtly motioned to Nyx, “around.”

“I’ll take Nyx out tomorrow. Give you some peace and quiet,” her mate offered, biting into his steak. She smiled at him. 

“Thank you, Rhys.”

___

Later that night, Nyx was long asleep and Rhys and Feyre were laying together, reading. Feyre sipped on some hot peppermint tea, and in her soft gray pajama set, she was perfectly relaxed. Even more so as her mate slid an arm around her, kissing down her neck. 

She set down her book, and laughing softly, turned to kiss Rhysand, his lips warm and gentle. She wound her fingers in his hair as he slid a hand down her leg. Maybe the pajama set would have to go. 

Sure enough, within minutes they were both fully unclothed. Feyre panted as Rhys slid his fingertips lightly down her stomach, so close to what she wanted. He met her gaze, his eyes near-black, as he circled around her spot of need. She made a small sound at the back of her throat, the sight of him there nearly making her explode. She arched into his fingers as he finally put them where she needed, gripping the bedsheets with her fists. 

When Rhys added his tongue to where his fingers were, she couldn’t take it and moaned as she finished, her mate making sure she enjoyed every second of it. He leaned back up to her, kissing her deeply. Finally, he pushed gently into her, filling every part of her. They clutched each other as they moved, Feyre pulling him into bruising kisses one after another. She tugged on his hair, biting his lip, cupping his neck, until he roared, taking her over the edge with him. 

They lay there together for a while, both panting. “I love you, Feyre,” Rhys whispered into her neck. 

“I love you too, Rhys.”

Tag List <33:

@backtobl4ck, @aelinchocolatelover, @renxzs, @blue-bird17, @autumnbabylon, and @luell1q!

Thank you for reading!

[tomtenadia]

Second chances...

I don’t even remember how the idea of this fic came to more, but it’s a second chance Rowaelin. It was meant to be a short one shot... it turned out a monster of almost 6k words... and a bit of a rollercoaster. There is angst, but well.. as the title says...

CW: divorce, some hurt/comfort and a brief mention of a death (non MC I promise) I hope you will enjoy it.

Aelin walked around the living room collecting her stuff for work “Maya, are you ready? We need to go.” “I am coming, I am looking for my hockey bag.”

Aelin went to her daughter’s room and helped her find the bag. Maya was in a girls hockey team “Here it is. You are just as messy as me.”

Maya kissed her mother “thanks.”

The two left the house and went to the car “you got all your stuff at your dad’s?”

Maya nodded.

Aelin and Rowan were divorced. They had married at a very young age after they found out taht Aelin was pregnant. Rowan being the responsible one had offered to provide for her and thought that marriage was the best option. But they were young, Rowan twenty one and Aelin nineteen and the weight of responsibilities started to take a toll on them pretty quickly affecting as well their relationship. With the passing of time they came to the realisation that they had married for the wrong reason and slowly drifted apart, after each fight spread the abysm separating them even further. Until it was too much and the word divorce was mentioned. They agreed it was the best option especially for their daughter’s sake. So as little as two years later they had gone separate ways. Custody had been easy had agreed on sharing Maya equally.

And so they moved on with their lives, leaving behind that small parenthesis when they tried to be a family.

Aelin went to become a paediatric doctor whereas Rowan got hired by an engineering company and was now quite high in the company. They would see each other at school meeting or Maya’s games, but outside those engagements their interactions were minimal.

Maya knew better, though. When her parents were together she had studied their interactions. She saw them alone and together and only when they were with each other she could see happiness.

She was twelve and probably did not know much about love, but of one thing was sure, her parents, despite their stubbornness, still loved each other.

Her mission now, was to get her parents back together. Be a family again.

They eventually reached the school and Aelin leaned over to kiss her daughter “Dad will pick you up at practice tonight.”

Maya grabbed her stuff “Ok.”

“I love you.”

“Love you too, mum.”

Maya left the car and Aelin watched her enter the school and sighed. A part of her hated when it was Rowan’s turn. A whole week without her daughter. She missed her and the house felt empty. 

Rowan though, had the same right as her. And while she had been terrified when she discovered she was pregnant, he had been her rock. He held her and spent the afternoon whispering it’s all going to be okay over and over again. Tears threatened to spill. Absentmindedly she touched the necklace and brushed the ring that hung from it. It was her wedding ring. She had removed it from her finger but always carried it with her. She kept telling herself that they had done the right thing, that Maya’s welfare was the outmost important thing… but it was hard and sometimes she wondered whether  it really had been the wisest choice.

She sighed once more and eventually drove to work.

*

Rowan had left work a bit early and arrived at the ice rink well before practice finished. He loved watching his daughter play even though it brought back memories of an alternate life from long ago. Maya was a forward and was actually really good at it. Both he and Aelin were big hockey fans and slowly had passed the passion onto her and when she was older and had begged her parents to join a team they had agreed to let her do it. He watched his daughter glide on the ice with incredible skill, pass the defence and score a goal. He whooped loudly, pride bursting out of him.

It was an hour later when they were back home, Maya had gone to get showered and changed and he was busy making dinner when she joined him in the kitchen “I am making mac and cheese tonight, I think you deserve it.”

Maya grinned and sat on the table “dad, I invited mum to Saturday’s game, it’s a big one and I want her there.”

Rowan turned “of course. She can always come.”

Maya nodded and accepted her plate with food and geared up for the question that she had been burning to ask for a while now. She stuffed her face with her dad’s amazing food then paused  “Dad, why you and mum don’t live together like all the other parents?”

Rowan stared at his daughter with the fork half way to his mouth. They had sort of explained the situation to Maya when she was younger, but he was aware that she was growing up and that soon they’d have to explain to her what happened in more details. He knew Maya would have questions soon. It seemed that the moment was that evening and Rowan froze. Aelin should be there too because they had agreed to have the conversation with both of them present, to offer Maya a full picture. They had separated peacefully and both tried very hard never to complain about the other parent.

He placed the fork down and gathered his courage “Maya, your mum and I got married very young after we found out we were expecting you,” he started to explain. He wanted to make sure that Maya did not feel like she was the cause of their problems “We were so young and at the time we thought marriage was the answer, but then things got hard, we fought a lot, so we decided that it was better, for you, if we split up. Making sure you were happy was our priority.”

Maya was silent and Rowan worried.

“Do you still love mum?”

The question blindsided him. He just remained silent gathering his thoughts on something he had been pondering on for a while. Lately he and Aelin had been interacting more, exchanging texts even outside the normal communications. If something happened to him he realised that Aelin had become once more the first person he wanted to tell. But it was complicated. Then he sighed and thought about his wedding ring hiding in the coins compartment of his wallet. How could explain to her that a part of him regretted divorcing her mother and giving up so easily? But Maya had been their priority and they did not want her to grow up in a household with parents fighting all the time. 

“Maya it’s complicated.”

His daughter stood abruptly and in her green eyes he saw her mother fierceness. She had hair as silver as his and the same green eyes, but his daughter was as fierce and strong as her mother “no it’s not. It’s a simple yes or no question.” Her voice rose a few notches “Hellas dad, do you think I am stupid? Do you really think I did not notice that all of a sudden you two are hanging out a lot more and that you find every excuse to be near her? Or the fact that you only really smile when you are with her? You stop being a grouch only with mum or me,” she blurted out. If they were too stupid to realise they were still in love, she was going to open their eyes “and do we want to talk about the fact that you still carry your wedding ring in your wallet? Sure but keep lying to yourself that you are not still in love with mum.”

“Maya, you are twelve, what do you know about love?”

Maya straightened her back “I might be twelve and young, but I can see that my parents are living a lie. Neither of you had a lasting relationship, a few dates and then stopped. Mum hasn’t dated in years and you too. Again, I might be young but I am not stupid.” And with that she stormed out of the door and Rowan heard her slam the door of her room.

He sat at the table speechless, definitely not expecting such a reaction from her. Maybe Maya was right… slowly he placed the food away. All of a sudden he wasn’t hungry anymore.

*

The day of the game eventually arrived and Rowan drove Maya to the ice rink. It was a home game against Perranth that was probably going to seal the championship and Maya’s team was in the lead.  To great disappointment of Elide who was a crazy Perranth supporter. 

He walked up the steps and reached his assigned seat. Aelin arrived ten minutes later and landed at his side while carrying a cup with coke and a box with nachos. He smiled. Aelin would never be at a hockey game without her portion of junk food.

“Still inhaling calories?”

“Sorry, Rowan, they finished the carrots.”

He laughed at their banter. Something that even after a decade had never left them.

In revenge he stole one of her nacho chips and Aelin turned to him outraged. Rowan roared with laughter at her expression. In that instant Maya’s words popped in his head. Aelin really was the only person who could make him laugh that freely. He hadn’t realised it until his twelve years old daughter pointed it out to him. After their fight they had a tense day, but Maya then dropped the subject and he was relieved. His emotion in too much turmoil to make sense of them. 

“Uhm, Maya’s birthday is very soon. Can we do it at your place? You are the one with the garden and we want to invite a few friends.”

“Oh good, I wanted to ask you about that. My place is fine. You two ladies organise it and I will make sure the garden is all ready.”

“Thanks Ro, she is excited.”

He was about to reply but the horn sounded loudly and marked the start of the match.

The game finished with a victory for Orynth. Maya had scored three of the four goals and both Aelin and Rowan had been very proud parents and cheered loudly during the entire game. Now they were outside and were waiting for Maya to join them.

Their daughter arrived a good forty minutes later and Aelin ran to her and kissed her, shouting champions with deep pride. That game had sealed the championship and they had been crowned the  winners for that season. They still had two games to go, but the victory was now sealed.

Aelin had the team’s jersey and the baseball cap and on top of that she had painted her cheeks in green and silver, the colours of the team. Rowan had just worn his jersey.

“Maya and I are going home…” he said quietly. Then took a deep breath “wanna join us for dinner? We can celebrate together.”

“Please, mum, please, please.”

Aelin stared at her daughter and did not have the courage to tell her that it was not a great idea. 

“Of course, my love.” What could be the danger in it?”

Once outride the house Aelin paused for a second. Rowan lived in a big detached house. He had done well, they both had, but Rowan recently had been given a huge promotion and suddenly he was on really big bucks. She chuckled thinking about the small one bedroom flat they had rented after high school. At the time it was all they could afford with part time jobs and some help from their parents. She wondered where they would be if they had stayed together.

“You coming?” Maya’s question woke her up from her thoughts.

She stepped inside the house and joined him in the living room while Maya ran to her room to stash away her gear.

“I can see that the books are going wild now.”

“Maya’s mostly. She is just as obsessed as you and I will need to buy a new house soon just for her books,” he confessed with a fond smile “I am building her a library for her birthday and running out of ideas to keep it secret.”

Aelin looked at him and all of a sudden wanted to hug him. Of one thing she was certain: Rowan’s devotion to his daughter was never questioned. The judge had initially given full custody to her, but Aelin had asked to share it. She knew from day one that Rowan would have made a wonderful dad and she was not going to take that from him. 

“That will be an amazing present, now my unicorn will look positively plebeian.” She joked, walking to the kitchen with him “I got her a meet and greet with her favourite hockey player at the next home game for the Stags. I had to grovel a bit with one of my colleague who has connection in the league and it costed me three weekends in a row as paediatrician on call at the A&E but she is worth it.”

Rowan moved towards the kitchen counter “she is. She is definitely not one of my regrets.”

Aelin was stunned and just stood there on the threshold “I assume I am your biggest regrets.” It was not meant to sound that harsh, but the words left her mouth before she could stop herself.

Rowan turned to her, his face sad all of a sudden “that is not what I meant.”

She scoffed “Sure, promising hockey player turns down an offer to play professional to spend time with his pregnant girlfriend.” Since high school had been a promising hockey player and once he graduated he had received an amazing offer from the Stags to join their team as a rookie. Two weeks later she had destroyed that dream by announcing that she was pregnant. Rowan had turned down the offer and two months later he proposed.

“Did I ever complain? I gave up my career willingly. You and our daughter were more important.”

“You were miserable,” she said through gritted teeth “I heard you complain to Lorcan that you hated your life.” She paused, “I was in the living room nursing Maya and I heard you. That night I almost left you.”

Rowan stared at Aelin in silence. He vaguely remembered that night. He had been exhausted and frustrated. “I had two jobs and both were horrible but paid the bills and rent and kept us fed.”

Aelin looked away“You could have been playing with the Stags as regular player by now. Be a star, have all the glory and women flocking to you.”

“It was my choice,” he shouted “Stop putting in my mouth words I never said. You and Maya were the only good thing in my life…”

Aelin grabbed her bag “I need to go.” Her voice broken by deep grief.

“Sure Aelin, run away…”

“Fuck you, Whitethorn,” she made a turn then stopped “tell Maya I love her and that I will see her for her birthday.”

Rowan stared at Aelin disappear through the door. When he lifted his eyes he spotted Maya on the doorstep. Her eyes red from crying.

They were too busy shouting at each other to realise she had been eavesdropping. They had promised to shield Maya from their disagreements. But as he stared at his daughter’s brokenhearted expression, he realised that for the first time in twelve years they had failed her. 

Fuck.

*

Aelin sat in her car and let the tears flow. She cried until she was spent then drove to the one person that could offer her comfort and wisdom: her mother.

The drive took a good forty minutes and now she was standing in front of her childhood home.

A knock on the door and Evalin appeared a moment later “Aelin, my love.”

Aelin landed in her mother’s arms and let the tears come back. In Evalin’s arms she sobbed hard and let free all the frustration and pain in her heart.

Evalin guided her to the sofa and the two sat together “What happened?”

“I had a fight with Rowan.”

Evalin sighed and hugged her daughter.

“What was the fight about?”

“I think he still resents me for being the reason why he had to abandon his career as professional hockey player,” she confessed “he says no, but I know him. A part of him wishes he had chosen hockey over us.”

A deep sigh left Evalin. She had met Rowan after the confession tah Aelin was pregnant and never met a more dedicated and responsible twenty one years old. He had gone looking for a job right away, had asked for  help in looking for a flat. He had taken in his stride his new role as a father from the very beginning. Not once had Evalin seen an ounce of regret in his face.

“What did he say?”

“That Maya was definitely not one of his regrets,” a loud sob “I am one of them, probably the biggest one. He regrets meeting me,” she hugged her mother tight “I bet he wishes he never asked me out.”

Evalin brushed her daughter’s head “You don’t know that. You don’t know what his hockey career would have brought him. Sports glory is not eternal. He might have ended up miserable. Now he is a very successful man, you both are…”

Her daughter shook her head stubbornly.

“Aelin…” Evalin’s finger lifted her chin and blue eyes met their copy “are you still in love with him?” She had suspected for a while, but the occasion to ask had never presented itself. Now it was the perfect time. For a long time Aelin was not much fussed about Rowan, but recently sje had seen changes in her daughter.

“No…” but as soon as the word left her mouth she hid her face in the crook of her mother’s neck.

“Do you want my real opinion of the sugarcoated version?”

“Real.”

Evalin pulled back and stared at her daughter in her eyes “You both gave up too easily.”

Aelin was silent at the confession.

“As soon as it got too hard, you just called it quits and got a divorce. You took the coward way out instead of fighting for your marriage.”

Aelin sighed “What marriage? We fought so much… that was not love… it was just to cover a mistake.”

“Your daughter was not a mistake,” Evalin’s tone had gone harsh all of a sudden. She adored her granddaughter. Early pregnancy or not Maya was the joy in her grandparents’ lives.

Heavy sobs shook Aelin’s body.                

Evalin sighed once more “Aelin, darling, I have been married to your father for over forty years,” she started, grabbing Aelin’s hand in hers in an attempt to calm her “Some days I would gladly strangle him or when he really pisses me off I imagine creative ways to dispose of his body,” a chuckle left her lips “I crave the evenings, like tonight, when he has his meeting with his friends, so I can have a me night.” a pause to let the words sink in “but I love him just as much as when we started dating. Forty odd years with that grump and I would not have it any other way.”

Aelin was about to add something but Evalin stopped her “We fight, all couples do. There is no such thing as the perfect marriage, Aelin. But we do our best to overcome our problems and disagreements and avoid going to bed mad at each other.”

Aelin stood silent.

“You and Rowan did not fight for each other. And Rowan’s parents think the same.”

Aelin’s hand went to her necklace, feeling the presence of the ring under the fabric.

“Do you still love him?” Evalin asked once more.

Aelin did not answer and her mother shook her head, having her final answer “you need to tell him. You and Rowan need to have a chat.”

“He has long moved on.”

“Not according to what Maya has told me.”

Evalin smiled at the surprise in Aelin’s face.

“Oh yes, your daughter has been talking a lot with me and her other grandma. Last time he dated was a few years back and on that occasion it did not go past the first date.”

“There is no future for us. That door closed on the day we signed the divorce papers.”

Evalin took a deep sigh and pulled Aelin to her “Only death is permanent.” A caress on her face “You read a lot of romance novels. Ever heard about second chance romance?”

Aelin nodded weakly.

“You and Rowan can have it. You deserve it and Maya does it too.”

Blue eyes met her copy “how? Where do I start? I want…” another sob “I dated but no one was ever like him. He is my home…”

A huge grin spread on Evalin’s face. She had known that Aelin was still in love. Now with Maya’s help she had to push them to talk.

Aelin that night went home and once in bed composed a text message: I am sorry.

I’d never regret choosing you and Maya.

*

Saturday finally arrived and Rowan was nervous. After the text message a few nights before he had no other contact with Aelin. Maya had told him that her mum was definitely coming. He needed a moment with her, wanted to talk. Maya was right. Truth was, he never stopped caring about Aelin. She was his home. She was still the first person he texted after a hockey game to discuss the results. 

Rowan had gone and had a chat with his parents and found out that they believed they had given up too easily. His dad told him that he should have convinced Aelin to try and overcome the problems together. He had been thinking about that conversation for a few days now. He had to talk to Aelin.

Rowan was so deep in his musings when Maya joined him in the kitchen “is my cake nice and full of chocolate?”

“It definitely meet yours and your mother’s standards.”

“She needs it.”

Rowan’s ears perked up “is she okay?”

Maya grinned internally at her father’s need to fuss “She is fine. She has just been working a lot and now for some reason she has three weekend shifts in a row in the A&E. She hasn’t done that in a long time.”

He smiled. He knew that Aelin had offered to cover the emergency room in exchange of Maya’s special present.

“Maybe they are short of doctors?”

Maya shrugged “Will you be nice to her? She is tired. No stress. It’s my birthday, I want my family all together happy.”

He pulled her to his chest “I don’t want to hurt her or you,” Maya hugged her father tight and could sense the pain in his words. He cared, he still did and had decided that he was going to make an effort to give his daughter another gift. A chance to have her family again.

Aelin was late. All the guests had arrived but she was not there yet. He kept checking his phone for a message but nothing. Fear started to grow in him that she had decided to bail. He looked at Maya and she shook her head. No news.

It was almost an hour later when the doorbell rang and he ran to the door like a desperate man.

He flung the door open and in front of him stood an Aelin who looked like a wreck. Instinct screamed at him to hug her but he restrained himself.

“Sorry I am late,” her flat tone was a shot through his heart. “A&E was hell tonight…”

“Come Ae, we have plenty of chocolate.”

She gave him a tight smile and followed him inside. Maya was in her arms a second later “You made it.”

“Sorry, darling… work was bad.”

The rest of the group welcomed her and Rowan announced that it was finally present time. He wanted to keep his for last. He had been working on it for a while. The room had been locked and he had told Maya that he was working on it and it was a mess and did not want her to go inside. Aelin gave her daughter her present after all their friends. Maya had screamed at the signed jersey and at the pass for two for the meet and greet. Seeing her daughter that happy washed away a bad shift at the hospital. Soon after Rowan took her to the door that had been locked for weeks. When he opened the door Maya gasped. The room was a library. Bookcases covered the walls, and they were quite full of her books. That’s where her father had stashed them. He hadn’t placed them in the attic while he worked on the living room.

“Dad…”

“This is yours Maya, a library, I made it for you. Happy birthday, baby.”

Maya was crying and hugging her father fiercely “I love you, dad.”

-

It was later on when all the guests had gone and the house tidied up that Rowan went looking for Aelin. Lysandra and Elide had helped him tidy up and had told her to stay in the living room and relax. Aelin though, was not where he expected her. He walked around the house until he noticed the door of the library slightly ajar. He took a step inside and found Aelin standing and looking at the books.

He stared at her in silence. Aelin was stunning. She was the most beautiful woman he had set eyes on. He had tried to forget her with other women, but no one ever made him feel like her. She was his soulmate and he had been an idiot to even think that she could be replaced. It had taken him ten years and his daughter to realise his mistake.

“Rowan?”

He shook his head at the sound of her voice. Aelin was looking at him and her eyes were puffy.

“Aelin…” he moved a step to her and that’s when she crashed into his arms. On instinct he hugged her and the feeling of her body against to his was like coming home after a long trip.

“Are you okay?”

In his arms she started crying and he held her tighter “I lost two kids tonight….” Her sobs intensified “a hit and run. They were on their bikes and someone just drove into them…” when she started shaking he moved a hand on her back, caressing gently while the other went to her head, stroking her hair in an attempt of comfort.

He always hated when Aelin was hurting. It made him physically sick.

“I love you…” he whispered very softly not afraid anymore of the truth that had been now clear as daylight “ I never stopped…” Aelin looked up and stared in his pine green eyes in disbelief “I have one big regret.”

She tried to pull back but he kept her close “I regret that I ever let you go, that I gave up easily when things got hard.” With the back of his hand he caressed her face while his thumb wiped her tears “it took a chat with our daughter to realise that I am still in love with you.”

Aelin stared at him stunned for what felt like an eternity “I… I tried to convince myself that you resented me because it was easier. It allowed me to keep my distance and ignore my feelings.” Her hand went to her neck and pulled out the necklace and showed him her wedding ring “I wear it all the time. You are always with me.”

Rowan chuckled and extracted his wallet from his back pocket. He opened the little compartments for the coins and extracted a silver band identical to Aelin’s.

“I want to try… I want our second chance…” she whispered while searching his gaze and the smile he gave her was the most stunning vision she ever saw. And when he nodded Aelin’s fears left her. 

“Mala save me I missed you…”  he grabbed her and pulled Aelin at his chest. She looked up at him through her blurred vision and then buried her face in the crook of his neck. She inhaled the scent of pine and snow that always made her feel at home.

Rowan had not realised how truly he had missed until she was in his arms once more. But never again. And when he looked down once againit was to slant his mouth on hers. His souls sang at the contact, recognising the part that had gone missing for too long. He kissed her and all the pieces fell back into place. He was complete once more.

Maya had gone downstairs to get some water when she heard voices in the library. Silently she flattened against the wall and listened. It was her parents and they were talking.

And when she heard her dad tell Aelin he loved her, Maya had to try very hard not to squeal. She knew it and took pride in having opened his eyes to his stupidity.

She stood and listened and when she peeked inside and saw them kissing she started crying in happiness.

*

6 months later.

While Maya was getting ready for the wedding she took a moment to think about the whirlwind that the previous six months had been. After the evening in the library, her parents had spent countless nights talking and dealing with the past. She knew they wanted to get everything out and not leave anything that might jeopardise the relationship again. She had given them space. A few times had organised a sleepover at Aidan’s and auntie Lys had been delighted in playing a part in getting her parents back together.

Until one night they took her aside and asked her if she was okay with Aelin moving to Rowan’s house. They had explained her that they finally were ready for their new life together. To be a family again. Maya had screamed in delight. Three months later Rowan proposed in their back garden that she had helped to decorate.

And now the big day had finally arrived and she was excited. They had gone for a very low key ceremony in their back garden and Alistair, her grandfather was going to officiate. Rhoe was going to walk Aelin down the aisle and she had been appointed maid of honour with auntie Lysandra and Elide as bridesmaid.

She walked down the grass and stopped to take her position and face her dad. He looked stunning and happy. Since he an her mum had reconciled, not a day has passed when he wasn’t smiling, or humming while cooking. They were both two brand new people. They had only needed a little push to finally face what had been in front of them.

Classical music filled the air and Aelin finally appeared at Rhoe’s arm. Maya did not miss the light in Rowan’s eyes when he saw her.

Aelin stopped in front of him and her father in law took the stage.

“Thank you every one for being here today at my son and Aelin’s wedding,” he started, scanning the crowd “Life doesn’t always offer second chances, but if you are offered one you better take it. Rowan and Aelin have chosen their family and today they are here, in front of us, to rekindle the promise that they had exchanged thirteen years ago.”

Alistair nodded and Rowan took Aelin’s hand “Fireheart, fate has allowed me to get to marry my soulmate a second time. I am a lucky man and I will treasure forever this moment. I also don’t want to spend another day apart from you,” he grabbed her hand “You and Maya are my dream, my perfect life and my everything. I love you. To whatever end.”

He heard Aelin sniffle and squeezed his hand in return “My buzzard, you entered my life on tip toes and slowly became a part of my own soul. For ten years I wandered in search for answers and a way to deal wit the past and the hole you left in my life.” She paused and looked at Maya “turns out our daughter was the key,” Aelin extended her hand and invited the girl to join them “I love you Rowan, there’s no way without you.”

Maya squealed and kissed her mum.

Alistair smiled at his granddaughter, then looked at Lorcan and took the rings. The same ones they used in their first marriage and never abandoned. They had just asked a jeweller to change the dates inside, but had wanted to keep the originals.

Rowan grabbed Aelin’s ring “Aelin with this ring I promise you to cherish you, to walk the path of life at your side. In health, in sickness, through bad and good days, to fight for us, until death do us part.” He placed the ring and Aelin got ready to do the same “Rowan, with this ring, accept my promise to share my life with you for good and for worse, through illness and health, to hold your hand in this journey together, till death do us part.”

Aelin placed the ring on his finger and stared in his eyes glistening with joy.

Maya grabbed both of her parents’ hands and turned to her grampa.

“Friends, family, please join me in sharing our love for Aelin and Rowan Whitethorn-Galathynius. I wish you all the happiness in the universe.” He patted Rowan’s shoulder “now come on, you have my permission to kiss her.”

Rowan’s arms sneaked behind her back and pulled her to his chest and kissed with all the love he had for the woman in his arms.

Later on, during a break in the festivities Aelin grabbed her husband and pulled him aside.

“Aelin, I don’t think this is the right time for a quickie.”

Her finger landed on his lips “you are insatiable.”

Rowan moved even closer “I have ten years to make up for.”

She giggled but pushed him back gently “I have something to tell you….”

He looked at his wife with a mix of nervousness “if you have changed your mind it’s too late.”

Aelin kissed him “No, I love you and being married to you feels right,” her hands carded in his long hair “I am pregnant, Rowan.”

The happiness that spread on his face was the most beautiful and precious sight.

“For real?”

Aelin nodded.

“I love you,” his hand landed on her still flat belly.

Rowan held his wife in his arms and together they slow danced at the sound of the music in the background.

No more fears, no more running. They were a family now.

He hugged Aelin closer and while inhaling the lavender scent of her hair he considered himself the luckiest man alive. He had a second chance, and with it the love of his life in his arms.

TAGS:

@rowaelinismyotp​ @swankii-art-teacher​ @whimsicallyreading​ @elentiyawhitethorn​ @aelin-bitch-queen @bruiseonthefaceofhumanity  @mis-lil-red @thegreyj @sailorsassley @leiawritesstories​ @clairec79 @morganofthewildfire​ @sv0430 @heartless--aromantic @autumnbabylon @rowanaelinn​ @backtobl4ck​ @susumaus98  @gracie-rosee @mybloodrunsblue @tanvee1231 @avenrebekah @whoever-you-choose-to-love  @theywillnotsingforme @universallytreepost @black-daisy-water @goddess-aelin @whispers-in-the-darkest-heart @lovely-dove-zee

[darklove9314-blog]

All Fanfic Projects and An Announcement for Some of My New Ones

So as most of my followers know I love writing fanfiction and I’ve been obsessed with writing primarily ACOTAR fanfiction. Well I thought it would be fun today to announce all my projects and my future ones that are now in the works as well. Spoilers for SJM Books. 

Current WIP That are Now Published on A03: 

-Symphonia (Nessian family fic/ACOTAR Next Gen Fic) 

-The Song in the Shodaws (Gwynriel fic) 

-Fire on Fire (Nessian Forbidden Romance Fic. This will be where I will post updates for my Nessian Forbidden romace story I started on Tumblr) 

-She is the Sunlight (Jesminda and Lucien’s love Story) 

-Hearts Set Aflame (A Nessian fanfic where Nesta and Cassian are sent to the Illyrian mountains to keep Nesta safe from the queen. This is also a ACOSF Rewrite of sorts.)

-Toxic Queen (A Nessian AU fic where Cassian hates the Archerons for what they did to his family and sets his sights on seducing Nesta to get back at them, but ends up falling for her instead.)

-How Can You Mend A Broken Heart? (A Feyre, Nesta, and Elain centered fanfiction set at the end of ACOWAR where Rhys dies instead of being brought back to life by the High Lords, and the sisters try to find their own ways of coping with all they have lost.) 

-As Bright As The Dawn (A Collection of ACOTAR/SJ,M prompts that I mostly post on Tumblr. 

-In A Sky of A Thousand Stars (This is what I think will happen in House of Flame and Shadow/ My ACOTAR/CC Crossover) 

-Shadow and Flames (This fic is basically a Nesta, Cassian, and Azriel Fic where they partake in Nesta’s fantasy.)

-The Everlasting Spring (An Elucien Fanfic where Elain and Lucien have to work together to not only save the Spring Court, but find out that there is a bigger threat that they hadn’t expected coming.) 

Future Fanfics That I’ve Started Working on That The First Chapter will be Released soon. 

-Burn for You (A Nessian Fanfic that centers their time together during ACOMAF-Pre ACOSF.) 

-Fire and Ice (A Eris centered Fanfic where Eris goes to the Winter Court to try and make allies amongst some of the Winter Court Citizens and finds something unexpected there.)

-The Truth in the Silence (A Fanfic centered around Mor and Emerei’s relationship as well as an emotional healing journey for Mor.) 

-Days in the Sun (Helion and The Lady of the Autumn Court’s love story) 

A Flame in The Night (An ACOTAR/TOG crossover Fic where Nyx fand Rowaelin;s daughter in order to bring peace amongst their parents two courts are placed in ana arranged marriage) 

A Tale of Two Courts (A Rhys/Tamlin centered fic that tells the events of the night that broke them apart and made them despise each other.) 

Future fics that are planned, but have no set release yet. 

-Wanting was Enough (This Fic is going to be set after the events of Symphonia and will mostly center around Melody as she tries to navigate through the events at the end of Symphonia.) 

[justreadertings]

Sweet Understanding: A Rowaelin love story- Part 3

AN: Ok so I know I’ve been distant, but the holidays and finals have kept me far from my tumblr family! I’m happy to be back with one of my all time fav parts! I hope you guys didn’t forget about this fic about my absence because it’s about to get craayyzzeee! Ok enjoy!- Magee

3747 words

Loosely based on the song Suddenly Seymor. Mentions of domestic abuse, violence, swearing, drugs, death, sex, NSFW.

Part 3

She couldn’t believe she told him. Couldn’t believe she called at all but… she told him. 

Her name was her greatest kept secret. Without her true last name, she supposed she could be any old Aelin but… she knew there was only one. Her heart stumbled just thinking of what might happen. 

If Rowan dug too deep.

If Cairn found out he knew. 

If Cairn found out about Rowan at all. 

If… he found out about any of it.

Aelin scrubbed her face, trying to wash it away. She was leaning against the counter, sleepless, sipping on her third coffee. She’d come to work with less sleep before, on nights Cairn would insist she stay awake with him on his trip. 

But it wasn’t her lack of sleep that plagued her mind. It was everything. The fact that she’d taken that step with Rowan. That he’d even seen her like that was giving so much away. She had given so much of herself away last night, she wasn’t even sure if she belonged to herself anymore. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do the next time she saw him, what they were. 

She didn’t even know her own name anymore. Her life felt like it was slowly coming apart at the seams. And the worst part was, she couldn’t figure out if she was enjoying it. 

Aelin distracted herself with work, scrubbing things that were already clean, filtering the coffee even when it didn’t need to be. She couldn’t stop feeling Rowan, not just his kiss- which was so sweet and gentle that it nearly broke her- but also his hands. So soft with her, so protective. She felt safe when he was around now, which was terribly dangerous. 

Something wicked always followed when Aelin began to feel safe. So she tried to reign in all her flooding emotions. Tried to turn them off. She’d gotten good at that these past years being tied to Cairn. 

She had overreacted last night, she knew. But she never knew where he was hiding that damn gun, sometimes it was in the band of his pants and sometimes it wasn’t. And he was just so drunk. He’d never actually shot anything in front of her, but he always liked to remind her that he had it. Aelin wasn’t sure if he’d ever use it. 

She spilled a bit of her hot coffee on herself at the thought, her hands shaking. Before she had time to curse herself, the door opened. 

Aelin was fully expecting it to be Rowan. But it wasn’t. She frowned at the dark haired brood she met at the station that day she had to pick Cairn up. 

“Two black coffees,” was all he said, voice gruff.

Gods, she thought. She may feel… whatever she was feeling about Rowan- but she still sure as fuck hated cops. Especially broody, tall, overpowered men like these.

“Magic word?” She asked, tracing rings on the counter.

Then man- Lorcan, she remembered- huffed in annoyance. “So you’re the bitchy barista?”

Aelin’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

“I’m embellishing what I’ve heard from my partner for the past year. Celaena, I assume?”

She had no patience for this man. She crossed her arms, making no move to begin their drinks. “Where is that partner of yours?”

Lorcan’s eyes narrowed. “Working.”

She hated it, but a dash of fear and embarrassment tinged her stomach. Was he avoiding her? Did he completely regret kissing her? Gods, if she gave that much of herself away- her fucking name- to a man who could use it against her… 

Then, the bell rang again, and standing there, in his glory, was Rowan. Aelin ignored the relief that pierced through her stomach. His assessing green eyes tracked both her and Lorcan, as if he knew them both well enough to know that she would hate his guts. She doubted Lorcan felt differently about her.

“What the hell?” Rowan asked his partner. 

Lorcan gestured lamely to her. “I was getting coffee.” 

Rowan only squinted at him, but turned to her. “You know my order.”

She nodded, making exactly one. Rowan handed over the change, and she felt her skin tingle as their hands brushed. She made no reaction on her face, though. Her body. 

“You gave me twice as much.” She said, frowning at the change.

Rowan nodded towards Lorcan. “I’m buying his.” Then, he nodded to the door. Lorcan seemed to take the hint, but leveled a look at her that she could not decipher before he left. It made her nervous. Did Rowan tell him something about her? Did they start digging in her past? 

“Ignore him,” Rowan said, breaking her out of her worries. “He’s a dick.”

Aelin hummed. “And I’m that ‘bitchy barista’?”

Rowan cringed. “You weren’t so nice to me if you’ll remember correctly.”

“Because you were all sunshine and rainbows,” she mused. He huffed a laugh, and Aelin peered up at him behind the machine. He seemed about as tired as she was. “Late night?” She asked.

Aelin had to look away from the deep look in his eyes. “Something like that.” He braced his elbows on the counter between them, his voice becoming softer, like it was last night. Gods, she’d let him clean off her blood. Her cheeks heated. “How are you?”

She shrugged. “Same old same old.” When she tried to pass him the coffee holder, he reached for her wrist. Her eyes flashed up to his.

“Seriously.”

“Seriously,” she said. “I’ve been through worse. Again, I overreacted last night. I mean…” She struggled with the right words. “I’m glad I called you. But it wasn’t… what I thought it was. I told you that. I’m ok.”

He nodded, but she could tell he didn’t like the answer. But that was the answer. So he would have to deal. Instead of commenting about it, though, he only peered over the counter, as if trying to see in the back.

“Luca here?” She shook her head. “Emrys?” Again, she shook her head.

 “Just me. Luca gets here in an hour.”

Rowan glanced around the empty shop. Her heart started racing when he lifted his brows, and asked, “Can I come back there?”

She swept her hands out in front of her, trying to seem a lot less nervous than she was. “No one’s stopping you.”

As if it took no effort at all, Rowan swung himself over the counter. Her eyes tracked his strong arms. She used to be strong like that. Well… maybe not like that, but she used to be stronger. She’d always liked herself when she had muscle on her. Always felt better about her body. Aelin could absolutely admire Rowan’s body, even if it was covered in that stupid fucking uniform.

She tilted her head up at him. “Hi,” she whispered. Honestly, Aelin didn’t know what the fuck she was doing. Especially so out in the open. She knew her apartment wasn’t being watched… anymore. But she had no control over who saw what in the shop.

So, without thinking, she grabbed Rowan’s hand and pulled him into the back, just a quaint office. She shut the door quickly, forgetting how small the office really was. She and Rowan were nearly chest to chest. 

“What are you doing?” Rowan asked her. Aelin had a boyfriend. Gods, she really didn’t know what the fuck she was doing. But she knew that Rowan made her feel… something. And that was worth keeping around. Even if it was crazy, dangerous. She wouldn't risk losing a feeling. An emotion. 

“I-” she started. But she didn’t have the words. She had no defense of herself for what she wanted. She couldn’t even figure out what she felt, let alone be able to voice it to him. So instead she rose on her toes, staring at him. Waiting.

Rowan’s eyes flickered down to her lips. That magnetic feeling came back, as if she couldn’t stop herself from going to him. It was the same reason she didn’t lock him out every morning for the past year. In all honesty- she needed him. She needed to yell at him then. And now… 

“Rowan?” She whispered.

He shifted closer to her, staring down at her like a puzzle he could not solve. “Yes?” He whispered back, like he also knew how fragile this was.

“Kiss me.”

-

Rowan didn’t know why they were in this little office, didn’t know how she was or even if she was safe. All he knew was that she was right there, asking for the same thing he hadn’t stopped thinking of for hours. Still-

“Are you sure?” He whispered, still moving closer.

Aelin pressed further on her toes, her nose brushing with his. Teasing and testing him. He braced his hand on the upper cabinets above her, swallowing. “Well?” She whispered, an evil little look in her eye.

Gods, she was the devil. Worse: he was entranced with the behavior. “You’re very full of yourself, aren’t you?” He asked, his breath ghosting her lips.

She smirked. “Is it working?”

It was. Rowan leaned down then, unable to stop himself from kissing her. It was exactly as it was the first time: overwhelming. All consuming. Their embrace quickly turned heated, so different from last night. Rowan realized something very important in that moment: he needed her.

Fucking the consequences, Rowan grabbed her waist, pulling her to him. He pried open her mouth, quickly exploring her as she opened for him. When she moaned around his lips, he balled her shirt in his hands, untucking it from her jeans. It seemed that all the energy they’d spent hating each other had turned into… this.

Her fingers threaded through his hair, pulling. Gods, she was destroying him. The only sound in the office was their combined panting. His hands came up to grab her jaw, and she met him for every moment of savagery. She tugged harder on his hair, and Rowan pushed her back to the door, pressing her against it. He couldn’t stop, couldn’t think about the millions of things he should be thinking about when she was here, so warm, and entrancing, smelling of lemon verbena and fire.

When he lowered his mouth to her pulse point, her head fell back against the door with a bang. “Fuck,” she groaned. Rowan went wild with it, beginning to worship her neck, giving her what she deserved- before being roughly pushed back.

He glanced up at her, surprised, both of them breathing harshly. She wasn’t looking at him, though. No, she was staring at the floor, hand covering her neck. 

Her neck. Fuck. 

The mood was utterly ruined.

“Fuck,” Aelin said, mirroring his thoughts. “Fuck fuck fuck.” She lowered her hand, glancing at him with something like terror in her eyes. “There’s not a mark, is there?”

He inspected it closely, then shook his head. With that, she sighed, closing her eyes. Relief settled so heavily on her, it was visible. She nearly collapsed against the door.

Rowan had to rub his hands down his face, calming himself down. He was not the type of person to make impulse decisions. He didn’t know what she was doing to him. She had a boyfriend- an abusive, dangerous boyfriend. He just didn’t think when he was around her. It was why she could goad him into yelling matches- it was why she could drag him into this room and kiss him senseless. 

A noise came from her, and it snapped him out of his thoughts. He realized she was laughing. Laughing.

“Aelin?”

She bent at her knees, the noise a little bit manic. “Oh my gods.” When she looked up at him, he saw disbelief in her eyes. “What the hell is wrong with me?” He just watched her laugh to herself and shake her head. She started talking, but he was pretty sure it was to herself. “I guess I never learn my lesson, huh?” Aelin was rubbing her cheek, the scratch on it, probably unconsciously.

Rowan frowned, and he risked a step towards her. “Learn your lesson?” he asked, looking for anything from her. He was becoming obsessed with this, he thought. Figuring out her riddles, trying to understand her life.

Aelin tilted her head up, eyes shut tight, choosing to ignore his question. “What are we doing, Rowan?”

“You dragged me in here,” he pointed out. Rowan had no idea what she wanted. He was starting to think she didn’t know, either.

Her eyes swam, and he couldn’t decipher what she was thinking. Couldn’t figure out what was going on in that beautiful head of her’s. It didn’t help that his brain was still mush after that kiss. He really wanted to kiss her again. But- “What do you want, Aelin?”

Her mouth began destroying her nail, her eyes still processing. “I want to finish that kiss,” she said, honestly, a little beside herself. It was like she was reading his mind. Until she told him, “I think… I think we need to pause.” Her eyes flickered up to his. Nervous. “Is that,” she swallowed, making herself small against the door. “Is that ok?”

Rowan nodded, even though he really didn’t want to stop. But their lives were far more complicated than this room, and what could have happened here. Kissing in secret probably wasn’t the smartest choice, and for her, it wasn’t the safest. His stomach churned. He would always respect that. Rowan told her, “of course.” 

She sighed again. “Thank you.” But she didn’t like his nod, because she stood and squeezed his arm, her eyes honest. “I mean it. Thank you.”

Rowan realized how little she probably got that answer from people. How rare it probably was for her to get her way. He searched her expression. “Of course, Aelin.”

She closed her eyes then, soft. A smile graced her features.

Rowan nearly fell on his knees. Because that right there was the first real smile he’d ever gotten from her. Ever.

Not a smirk, or a devilish grin. Not a pained, forced smile. A real one. 

“What?” he whispered, not wanting to destroy it. 

She kept her eyes closed. “I just- my name. You use it so casually.” Her eyes opened, something clear in them. “It’s nice,” she said, before her tone changed. “Just don’t say it in front of anyone else.”

He nodded, so many questions on his tongue. “I won’t,” he promised. 

Aelin nodded, relief once again taking over her face. She was like a puzzle he could not figure out. 

“Why don’t we start here,” he said, wanting to keep her anyway he could. It was like his new addiction, learning about her life. “Join me for those drinks. Terrasen plays Adarlan tomorrow. We need more people to root for the Ghost Leopards in this city.”

She thought about it, her eyes glazing a bit. Processing. Planning. Finally, she told him, “Cairn would have to come.” Regret tinged her voice.

Rowan’s stomach rolled over, but he just nodded. “That’s fine.” 

She nodded, one of those fake smiles gracing her mouth. “Sounds perfect.”

He frowned at her. 

Aelin swallowed, searching his face. “As long as you can handle it.” Her voice dropped. “I can’t break up with him, Rowan.”

A strange tightness filled his chest, and he had to push away images of her, bloodied in her destroyed apartment, and how similar it looked to the scene he was greeted with when he used to come home from school. 

“Ok.” It was all he could muster. She was not his to keep. He had to accept that. Had to accept her choices.

“Ok,” she said, voice hopeful. 

He was hopeful, too. It was strange. It was new. It was a dangerous, ugly feeling. And he did not know what to do with it. 

-

“You don’t have friends.”

Aelin kept her eyes open, even though she wanted to close them with exhaustion. She knew Cairn wasn’t going to take this well, but he was in a good mood. This should have been going… better. 

“I made some.”

He flipped to another channel, and she had to bite her tongue to comment about how disengaged from the conversation he was. “Where? All you fucking do is work.”

The coppery taste of blood tinged her mouth where she bit her tongue. “I made them at work.”

“Who.”

It only then dawned on Aelin that she was asking him to go out with the men who’d arrested him. Fuck. “They come into the shop,” she swallowed, trying to not show her nerves. It was never good if he thought she was nervous. “They’re Ghost Leopards fans.”

He watched the tv for a minute, and that meant that she was to sit and wait. When it seemed like he wasn’t going to answer, she clenched her teeth and started on dinner. She’d have to bring it up again, later.

Her heart sank at the idea of missing it. All she wanted to do was pull Rowan into this apartment, and have him kiss her like he did earlier today. He could make her forget about her shitty situation, make her feel. Her lower belly was still aching for him.

She hadn’t felt such lust in… years. Hadn’t felt sexy in longer. But Rowan made her feel desirable. Not as an object to have, a thing to show off. He played with her, explored her. It mattered that it was her there, not just a body.

He made her feel safe. Her chest clenched with the thought. She ached for that feeling with every inch of her body; it was almost unbearable. 

She turned from the counter, giving it her last shot. “I’ll pay. For food and beer.” When he didn’t respond, she threw in, “I’ll drive, too.”

Finally, after making her wait a moment more, he waved her off. “Fine.”

Relief sank through her body. “Ok. Perfect.” She turned back around, facing the other wall. Tears pierced her eyes, strange and unusual. But she couldn’t help it. It was like she was slowly melting, every minute, and her emotions were breaking free. 

Earlier, she’d caught herself smiling on the way home. She could barely recognize herself. 

“Perfect,” she whispered again.

-

“He said yes,” she said, and she looked so excited.

Fondness spread in Rowan as he watched her. She had given him his coffee the moment he walked in, and told him the news not a second later. “Good,” he said, even though he wished she could just go on her own. Wished she didn’t have to ask. 

She just nodded, a smile gracing her lips. He wanted to stay there and just stare at her do that all day, intoxicated by her good mood. But he already got a lot of shit from Lorcan when he was ten minutes late to meet him at the office the day before. Rowan knew he couldn’t hide much from his partner. And though he didn’t want to hide Aelin- he didn’t know what there was to admit to. 

It wasn’t like they’d had a conversation about it. Rowan knew communicating had never really been their strong suit. He wasn’t even sure what the hell to call her in his head.

“I’ll see you tonight,” he told her.

A crimson color overtook her face. “Yeah,” she spoke through her smile. “I’ll see you tonight.”

-

Work was normal. Until it wasn’t.

His boss, Gavriel, called his unit into his office. He, Lorcan, Fenrys, and his twin, Connell, all crammed in, watching him with an air of caution. He was calculated, and to the point. He was a good boss, but he was stern, too.

And he was looking at Rowan. 

Gavriel cut to the chase. “I’ve called you all here because Archer Finn has applied for parole.”

Rowan’s mind went very, very still. The air had been sucked out of the room. He thought he might be frozen. It felt like all eyes were on him, but he couldn’t focus on that. He couldn’t focus on anything but the sickening truth.

“He’s not going to get it. Will he?” His voice sounded gutural in his own ears. 

Gavriel’s tawny eyes narrowed. “He’s been in there seven years.”

“Twenty,” Rowan cut in. “I was promised twenty.” 

His boss shook his head. “And you may get seven,” he leveled. “He’s applied because of good behavior,” Gavriel went on, but Rowan couldn’t hear him. Couldn’t hear anything but his beating heart. Couldn’t think of anything but Lyria’s pretty face, her smile when she held the sonogram up. Of their child. Of their life. 

Couldn’t see anything but her casket. Lowered into the ground. He didn’t even get to say goodbye. To kiss her goodbye, tell her to drive safe. He was too busy at work that night. She always said he worked too hard, that she loved him for how much he cared, but that he should start to put his life first. 

He was trying. He knew he was going to be a father, and that required more of him than his job did. He was going to take some time off.

It never got that far. 

“Rowan?”

His eyes snapped up to his boss, his body humming with all the emotion in his body. “Promise me you won’t do anything drastic. Anything stupid.” 

Disgust tinged his mouth. He stood. “You don’t need to worry about me.” His body moved without really thinking, just taking him out of this room. Away from his coworkers. Away from the godsdamned world. 

He didn’t remember how he got to the gym, all he knew was that he was beating the anger out. He had to get it out of his body, had to rid himself of it. He couldn’t have it in him, this anger. It made him dangerous, and wild. He just kept hitting and hitting and hitting. 

If he could be emotionless, he would. He hated the part of himself that was savage. He did better without emotions. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out where all this emotion came from in the first place. He’d gone seven years without it. 

But Rowan didn’t want to think about that right now. All he wanted was to beat his hands bloody, so that maybe these… feelings would be gone. He couldn’t think about Lyria, about the past. Because if he did… it might kill him.

I hope you enjoyed it! More to come after the holidays hehe. *runs away* 

Taglist:

@leiawritesstories​

@tomtenadia​

@fireheart-violet​

@backtobl4ck​

@morganofthewildfire​

@rowaelinismyotp​

@aelinchocolatelover​

@thegreyj​

@foughtconquered​

@swankii-art-teacher​

@booklover242​

@stardelia​

@numbers-colors-fashion​

@bookcide​

@viajandosinalas​

@rowanaelinn​

@elentiyawhitethorn​

[house-of-galathynius]

Dawn

Rowaelin Month, Day 5: A Trip to the Hospital @rowaelinscourt 

Words: 2.1k

I promise that nothing bad will happen to either of them in any of the Rowaelin month fics... I’ll actually be nice for once! 

Warnings: None

~~~

Aelin should have been used to the constant stream of injured people, the cries of pain and the sobs of family members. She should have been used to the long days and nights working non-stop to try and help as many people as she could… but there was something about today. 

It was her third night shift in a row and she was running on coffee, canteen food and about five hours sleep. She hadn’t even managed to get home at the end of her previous shift, instead crawling into the beds reserved for the doctors working in A&E. 

Before she had found sleep she had sent a text to Rowan telling him she would be at the hospital and she’d see him tomorrow. He’d responded with an I love you, be safe and she had promptly fallen asleep. It had felt like mere minutes when she was rudely awoken by the alarm on her phone and then another doctor telling her to turn that shit off. 

Four hours later it was coming onto two o’clock in the morning and she was frantically chugging an energy drink and giving herself a breather as the first lull of the evening came and she was finally able to take a breath. 

“You look like death, Galathynius.” One of the nurses chuckled as they took their seat at the computer. 

Aelin grinned. “Nothing like three night shifts in a row. I think my body is ninety percent coffee and vending machine chocolate at this point.” 

The nurse laughed and shook their head. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we have three people about to arrive in ambulances. Car accident.” 

Aelin groaned. She loved her job, she really did. But there were times when she wished she had chosen the GP route— sitting in an office all day just seeing to old people and babies all day. 

“How bad?’ 

The nurse scanned the screen and made a face that indicated it was bad. Bad enough that two of the doctors who were on-call came sauntering in and paused beside her. 

“Three patients. Two male, one female. Looks like a head on collision— two patients in relatively stable conditions, the third is touch and go. I’ve called surgery to prep a room in case.” They all nodded and Aelin felt her heart sink. 

There was a commotion behind them and Aelin turned to see the drunk woman who she had just managed to calm down, trying to rip the IV from her arm and stumble about her bed, knocking over a chair and then cursing loudly. Aelin rolled her eyes and went over to her. 

“Mrs Hartly—“ Aelin gripped her arm and lifted the woman up, taking her weight. “I need you to get back into bed. The medication needs some time to work. I promise you can go home soon.”  She said gently. 

“I—“ Mrs Hartly slurred, “I need,” she coughed loudly and held a hand to her mouth as Aelin managed to anticipate the vomit that was about to come out— grabbing a bowl in the nick of time. 

“Let’s get you back into bed.” 

As she helped her patient into bed, there was a rush of feet and shouting behind her and she managed to catch site of three gurneys being wheeled in, one of them going straight through to the main hospital, the second and third being taken into the spare spot in the corner and the curtain promptly closed. She needed to get over to them. 

“You have very pretty eyes, did ya know that?” Mrs Hartley said. 

Aelin half smiled and continued to re-do the IV. “Thank you.” 

“I bet you have,” a hiccup, “aaall the boys chasin’ after you.”

Aelin didn’t reply as she checked over her vitals one last time. 

“Do ya have someone waiting for ya?” 

She sighed, “I have a husband.” 

“A pretty girl like you shouldn’t be settlin’ down. When I was—“ Mrs Hartly’s head went into the bowl and Aelin just rubbed circles on her back as she got it out. Her attention going to the corner bed where the excitement was. When the patient was finally finished and was half asleep in the bed, she closed the curtain part the way and went over to the nurses station to get an update. 

The nurse from earlier was scribbling away on a notepad and when she noticed Aelin, her eyes went wide. 

“Aelin.” 

She responded with a smile. “Do they need help?” 

“Actually…” The nurse swallowed. 

Aelin was losing patience. It was late, she was tired and she didn’t have time for nurses who didn’t know what they were doing. She had always prided herself on being the kind and understanding doctor, but right now she needed something interesting and challenging to ensure she didn’t just sit down and fall asleep against a wall. 

“What is it? I don’t really have time—“ 

“It’s your husband.” 

Aelin froze. 

“We just got confirmation of the identities.” 

Aelin’s heart sped up and she could feel the room begin to spin. “Where is he?” 

The nurse handed Aelin the chart. “He’s been taken to the operating theatre. They suspect internal bleeding and some broken bones. He regained consciousness for a moment in the ambulance,” 

“Can they manage without me?” Aelin said sternly, gesturing to the corner where the other two patients were being seen to. 

The nurse nodded. 

“Which operating room?” 

“Three. They told me not to let you go in…” 

Aelin laughed hollowly, “they can go to hell.” 

She ran through the doors into the hospital and followed the signs down to the operating theatres. Everything was quiet as she raced through the white, sterile halls. No one stopped her as she rammed through doors and finally came to an abrupt halt as the double doors to the operating room were before her.

“Aelin they’re doing what they can.” 

Vaughan stood before her, his large frame almost as tall as the doors. His arms were crossed across his chest and his face was harsh as he prevented her from moving further into the room. 

“I can help.” She said breathlessly. 

“You have vomit down your scrubs, you’re in shock and haven’t slept properly in three days. You’d be more of a hindrance in there.” 

She hadn’t noticed the vomit. “I need to do something. That’s my husband. I can’t just sit here.” Her words slightly choked. 

Vaughan seemed to ease his posture. “You can find a room and get it ready for when he’s out of theatre. And wait in there until it’s done.” 

Aelin tried to get a glance into the operating room, even as Vaughan ushered her back down the corridor and onto the ward. They walked in silence even though Aelin could swear her heart was beating loud enough to wake all the patients. Vaughan merely held his hand on her shoulder in an act of kindness and then walked away. 

She was left to find the only empty private room that was left and she busied herself preparing it for when Rowan would arrive. She must have made the bed and then remade it several times, shooing away anyone who tried to come in and help. When she had exhausted herself doing that, she turned to checking the machines and then to pacing by the window. 

She eventually curled herself into a chair and watched as the sun begun to turn the sky into the early morning purple hues, the stars blinking out one by one. Her stomach was doing flips as the time went on. No one seemed to come in to check on her… and no news was better than bad news. 

It wasn’t much longer until her eyes went droopy and her head fell into her arms. The hum of the machines lulling her into a sleep. 

“Aelin?” The soft voice spoke quietly beside her, a hand going to her shoulder to lightly wake her. “Aelin, you need to wake up.” 

Her eyes opened slowly and she blinked a few times, unsure of exactly where she was. The room was lighter now, the fluorescent bulbs shining harshly down on them and the sun high in the sky. She looked around the room quickly and then jolted from the chair. It only took her a moment to see the figure in the bed, and then only a moment after that to realise he was awake and smiling at her. 

“Rowan,” she breathed out.

“Hey.” He replied, his own voice raspy.

She tried to contain the sob that was creeping up on her. Even as he held out his hand to her and let her climb onto the bed next to him. 

“I’m sorry I scared you.” He whispered whilst placing a kiss on her head. 

“You are never allowed to drive again.” She cried out, tears escaping as she held onto him and buried her head in the crook of his arm. “How are you feeling?”

Rowan laughed lightly and then winced. Aelin immediately withdrew her head and then examined him, noticing the scratches on his face and the cast on his other arm. 

“I’m okay. It wasn’t as bad as they thought.” 

“I don’t— what were you doing out?”

Rowan rolled his eyes. “I was coming to you. I was bringing you proper food.” 

Aelin wanted to hit him. But she refrained due to the fact he was in a hospital bed. 

“You work so hard and I wanted to make sure you were okay. I guess I was just too tired and lost control of the car.” 

Aelin wanted to be annoyed, but he had her best interests at heart. So she squeezed his hand and said, “I promise that I will eat properly if it means you never get in a car at night again.” She half laughed. 

“You worry too much. I’m really fine.” 

She gave him an incredulous look, but relaxed a little. “Did they tell you what was wrong?” 

He nodded. “A few broken bones, they thought I had some internal bleeding but turns out I just passed out because of shock.” 

She pressed her head into his arm again and shook it lightly. “Jesus, Ro.”

“I’m fine. I’m still here, aren’t I?” 

She huffed. “They made it sound like you weren’t going to make it. Half of me was sure Vaughan was just distracting me until he could confirm the bad news.” 

Rowan laughed again, “they know what you’re like.” 

“I am only like this when it comes to you.” Her face dropped and she cleared her throat. “I don’t know what I would have done if—“ she couldn’t even finish the sentence. 

Rowan stroked a hand down her hair. “I’m right here, Fireheart. I’m not going anywhere.” He promised. 

“I want to go first. Okay?” She asked seriously. 

Rowan nodded, a smile breaking out. “When the time comes, we can go together. How about that?”

Aelin shook her head and moved away. “I’m being deadly serious. I cannot live in this world without you.” 

Rowan smiled gently. “I’m being serious too.” 

Aelin gave him a look. 

“I promise you, Aelin, that I will let you go before I do. Even though the thought of it fills me with utter despair.” 

She met his gaze and then wiped a tear from her face. “I love you, Rowan. More than anything in this entire world. You are literally my everything and I am begging you to take care of yourself.”

Rowan’s face softened and wrapped his arm around her. “I love you, too. I’m sorry I scared you.” He left a kiss on the top of her head. “I’m sorry.” 

“I can’t lose you.” She whispered. 

“I know. You won’t. I’ll be here until we’re old and grey and we’re sitting on our porch complaining about the youth of the day” 

She laughed, the weight of worry lifting from her slightly more. “Our children will be telling us off as we do.” 

Rowan kissed her again and she gently lowered herself further into his embrace. “They’ll be so embarrassed of us.” 

Aelin laughed. “Exactly how I plan it to be.” 

They fell into silence and Aelin was more than grateful to feel the rise and fall of his chest and the warmth in his body. She couldn’t bare to part from him, even as a new doctor came in to do some checks and informed them that he would be fine to go home tomorrow. 

And even as they both fell in and out of sleep, their hands remained entwined and Aelin’s head tucked into the crook of his neck. There was nowhere else she would rather be than in the arms of the man she loved. She would relish this feeling for her entire life and be thankful to whatever Gods were out there, that they had protected her soulmate— granting her the time she so desperately wanted with him. 

~~~

Tags: 

@morganofthewildfire @tomtenadia @fredweasleyhasadhd @luckyrunawaycheesecake @live-the-fangirl-life  @fireheart-violet  @charlizeed @scarblx @xo-fangirl-xo  @wordsafterhours @jesstargaryenqueen @sailorsassley @sjmships @endlessdaydream @aflickeringsoul @tillyrubes10 @rowaelin-cressworth @cookiemonsterwholovesbooks @rowaelinismyotp @rosegoldannie @maryberry @viajandosinalas @becarefuloflove @allthebooksunderthemoon @sheharahu @swankii-art-teacher @superspiritfestival @becarefuloflove @tanvee1231 @viajandosinalas @backtobl4ck @emily-gsh​ @whispers-in-the-darkest-heart​ @becarefuloflove​ @goddess-aelin @thegreyj

[thegreyj]

Thanksvember: day 4

Fic that made me squeal with happiness - oneshot @rowaelinfandomlove

Oh dear. I've gotten so much happiness from fics - and although I'm not one to squeal, some have definitely made me giggle or feel butterflies. Here are a few of those.

A Dance To Remember by @elentiyawhitethorn This fic is so beautiful, with Aelin gaining happiness by being with the one she loves, none other than Rowan. A dance like that is all a queen needs *longing sigh*

The Circus by @backtobl4ck I know this is in fact part of the Royal Rebels AU, but it's still a oneshot that just will make me laugh. Every. Single. Time. The happiness this brings me is out of this world, and I want to share it!

Flirting With Fire by @live-the-fangirl-life If firefighter Rowan and the funniest, weirdest flirting attempts by Aelin fail to make you laugh and happy, then you haven't read this fic! Honestly this is just pure hilarity and everyone should know that this masterpiece exists.

Waltz Of The Snowflakes by @leiawritesstories Now I originally meant to add this for yesterday but forgot, so here it is now - because it truly fits today as well!!! Rowaelin and their little cute family enjoying snowdays is just perfect, perfect, perfect!! And funny too *wink*

Faking Christmas by @morganofthewildfire Now fake dating is an incredible trope, but to make it work THIS WELL in a oneshot is an amazing feat and deserves a shoutout, especially when the ending makes me do a little happy dance!

Go read these and tell me they don't make you happy - because they do, right???

[leiawritesstories]

I'm so happy for you, congrats🫶🫶🎉

This prompt: "I would marry you again in a heartbeat."

thank you so much 🥹🥹❤️ i ADORE this prompt

Word count: 1,154

Warnings: kids being uncontrollable as usual

enjoy!!

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

"I'm home!" Aelin called, pressing the button to close the garage door as she stepped into the house. She kicked off her heels with a sigh of relief, set down her leather tote, and counted exactly eight seconds before two sets of little arms flung themselves around her legs and waist, two excited little voices squealing for Mama! "Hi, my loves," she laughed, ruffling her children's hair. "Let Mama actually get into the house before you tackle me, alright?"

"Tackle?" Brannon perked up, hearing his favorite word. At ten years old, he was just as sports-minded as all the other boys in his class, and he'd had to learn that if he wanted to tackle, he needed to be outside in the Whitethorn-Galathynius family's expansive backyard.

"Of course that's the only thing you hear," Aelin chuckled to herself. "Not literally, son," she told him. "I'm way too strong for you to tackle."

"Are not!" To prove his point, her son charged, barely able to latch his arms around her waist before she swept him up into her arms, tipped him over her shoulder, and carried him into the playroom.

He shrieked with laughter. "Okay! Okay Mama! You win!"

"That's right, B," she teased, squeezing him in a brief hug. "Hi, my boy. How was school--aaaaaand he's gone." She laughed to herself. "Boys."

"Hi Mama!" Seven-year-old Evie gleefully took Bran's place in Aelin's arms, snuggling herself up close against her mother.

"Hi, lovey," Aelin beamed, holding her younger daughter close. "How was your school day?"

"Good!" Evie's grin was a perfect replica of her mother's. "I got a gold star on my spellin' test, an' I pushed Timmy off the monkey bars!"

Aelin's shoulders shook with mirth. "Evalin, honey, haven't we talked about how you shouldn't push other kids on the playground?"

Evie shrugged. "He said Sana's bow was stupid."

"Hmm." Unable to resist her little mirror image, Aelin winked. "Well, I understand that, then. But next time he says something like that, you need to tell the teacher, okay?"

"Okay." Evie bobbed her curly blonde head. "Wanna see my gold star, Mama?"

"Of course I do!" Aelin let her small daughter lead her back out to the kitchen, where she found her eldest child sitting at the dining table, working on a set of math problems.

Evie tugged her past the table before she could stop and say hello. "C'mon, Mama!" Aelin followed her to the fridge, where her latest spelling test was stuck to the door with magnets. "Look!" Evie pointed proudly to the gold star adorning the top of the page.

"Well done, lovey!" Aelin gave her a high five. "You're way better at spelling than I ever was."

"Really?"

"Yep." She nodded. "Don't tell anyone, but I couldn't spell 'banana' the right way until I was Lana's age."

"And you still can't," Rowan teased, coming up behind her and sliding his arms around her waist. He pressed a kiss to the side of her neck, just below her ear. "Hi, my love."

"Hi." She turned to face him and pressed her lips to his, earning a full set of disgusted noises from the children.

"Ugh, you guys! Gross!" Lana protested, throwing an eraser at Rowan's back. The oldest of the Whitethorn children, she was almost thirteen and growing up far too fast for Aelin and Rowan's liking.

"Just give it a few more years," Aelin whispered into Rowan's ear.

It was her husband's turn to shudder. "Don't remind me," he groaned.

She chuckled. "I won't. Not when you're cooking dinner, at least." Leaving one last kiss on the edge of his jaw, she went back into the dining room and sat down next to her oldest. "Hey, Lana."

"Hi, Mom." Lana was busy with her math homework, pencil scratching against the paper as she worked through a problem. Aelin could tell from the set of her daughter's jaw that she was stuck, so she waited quietly until Lana groaned and tossed her pencil down on the tabletop.

"This is stupid," she grumbled, scowling. "Stupid math. Why can't they just give us equations instead of stupid word problems?"

Aelin retrieved the pencil and placed it next to Lana's math book. "How far did you get?"

Grudgingly, Lana turned her paper so Aelin could see. "I literally don't even know." She pointed to the problem in the book. "I kinda get what it wants me to solve for, but it's not helpful at all with how to solve it."

"That's why it's called a problem, sweetheart." Aelin read the problem over a few times and looked over her daughter's work. "You've got it just about halfway solved, actually."

"No I don't! There's three variables, I only found one!" Lana was on the verge of wailing.

Aelin kept her voice calm. "Do you know how to use a system of equations?"

Slowly, Lana nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay, good. Here." Aelin rewrote the two equations Lana had found using the variable she'd solved for. "Now can you substitute so there's only one variable?"

"Um..." Lana took the pencil back and scribbled. "Yeah! I can." As she grasped the problem, she wrote faster, until she'd solved for the second variable, plugged it into one of the equations, and found the third. "I did it!"

Aelin checked the math and nodded. "You did it!"

Unexpectedly, Lana got up and squished her mother into a hug that was all lanky limbs. "Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, sweetheart." Aelin smoothed Lana's messy, light blonde hair and let her go put her math book away, homework done for the night. She went back into the kitchen and took the stack of plates from Rowan's hands. "Let me."

He flashed her a grateful look. "Thanks, babe."

"Ewwwww," Lana grumbled, wrinkling her nose as she passed by.

"There's our almost teen," Rowan chuckled, fondly.

Aelin came over to get silverware. "Stop saying that, it makes me feel old as hell." She pressed her fingertips to his lips before he could make a smart remark about how she was old. "I know, I'm not twenty-two anymore, but neither are you, my love." She smirked. "You've always been old."

"Rude!" Checking to make sure the kids were far out of eyeshot, he flicked the dish towel at her, swiping it across her ass.

She flashed him a wicked grin. "Careful with that, old man. That's how we found ourselves in this situation in the first place."

His face flushed a delightful shade of scarlet and he coughed, choking on whatever he'd been about to say. "I love you so much," he wheezed, regaining his breath.

"I love you more." Silverware set, she slipped into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head against his shoulder. "I know we're already married, Ro, but I would marry you again in a heartbeat."

His deep green eyes went soft. "I'd marry you again every day, Fireheart."

~~~

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[mariaofdoranelle]

Don’t Hold Your Breath

Rowaelin Month masterlist

@rowaelinscourt

I hate to post this this late, but I had a weekend from hell and this was the only time I could find to finish this fic and post it. I started writing it a while ago, after being overly excited with this prompt by @dailyau and @yellowmagicalgirl

Warnings: none I think? It’s a little Sleeping Beauty-ish

Words: 1,8k

“I can’t say I wasn’t expecting your visit, Rowan.” Maeve drawled, holding the teapot herself to pour them the infusion. “Still, it’s been so long since I last had an old friend over.”

Rowan held his vessel, using his ice magic to cool his tea. Every movement he made was carefully nonchalant. If Maeve sensed a single rise in his pulse, she’d use that against him somehow.

His family was about to start a war against her, after all.

“Our friendship hasn’t been the same since you tried to kill me.” He gave her a sneering grin. “Was Remelle your last attempt? Or did I miss something?”

Maeve’s mask slipped for a second, allowing him to see her glare and the cold fury it held.

Remelle, Maeve’s spy. She barged into Rowan’s room ready to kill him, but now her weapons must be somewhere by the foot of his bed. He was more than ready to get rid of her, but not while she still had information his family could use.

“Straight to the point, eh?” Maeve’s tone was disdainful, her condescending mask slipping back on. “I know you have a message from your clan, just as you know I’ll have to kill you.”

“Will you?”

It took nothing more than a second thought to break the stained glass adorning Maeve’s walls. The wind burst into the stone castle, Rowan’s magic tearing her throne room apart with wind alone, ripping luxurious tapestries with sharp edges of broken glass, making her lackeys in animal form so scared they ran away, leaving their Queen alone.

It all happened in a matter of seconds, while he sipped his tea. It was too sweet, unfortunately. Rowan looked up, observing with no small amount of pride that while he had obliterated Maeve’s throne room, the two of them didn’t have a single hair out of place.

He sipped some more to hide his smug smirk. The amount of power you have is directly proportional to the difficulty you’ll have controlling it. Rowan hadn’t shown off his skills like this in a few decades, but it looked like he was still sharp.

“You know I’ve demolished castles stronger than yours alone.” Rowan’s tone was relaxed, and he leaned back on his armchair. Everything about him portrayed the words he didn’t say: you know you can’t kill me.

Maeve plastered on a strained smile, her jaw clenched. “Cocky, aren’t you?”

“Just realistic.”

“And I’m assuming I can’t convince you to work with me.”

“I have no need for more money or titles. I’m not turning my back on my family.”

“What about your mate?”

Rowan stiffened, his pulse picked up. He heard it right, Maeve’s knowing smirk wouldn’t be so big otherwise. But she was toying with him, she had to.

He was a prince. He had more money than he could count. He loved his duty as a general. Rowan never, ever thought he’d be so lucky to have a fated mate. There was a limit to what people could be born with, right?

Rowan’s erratic heartbeat and quickened breaths were too loud to hide from Maeve’s Fae ears, and he could barely register her watching him with a wicked gleam in her eye.

“You’re lying.”

“This discovery was an accident. I was looking for her, but the only thing I saw was you.” Maeve drew lazy circles with her finger on the armrest, her smirk predatory. “Let’s say I have unfinished business with her bloodline, but I’m too busy to deal with that now, with your family nagging me all day long.”

“Stay away from her,” Rowan warned, but his voice had a shaky tone that was rare to come out of his lips.

He had a mate, and Maeve was the only way to get to her. Somehow she was wanted by the most vile person Rowan knew, and he had no way to warn or protect—

“We could make a bargain, of course.” Maeve took a sip of her tea. “You could stay out of my way during this war, and we’ll deal with your mate after.”

Abandon his family, and in return receive the greatest happiness ever known to some rare chosen Fae, the ones blessed enough to have a mate. Rowan got up and took a step back, feeling dizzy all of a sudden.

Maeve’s smile grew. She knew she had him.

“Do you, Prince Rowan Whitethorn of Doranelle, accept to be kept away until your lips touch your mate’s?”

He blinked, a sinking feeling in his stomach. Did Rowan have any guarantee he’d kiss his mate while being kept away? Mate. What did being kept away entail?

Mate. Rowan had a mate.

But Maeve wanted to kill him, and there would be no mate if he died from blindly agreeing to a bargain.

“That’s some sketchy wording, Maeve.”

She smirked, her darkness surrounding him. “Take it or leave it, Whitethorn.”

He’d have to be kept away, and would only be free when his mate kissed him. Rowan was sure this meantime wouldn’t be comfortable, the same way he knew he wouldn’t know peace until he found his mate, now that he knew he had one.

“I’ll do it.”

And that’s when Maeve’s darkness engulfed him.

~~

“Do I look like a sexy version of Queen Maeve?” Lysandra checked her reflection on her phone and twirled around the renaissance fair’s First Aid Station Aelin was working at.

Using shape-shifting abilities to do cosplays should be considered cheating, but Lysandra’s magic was so rare they didn’t have rules for that.

“I don’t think The Ancient Queen’s dresses had that kind of cleavage, Lys.”

She booed. “The judges will love it.”

“I’m sure they will.” Aelin rolled her eyes. “Just take off the fangs and pointy ears.”

“Oh, come on!”

Aelin sighed. Sometimes Lys got so excited with her shapeshifting abilities, she forgot that races aren’t costumes.

“I’m going to expose you on Twitter if you don’t take it off.”

“Fine.” Lys shape-shifted into the exact same form she had before, but without Fae traces. “Do I look good as a human Faerie Queen now?”

“You look amazing. Now go away.”

“Ouch!”

Aelin gave her friend a pointed look. She was on call as the renaissance fair’s nurse, ready to assist the visitors. And instead of enjoying the event, Lys had been at the same dull place, chatting with Aelin for hours.

The stone castle was open for visitors for the first time after being unused for 400 years, the fair being in its gardens while people took guided tours inside. Aelin thought it was cool at first, but now she felt an unusual tug in her chest every time she came to work.

All she knew was that Prince Rowan Whitethorn’s disappearance was the last straw to start the war that killed Queen Maeve, 400 years ago.

The Royal Family made sure Prince Rowan was remembered, but Aelin always wondered why they kept Maeve’s castle closed for so long. Until she felt that strange tug in her gut.

Aelin!

The shout came as a warning before Ress, from the security team, barged into the First Aid Station.

“There’s an unconscious body inside the castle.”

Aelin jumped from her seat, grabbed her medical bag and hopped on the golf cart waiting for her. It wasn’t as fast as an ambulance, but the faster a four-wheeled vehicle could go inside an event like this.

“Did you call an ambulance?”

As qualified as Aelin was, there was only so much she could do outside of a hospital.

“A visitor did,” Ress replied, “but you can get there faster.”

After a small ride and two long sets of stairs, Aelin didn’t find a patient, but the crowd that gathered around one. Ress pushed them aside to let her inside the room, and she thanked Mala the security team had kept the visitors away from the patient.

Tending for an unconscious person with a crowd was chaotic, to say the least.

Aelin ran the patient’s way, kneeling by his side. He must be a cosplayer, given the clothes.

Lysandra gasped near her. “You need to save him. He’s too hot to die!”

Aelin stiffened. “What are you doing here?” she snapped while checking the male’s pulse. Or lack thereof.

Ress raised both hands in surrender. “She was with you for so long, I thought she was a patient under observation!”

Aelin rolled her eyes and started the compressions, the heel of her palm against his sternum in the rhythm of the song inside her head. He. Got. My. Heart. Beat. Skipping. Down. 16th. Avenue.

“Which Whitethorn do you think he’s cosplaying?” Ress asked Lysandra in the background.

“I don’t know,” her friend replied, “they all look the same to me.”

After thirty seconds of CPR, she pinched the male’s nostrils closed, sealing his open lips with hers to give him a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

When she placed her hands to restart the chest compressions, she felt his rib cage expanding.

Unconscious Hottie was breathing. Aelin’s shoulders dropped in relief.

In a matter of seconds, his breathing was normal. Way too strong, considering his previous state. His eyes blinked way too fast.

A recovery this quick could only mean his blackout was caused by magic.

Aelin left the CPR position and sat by his side, just helping him be more comfortable while the male came back. If he still needed medical assistance, only a magical healer could help him now.

“My mate,” he breathed.

The Fae slowly sat up with Aelin’s support, but he didn’t seem to mind his own fragile state. His eyes were blown wide, aimed at her, his breath ragged.

"How long hath I waited for thee, my soul’s mate?" the silver-haired Fae asked with a desperate, longing gaze.

Aelin was kneeling by his side, her mouth hanging open. God, this cosplayer was good. But how did he get back to his role so fast? People can’t fake their heartbeat stopping, right?

“Hey, is everything alright?” She squeezed his shoulder. “What happened? Did someone poison you?”

The male didn’t answer her. Instead, despite his weak limbs after the incident, he kneeled before Aelin. He bowed his head and raised the sword strapped to him with both hands, the same way people were portrayed making vows in very old paintings.

“As a prince of grace and dignity, I, Rowan Whitethorn of Doranelle, doth pledge to thee my love, my sword, and my service, from this day forth. Even when this world is forgotten, a mere whisper of dust between the stars, I shall hold thee dear in my love."

Holy rutting Mala.

Aelin’s mouth fell open, a wave of coldness spreading from her core and numbing her thoughts. She was always ready for the unpredictable, but did he… did he just—

“Ae.” Lys cleared her throat. “Did this total stranger just propose to you?”

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[live-the-fangirl-life]

I posted 1,545 times in 2022

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I tagged 243 of my posts in 2022

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Longest Tag: 84 characters

#he would grumble and roll his eyes and act annoyed when she introduces him like that

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

Cusco, Peru

A World Away Part 6

Aelin Galathynius x Rowan Whitethorn - World Travelers AU

Travel Tip #67: Be aware and respectful of the history around you—in the long-treaded paths, the ruins of lost civilizations, and in the people whose ancestry can be traced back to both.

Part 5 | Fic Masterlist | MoodBoard | Read on Ao3

Warnings: Language

11,091 words

*******

The weather was balmy, and Aelin could feel a rivulet of sweat run down the side of her hairline as she kept her phone pressed to her ear.

“I just grabbed my bag. Where are you?” She asked into the speaker, spinning in place as she scanned the small, bustling airport. Without waiting for a response, she followed the flow of people out of the building and towards the eager hordes of taxi drivers, all gesturing to travelers and calling out to say they could drive them wherever they needed to go.

Adjusting the strap of her backpack that was digging into her shoulder, Aelin kept her cellphone pressed close so she could still hear over the hum of chatter around her while she continued to look for a familiar face.

“Keep walking, I see you,” a deep, accented voice responded. “We’re at the end of the row.”

“We?” she asked, confused, carefully avoiding running into anyone’s bags and suitcases.

The sun and heat were welcome changes from the ever-too-cool airports and obnoxious fluorescent lighting that had defined her last day and a half. Not to mention how much she appreciated getting to truly stretch her legs. Navigating the maze-like airport terminals wasn’t as refreshing as stepping out from baggage claim and into whatever world she’d ended up in.

“Luis and I,” he clarified before saying something in muffled Spanish, “He’s the cab driver I got earlier—insisted on coming back when I explained you’d be flying in now.”

Aelin sped up to pass a family of slow walkers, and as she moved around them and back onto the sidewalk, she spotted a tall, silver-haired man with a cell phone pressed to his ear.

The small smile he wore widened into a grin when he caught her eye and hung up the call. Matching that grin, Aelin quickly shoved her phone into her pocket before hurrying over towards him.

Unlike last time she’d seen Rowan in person when he’d been taken aback by her unexpected hug in Dublin, this time he was the one to approach her, wrapping his arms around her before she could barrel into him. Aelin laughed into his shirt, suppressing her surprise at his unprompted show of affection as she returned the hug.

Her brain felt too tired from the exhausting hours it took to arrive in Peru—the flights, connections, and layovers—to think too much about why she suddenly felt so comfortable. She allowed herself another moment to hang onto him before pulling back and grinning again. “Buzzard! Would you look at that, we’re in the same place and not by accident this time!”

His face instantly morphed into that of long-suffering amusement. Rolling his eyes, Rowan carded a hand through his hair and Aelin had to use more restraint than she expected to not stare at the way his sleeves stretched over his muscled arms. Damned travel exhaustion. He chuckled, seemingly oblivious to her momentarily dilemma, “One of these days, I’m going to come up with a name for you that’s just as awful as Buzzard.”

“Promise?” She winked, laughing.

He shook his head exasperatedly but smirked.

Aelin was thrilled at how natural it felt to talk to him. Despite their frequent conversations—after she’d given him her number, he quickly became the person she spoke to the most on a regular basis—it had still been practically four months since they’d seen each other in person.

She kept him updated on where she was headed next, and he told her all about his projects and where he’d be flying to on any particular day. Neither one could be counted on to be in the same time zone from week to week, sometimes leaving hours between the shortest of messages. But, in a way, their disjointed conversations were more reliable than those she had with her parents or friends back home, because she knew that despite unpredictable schedules, she and Rowan could keep a conversation going for days at a time.

“Buenos días, miss. My name is Luis.” The cab driver came around the hood of the car and greeted her warmly in an enunciated, Peruvian accent as he held out his hand for her luggage. “I can put your bags in the back.”

Noticing his dubious expression when all she handed him was her large backpack, she shrugged and explained, “I didn’t want to worry about dealing with a suitcase,” she shared an excited glance with Rowan, “with our plans and all.”

They slid into the back of the small car, Rowan wincing slightly at the way his long legs were squished behind the driver’s seat. Aelin leaned over and playfully knocked his shoulder with hers. “It’s good to see you, Rowan.”

His face softened a fraction, and his smile was small and genuine. “It’s good to see you too, Aelin. Even if you do ridiculously insist on naming me after a bird.”

Her snort was cut off by Luis grinning at them in the rearview mirror as he nodded to the land around them and began driving away. “¡Bienvenido a Cusco!”

***

See the full post

168 notes - Posted January 20, 2022

#4

New York City, United States

A World Away Part 7

Aelin Galathynius x Rowan Whitethorn - World Travelers AU

Travel Tip #79: For the best experience in any city, try to pair the excitement of a tourist with the know-how of a local. Both perspectives will enlighten the other.

Part 6 | Fic Masterlist | MoodBoard | Read on Ao3

Warnings: Language

12,010 words

*******

“I’m so excited,” Lysandra beamed giddily to Elide who rolled her eyes but smirked in agreement. “We finally get to meet your mysterious, worldly man.”

The bustling sounds of Third Avenue were quieted by the terrace of flowers separating the outdoor tables from the rest of Manhattan. Aelin looked through the small spaces between half-open petals and watched as dark cars flew by, accented by the tell-tale bright yellow of a taxicab.

She snorted, going back to perusing the brunch menu. “He isn’t my anything. He’s just Rowan.” Aelin didn’t miss the sidelong glance her friends exchanged.

“I didn’t exactly mean it like that, but since you brought it up,” Lysandra drawled, sipping from her mimosa as a sly grin stretched across her face, widening at Aelin’s sigh. “This is Rowan we’re talking about. The same Rowan who met you halfway across the world for a four-day trek through the jungle.”

“It was not—” Aelin shook her head and put her menu down, but Elide cut in.

“The same Rowan with whom you spent an entire day in Marrakesh talking to,” The brunette raised a brow as Lysandra nodded fervently. “Completely blowing off your scheduled bazaar tour.”

“Okay,” the blonde tried to wave them off. “That wasn’t a big deal because I’d already been wandering around the bazaar—”

“Doesn’t change the fact that you spent hours catching up with a veritable stranger,” Lysandra retorted.

“He wasn’t a stranger. And it had been, like, seven months since we’d seen each other at that point.” Aelin argued, picking up her own glass of citrusy prosecco.

“Right,” Elide grinned. “Seven months since the two of you miraculously met in Santorini—”

“Technically we met on the boat to Santorini—”

“Where he was so enthralled by you,” Elide talked over her, trying to prove her point, “that he took your picture and used it as,” she turned towards Lysandra, feigning forgetfulness, and ignored the way Aelin sat back with her arms crossed, staring indignantly at them.

“His Enchanting Moment.” Lysandra finished helpfully.

Right. That had been a surprise. After Rowan had shown her the photo and brief magazine spread, Aelin went searching for the full edition. It wasn’t until a few weeks later while strolling through the streets of Barcelona that she found the magazine at a small roadside stand. She’d made friends with her hostel manager and got her to translate the multi-page article that held her image. Later, Aelin had found an English version which she bought as a keepsake along with a subscription to the magazine.

Aelin was saved from her friend’s prying by the waiter who came to take their orders. Once he’d walked away, she said, “Look, think whatever you want, just please don’t be weird when he’s here.”

Lysandra batted her eyelashes. “Why? Afraid we’ll embarrass you in front of your secret, jet-setting lover?”

Her friend laughed as Aelin threw a grape at her face. “I’m serious, Lys,” Aelin rolled her eyes, huffing a laugh as two of her closest friends teased her. “You too, Lochan. Rowan is my friend. Gods know it took us long enough to even get to that point. I don’t need you two meddling. And I really don’t want to lose my travel partner because you’ve somehow got it into your heads that there’s something between us.”

Her friends’ smirks softened, and they shared another look before Elide asked, “Is there something between you?”

That was complicated. So very complicated.

Aelin scoffed again but this time it felt a little hollow. “I’ve seen him a total of six times—”

“Tomorrow will make seven—”

“—in two years, El. And half of those were just us yelling and arguing with each other.”

See the full post

178 notes - Posted March 11, 2022

#3

Lucky Lady

Gwyneth Berdara x Azriel

“Surpri—oh shit, you’re not…” / “Oh my god! What the hell? Where are your clothes?”

Masterlist | Read on Ao3 | Valentines Collection

Warnings: Language, Nudity

997 words

*******

Azriel wasn’t totally sure what he was doing, standing in Gwyn’s apartment without a scrap of clothing, waiting for her to walk through the door.

He glanced towards her kitchen island where he’d placed a bouquet of roses into a tall vase. She had gone out to a girl’s brunch with Nesta and Emerie, letting him know that they’d left the restaurant and she would be free soon.

Azriel had let himself into her apartment with the key she’d given him a few months prior, wanting to be there when she got back so they could have as much time as possible to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

“This is a good idea, right?” he muttered to the stuffed animal perched on the back of Gwyn’s sofa. The light pink Pegasus stared back with unseeing, sparkly eyes as it held a small red heart between its hooves that said Happy Valentine’s Day.

The moment he had seen the toy, he knew he needed to buy it for Gwyn.

He heard the metallic sound of a key in the lock, and knew he didn’t have any more time to second guess himself.

Buck-ass naked, Azriel stepped between the living room and the kitchen, in direct view of the door. He grabbed the stuffed animal in one hand and the box of chocolates he’d bought for her in the other.

Squaring his shoulders, Azriel flexed his muscles and glanced down at himself smugly as he adjusted his stance.

Gwyn’s apartment door swung open.

He cleared his throat. “Supri—" he grinned, before abruptly cutting off in a choke. “Oh shit, Nesta? Fuck.”

He immediately dropped his hands to cover himself, the chocolates and Pegasus falling to the floor.

“Oh my god!” Nesta cried, her eyes flying wide before she clamped a hand over them and spun around so her back was facing him. “What the hell? Where are your clothes?”

His face aflame, Azriel hastily reached for the pillow on the sofa to use as cover. Then he threw himself behind the kitchen island so his lower half was completely out of sight.

“Nesta?” Gwyn’s frantic, worried voice called out as she hurried towards her apartment. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

Azriel was speechless, utterly mortified as his girlfriend rounded the door, searching for the cause of her friend’s shriek.

“Nes—what?” She pulled up short as her gaze immediately found his. He watched as Gwyn looked at him, his bare chest—as much as she could see behind the counter—the chocolates and stuffed animal on the floor, and Nesta who still had her back to him.

The longer her teal eyes darted around, the higher her brows rose. When she caught his eye again, he noticed hers were twinkling with barely contained amusement. Then she pursed her lips together as she tried to hold in a laugh.

Gods, she was never going to let him live this down.

Without taking her eyes off Azriel, Gwyn said to her friend, “Thanks for lunch, Nes, but I think you should probably go now.” Her words were steady but he watched as her gaze darkened as she realized he was fully nude behind the counter.

Nesta nodded without turning around so all he saw was the bob of her hair. She took a step out of the apartment but stopped right next to Gwyn. She didn’t bother to lower her voice as she winked at Gwyn, “You’re a lucky lady, Berdara.” Then Nesta Archeron walked out the door.

Azriel closed his eyes in humiliation but couldn’t help the small swell of male pride. It vanished almost immediately though as he leaned forward and let his head fall against the cool marble with a thud.

The door clicked shut and he heard it lock before Gwyn’s bright cackle filled the room. He groaned as his girlfriend seemed to find the whole situation hilarious.

Azriel heard her move closer to him and pick up the gifts discarded on the ground. When he knew she was close he grumbled into the counter, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

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179 notes - Posted January 28, 2022

#2

Fake Fiancé

Aelin Galathynius x Rowan Whitethorn

Prompt from @backtobl4ck : Fake proposals at restaurants to get free food

Masterlist | Read on Ao3

Warnings: None

896 words

*******

“I’ll have a Tanqueray martini, stirred, with a twist.”

Aelin let her long coat rest over the side of the low-backed barstool she perched on as her gaze surveyed the dimly lit restaurant behind her. Everyone was dressed to the nines, draped in designer clothing and bedecked in jewels, herself included, which only exemplified the opulent atmosphere.

Low chatter dissolved within the quiet music filtering through invisible speakers. Candles lined the walls, illuminating the soft-toned paintings placed about.

She crossed one leg over the other, the silt in her dress falling away to expose smooth skin and toned muscle, and tossed her long golden hair over one shoulder. Her heel began to sway to the low beat.

“Thank you,” she murmured to the bartender who handed over her drink. Lifting the chilled glass to her crimson-painted lips, Aelin loosed a small, contented sigh at the velvety smooth cocktail. Her eyes closed for a moment while she sipped again, enjoying the light citrusy flavor of the lemon rind.

A chorus of applause caught her attention and Aelin twisted in her seat to look towards the side of the restaurant where a woman was rising from her kneeling position on the floor, beaming as she slipped a bright engagement ring onto her girlfriend’s—fiancés—finger.

Aelin felt the corner of her mouth quirk up at the obvious display of happiness and lifted her glass in gesture as more applause rang out. She hadn’t yet turned back to the bar when Aelin heard, what had to be the manager, approach the two women and insist their dinner be on the house while also offering a complimentary bottle of wine or champagne with a hearty congratulations.

She huffed out a soft snort and muttered “I’d get engaged right now if it meant getting that lobster tail comped.”

A deep chuckle to her right made Aelin whip her head around to see who had heard her, mouth already open to ask why they felt entitled to react to her obviously rhetorical comment. The words got caught in her throat, however, when her eyes landed on the man sitting two seats down from her.

His thick hair was so pale it looked silver under the glow of the warm lights. He was tall, he didn’t need to get up for her to see that. And muscled. The arms resting on the sleek bar were toned and strong, and a tattoo peeked out from beneath the sleeves of his dress shirt he’d rolled up to his elbows.

Aelin dragged her eyes back to his face and found him staring at her with piercing green eyes. He was smirking, obviously enjoying the way she had hesitated and checked him out.

Blinking, Aelin remembered why she turned to him in the first place. Arching a golden brow and taking a smooth sip of her martini, she asked, “Something you’d like to say?”

His smirk slowly widened and he lifted his own drink, an Old Fashioned by the looks of it, to his lips. She tightened her grip on her glass while he held her gaze before replying, “Only that I would've gone with the Wagyu.”

Her brow rose higher as the hum of chattering continued around them. Aelin shifted again, angling her body more towards his. “Is that so?”

She swept her eyes over him with deliberate slowness and let him see the glimmer of interest on her face. In one smooth move, he stood from his chair, grabbed his jacket, and took the seat directly beside her.

He shrugged with an irreverence that seemed to say, your choice, but tilted his glass towards her and leaned in. “The real question is would you accept the bottle of Zinfandel or Champagne?”

Aelin sat back in her chair, a smirk playing on her lips that grew when she caught his gaze stray towards them. “Well, seeing as the lobster would pair best with a Chardonnay, not a red, and if my fiancé was having the Wagyu steak which would preferably be had with a Barolo or Syrah, and not a Zinfandel,” she paused, sipping her martini and enjoying the slow grin blossoming across the man’s face. “I would opt for the complimentary bottle of Champagne to share.”

Nodding his agreement, he finished his drink and set it on the bar before extending his hand towards her. “Rowan.”

Aelin held his gaze, aware of how he kept his hand out in offering as she sipped the last of her cocktail and set the empty glass next to his. She smiled and placed her hand in his. “Aelin.”

Without breaking eye contact, he shifted their handshake so he lightly held her fingers and brought them to his mouth, pressing a lingering kiss to her knuckles. “Aelin,” he dragged her name out, and she instantly enjoyed the way it sounded coming from him. “How would you like to get fake engaged tonight?”

Her smile broadened and his soon followed. “I would love to.”

Aelin stood from her barstool and discreetly removed one of the rings she wore, sliding it towards Rowan and letting her fingers graze his skin for a second longer than necessary.

Standing to his full height, he pocketed the ring and winked at her. “After you,” he insisted and rested a hand lightly on the small of her back as they walked toward the dinner tables.

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189 notes - Posted February 5, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

ooh what about "I'm not drunk. Can a drunk person do this?" / "You're not doing anything." / "But...I sent you my love. Did you...did you not get it?" for rowaelin? definitely seems like an aelin thing to say 😂

Sending My Love

Aelin Galathynius x Rowan Whitethorn

“I’m not drunk. Could a drunk person do this?” / “You’re not doing anything.” / “But…I sent you my love. Did you…did you not get it?”

Masterlist | Read on Ao3 | Valentines Collection

Warnings: Language

2405 words

*******

“Are you ready for tonight?” Aelin asked, looking in the hall mirror as she put in her sparkling pink earrings.

Rowan grabbed his jacket and walked towards her. “Yes, Fireheart, I’m ready.” He showed her the remaining crumbs from his extra sandwich as proof. “Are you?”

She smirked at him in the mirror. “Of course. A little deception is exciting.”

He arched a brow and held out her jacket for her to slide her arms in, “You have the same look in your eye that you had when you were planning Aedion’s surprise party.”

She grinned, buttoning her jacket and turning towards him, “And you remember how amazing that turned out.”

Rowan snorted as he grabbed the keys and locked the door of their apartment behind them. “I have no doubt in you. Not when it comes to scheming.”

Aelin laughed and flashed him a wink as they got in the car and drove off towards Lysandra and Aedion’s house. Despite her confidence, she couldn’t help the anxiety that bubbled up.

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay? Should I have set out a bucket for you by the bed before we left?” She bit the side of her thumb, a nervous habit, and cast him a sidelong glance as they drove towards the house.

He scoffed but took her hand in his and brought their intertwined fingers to his lips, kissing her softly. “No. I can handle my drink. I’ve had a fair bit of practice. Besides, it’s not like we’re going out to a club, it’s just a small party with some friends, I doubt there will be that many drinks.”

She huffed a laugh and nodded. Rowan pulled up into the driveway and turned the car off, leaning over and pressing a firm kiss on her lips, breaking away when their smiles made it mostly teeth on teeth. He followed Aelin up the front steps. She knocked on the door and turned to Rowan. “Then let’s do this Mr. Whitethorn-Galathynius.”

His answering grin was equal parts determined and happy. “After you Mrs. Whitethorn-Glathynius.”

***

“To celebrating love,” Elide toasted, raising her flute of champagne.

Lorcan stood next to her, one arm slung over the petite woman’s shoulders, and muttered, “To overpriced chocolates,” but mimicked her gesture of raising his glass.

Lysandra and Aedion had just moved into their brand-new house and decided to throw a Valentine’s Day party in lieu of a housewarming. Their small group of friends arrived an hour before the party officially started to get the full tour and celebrate before the house would be filled with love-sick and sick-of-love people.

They stood together in the kitchen as Aedion had handed out glasses, Aelin laughing as she leaned into Rowan’s side and snagged one of the chocolate hazelnut candies off the dessert table.

She smiled as champagne was poured and felt the fingers at her waist give a little squeeze. There was the toast to Valentine’s Day, making Aelin snort into her bubbling glass as Elide elbowed Lorcan with rolled eyes.

Rowan turned, masked by the whistles and laughter from their friends, and pretended to glance at the door as he downed his glass, before stealthily swapping his empty one for Aelin’s. When Aedion came to give her a hug, she cheersed the empty glass in her hand with his.

It wasn’t long before more people filled the house, bringing bottles of wine and champagne or plates full of food and treats.

“Ooh, you’ve got to try this!” Elide came over to Aelin and Rowan with two deep red cocktails with sugared raspberries in hand. She handed one to each of them. “Lys calls these Love Potions. Cranberry juice, grenadine, and a shit load of vodka!” Elide laughed, but quickly spotted someone else and hurried away.

“It smells so good.” Aelin groaned as Rowan took a few deep gulps of his, only briefly wincing at the burn. She pulled one of the raspberries off and made sure it hadn’t been soaking in the drink before plunking it in her mouth.

“Trade you,” he took her drink and she grabbed his.

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192 notes - Posted January 31, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[acciowests]

37 for rowaelin ahhhhh

i had so much fun writing this, thanks for the request!!

The Breakfast Club

WORD COUNT: 1196

PROMPT: Having little one help flip pancakes.

There was nothing warmer than Rowan's arms on a Sunday morning. Well, she supposed her husband's arms were warm every morning, but then he had to get up early for work most morning, so she didn't always get a chance to find out. Now, her cheek was pressed against his chest, arm thrown around his shoulders and fingers curling in his hair as her legs hooked over his thighs and waist. His hands were making patterns on her hip, her shirt—which was actually Rowan's—now pushed up beneath her breasts.

"What do you fancy for breakfast?" he asked, his morning voice gruff and sensual against her hair. She'd been married to Rowan Whitethorn Galathynius for almost ten years now, and still, his morning voice made her tighten in places only he could please.

Aelin let out a hum, "Why? Are you going to make it for me?"

His hand dropped to circle her arse, a chuckle rising his chest as she snuggled against him, "Well, with an attitude like that I'll just make some for myself."

She rolled over, feet still in his lap and hand still in his hair, "Yeah, like you'd leave our children out of whatever yummy treat you're planning on making and taunting me with."

He was about to respond, his eyes narrowed teasingly before a sound came from across the room. With a creak of the door, they both rolled over, watching as Sam slipped in, his golden hair messy and pressed to his brow as he wandered forward, eyes still squinted and half shut. With Rowan still wearing his boxers and Aelin now pulling her shirt back down till it rested on her mid-thigh, they were appropriate for their seven-year-old to join them in the bed. Of course, to Aelin's utter satisfaction, Sam plopped himself against her side immediately, allowing her to wrap an arm around his shoulder and pull him in close, pressing a kiss to his hair.

"Good morning, sweet boy," she whispered, "Daddy and I were just talking about breakfast, is there anything particular you want?"

Sam shook his head, eyes closed as his face rested against his mother's breast. Rowan sat up against the headboard, stretching his arms and briefly ruffling his son's hair, earning a brief but loving smile, "I could make waffles, french toast, pancakes—"

"Pancakes!" came a high pitched squeal from a small, silver-haired toddler standing in their doorway. Elentiya was all chubby thighs and round belly in her unicorn onesie, her hair poking out in every direction possible. In her hand was a teddy half the size of her, the two-year-old running at once and pouncing toward the bed. Luckily, Rowan was right there, gripping under her armpits and around her chest to lift her.

Aelin reached forward, tickling under Elen's chin, "Morning, princess. Someone wants pancakes I hear?"

With Rowan's hands as a balance, Elen began jumping on the bed, a grin on her rosy cheeks. "Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancakes!" she cheered, bouncing down beside her big brother, "Sammy want pancakes too?"

Sam rubbed at his eyes, sitting up as Aelin did so too, preparing to slide out from under him. "C'mon Elen," he sighed, still tired and not yet prepared for his sister's excitement but giving her a little smile nonetheless, "Let's go get pancakes."

The Whitethorn Galathynius family moved as one down the stairs, Elen now on Rowan's hip as Sam held onto Aelin's hand. She had pulled on some panties while Rowan had pulled on some sweat pants, leaving the kids in their pyjamas like they did most mornings. As Rowan moved through the kitchen, preparing all the ingredients and getting the stove ready, Aelin poured the drinks, strawberry milk for Elen and an orange juice for Sam. With all of them seated at the kitchen island, her hand on Elentiya's back so she didn't fall if she leant too far, they watched Rowan make the pancakes, pouring the batter into the pan. Ever the chef, Aelin thought, smirking at her husband's back.

"Flip them, Dada!" Elentiya giggled, her upper lip covered in the pink milk she'd just drank, "Flip pancake!"

Sam slumped onto Aelin's shoulder, her other arm hooking around his waist and pressing a kiss to his temple. Her smart, sweet, shy baby boy. Meanwhile, Rowan was rounding the table, picking up Elen who was in the middle of trying to stand up on her chair as Aelin held tightly to the hood on her onesie, and brought the toddler over to the stove. On other occasions, she would have snapped, insisting he put their two-year-old safely on the floor away from the burning hot gas, but, she knew how much she loved watching him flip the silly little batter circles, and so she remained quiet.

One hand upon the pan's handle and the other holding his daughter in place, Rowan flipped the pancake and, guessing by Elen's cheer, it landed perfectly onto the other side. She watched the way her daughter's face lit up, watched the awe in her husband's eyes as he watched too. She would have felt a little left out if it weren't for her firstborn who clung to her side. Sam was also watching the pancake flipping, his blue and gold eyes intent on watching how high the pancake could go without crumbling. "Great job, Dada!" beamed Elentiya, echoing things she had heard her parents say.

Rowan chuckled, pressing a kiss to his daughter's hair, "Thanks, baby girl. Do you want to help?"

Elen's eyes widened, her head bobbing up and down so quickly that Aelin was surprised it didn't fly off. With her legs locked tightly around her father's waist, Elen's little hands gripped the handle atop of Rowan's, her tongue coming out as she focused. Rowan lifted the pan quickly, Elentiya's hands lifting with the handle as the pancake flipped. Her gasp rang throughout the kitchen, "Dada, I flipped the pancake!"

She snuggled into his neck as he praised her, an endless smile on her lips as she watched the pancake in the pan, now perfectly flipped over. Aelin couldn't help her grin, "Well done, baby girl. That's so great!"

"Again, again, again!" she chanted, watching as Rowan now slipped the pancake onto the growing stack. Luckily, there was just enough batter in the jug for one more pancake, Elentiya's chubby palms already upon the handle. With her father's assistance, she flipped the last pancake, a little higher than last time, and watched it land perfectly within the pan. This time, a high-pitched sequel escaped her little lips.

Squeezing Sam's side, Aelin got up from the table, moving to the cupboard and pulling out all the sauces and toppings; maple syrup, strawberry sauce, butter, sugar, lemon juice, chocolate sprinkles and what was left of the blueberries in the fridge. Rowan set Elen down in her chair, placing the stack in the middle of the table and setting plates before everyone. With everything laid out before them and everyone seated, the Whitethorn Galathynius family tucked into the thick pancakes, drowning them in sauce and taking in the fluffy texture and delicious taste that only Rowan could make.

* * *

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[aster-ria]

A Lion's Pride by @pitterpatterpot

This is the "Gavriel survived KOA/Him and Aedion having Father/Son moments AU" fic, you'll need after Koa!

Please read it! It's literally so good!

_____

Hi @pitterpatterpot

Queen-Aster-Luna here, I got a little inspired by your amazing fic. And because of that I made a Moodboard/Aesthetic for it and you!

I hope you continue to write this amazing fic!