#trr quick thoughts

[ao719]

Best Kept Secrets

Best Kept Secrets - Built to Last (Chapter 19)

Characters belong to Pixelberry.

Summary: An unforeseen encounter with the past proves that even the best-kept secrets eventually make their way into the light. 

Title inspiration: Changing Tides - The Fray

Book/Pairing: TRR; Liam x F!OC

A/N: Not beta’d. Please excuse any errors. 

Rating: M • Warning: This series will contain NSFW material. If you read, you acknowledge you are 18+

Catch up here

Slipping out of the SUV, Liam strode through the front doors of the palace after returning from a lunch meeting in the capitol. His assistant met him in the foyer and matched his steps up the stairs as he handed him a small stack of papers he needed for his next meeting. 

“Thank you,” Liam said as he quickly looked them over. “You can head to my study. I’m just going to stop and see Amara and Sophia real quick.”

“Of course, sir,” the man nodded.

Once they reached the landing, they turned in opposite directions as Liam headed for the north wing.

It had been a month since they returned from their trip to New York, and things had been going well. 

Amara seemed more relaxed. The guilt she’d been feeling prior to the trip didn’t seem to weigh as heavily on her after their talk at the hotel that night. He was watching her fall back into the old Amara … the one he’d fallen in love with two years ago. 

The one with no guilt. 

The one with no secrets. 

The press had ceased their verbal attacks on Amara’s intentions since learning she was staying in Cordonia. Now, they turned their focus on the status of her and Liam’s relationship, questioning if they would rekindle the romance they once had. 

Liam didn’t give them the satisfaction of a response. Partly because he didn’t feel it was any of their business, at least not yet. And partly because he had nothing to give them at the moment. 

In the month since they returned to Cordonia after deciding to see where things could go between them, they’d certainly gotten closer. They’d spent every evening together, but only behind the confines of the palace walls and as a family. They would meet once Liam finished work for the day in either the north wing or his quarters, they’d have dinner, and they’d play with Sophia before putting her to bed. Then they would have their time, which consisted of talking or watching a movie. And when they weren’t chatting or paying attention to a TV screen, they would get caught up in one another, but they had yet to cross any lines beyond kissing. 

While Liam was the one who said he wanted to “slow down”, he found himself struggling to rein in his desires for Amara as they grew closer; the tension between them continued to thicken and each kiss they shared grew more passionate. He was determined to get things right this time around, however, so he was content with taking things slow. 

Once at the north wing, Liam stepped inside and rounded the corner to see them in the living area; Amara was sitting on the sofa with her laptop in front of her while Sophia played with blocks on the floor. 

“Dada!” Sophia squealed when she spotted him; she pushed herself to stand and toddled toward him. 

Liam grinned as he leaned down and scooped her into his arms. “Hi, princess.” His gaze then met Amara’s as he approached her; he leaned down, kissing her cheek. “Hi.” 

“Hi,” Amara smiled. “How was your meeting?” 

“It was fine. I thought I’d stop by before the next one. What have you two been up to?” 

“Not much,” Amara shrugged. “We just got back from having lunch with Regina. She was wondering if you’d spoken to Leo.”

“Yes,” Liam nodded. “He told me he was coming home next weekend to finally meet his niece,” he smiled as Sophia looked at him. “You’re going to have your Uncle Leo wrapped right around your little finger, I can already tell.” He then looked at Amara. “He’s looking forward to meeting you, too.”

“Me?”

“You are the mother of his niece,” Liam playfully scoffed. “And we’re … well, ya know …” He winked. 

Amara smiled sheepishly with a quiet laugh as she dropped his gaze. “Right.”

An imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of Liam’s lips at the light pink tint that he saw bloom on her cheeks. While she’d become much more relaxed since their talk, she was still being careful and seemed to get easily flustered at any comment he made in a teasing, flirtatious manner. The old Amara from two years ago was bold in her flirtations, and while he was hoping to see that bold side come back, there was something about her getting flustered that he found endearing. 

It had become a secret little game of his to see it happen. 

Just then, Amara’s phone rang; she glanced at the screen before rising from the sofa. “Can you watch her for a quick sec? I need to take this.”

“Sure,” Liam nodded. 

As she disappeared down the hall, Liam walked to the sofa and sat down with Sophia. “Are you having fun with Mommy?” he asked Sophia before smothering her cheek with playful kisses. She giggled and pulled back, then leaned across him, stretching her arms out. His gaze shifted in the direction she was reaching and fell on Amara’s open laptop. “No, you can’t have that, silly,” he chuckled. He was about to close it, but his brows furrowed and he leaned forward to get a better look. He felt a pang of surprise mixed with trepidation when he saw what was on the screen. 

It was a realtor’s website … with listings of houses for sale. 

When Liam and Amara first talked after the statement was made and she told him she planned to stay in Cordonia, she mentioned eventually finding a place of her own. At the time, he didn’t think much of it, and in the nearly three months since that conversation, any notion of it had slipped his mind entirely. Even though she had only brought it up that one time, it clearly hadn’t slipped her mind. 

A dozen questions and thoughts flooded his mind, but before he could process them, Amara reappeared. “Sorry about that.”

Snapping from his daze, Liam looked at her and cleared his throat. “It’s alright. Everything ok?”

“Yeah,” Amara nodded. As she stared at him, she could see the moment he sensed that she wanted to say more. “I’ll talk to you about it later.” 

Liam nodded even as more questions filled his head. Talk about what? He thought it might have something to do with what he just glimpsed on her laptop, and despite wanting to ask her about it, he thought that perhaps that was better left for later. 

Glancing at his watch, Liam sighed. “I have that meeting soon.” He stood from the sofa, kissed Sophia’s cheek, and set her back down in front of her blocks before turning to Amara. “We’re meeting at my place tonight?” he asked as they walked toward the door.

“Yeah,” Amara confirmed.

“I should be finished at my usual time, but if something comes up …” Liam turned to see her leaning against the wall, looking up at him. “…I’ll let you know.” She nodded as he took a step toward her, and in the next moment, he leaned down, pressing his lips to hers. His hand came up, settling on her neck as his thumb brushed along the curve of her jaw. A moment later, he drew back just enough to break the kiss and whispered against her lips, “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye …”

When Liam slipped out, Amara dropped her head against the door with a soft thud and closed her eyes as she let out a breath. For the past month, she’d been struggling with her longing for him. She swore each day she had to fight twice as hard as the one before to tamp down her growing desire. 

It wasn’t just the longing, though. It was the giddiness over the way he was making her feel … the same way he did two years ago. Hell, he couldn’t even be playful or flirtatious without making her lose her composure. He’d make one small comment and the butterflies would erupt in the masses and she’d start blushing. 

Amara lifted her head and took in a determined breath. She would continue to follow his lead because she didn’t want to do anything to ruin the progress they’d made. 

****

That night, after their usual round of dinner, playing, and putting Sophia to bed, Liam and Amara sat in the living area inside his quarters as a movie played on the TV screen. 

Liam had a few meetings that day, but he’d been distracted during each of them as thoughts of what he glimpsed on Amara’s laptop consumed his mind. He wasn’t sure why her looking for a place of her own bothered him so much … but it did. 

Despite them currently living under the same roof, they were in separate wings, so Amara having her own place wouldn’t really change anything between them. But Liam wouldn’t be able to just walk a few corridors to her door. He wouldn’t be able to drop by unannounced and on the fly anytime he wanted like he could now. And spending every evening with them would probably dwindle to once or twice a week. He’d be missing out on time and moments he didn’t want to miss out on … like the one he found himself in now.

Liam drew back from Amara’s lips, trying to will his desire for her back inside its cage. “So,” he whispered as his thumb brushed against her cheek, “what was that phone call about earlier?” 

“Oh, um …” Amara leaned back. “It was my realtor …”

“A realtor?” Liam asked, feigning ignorance. 

“Yeah,” she nodded. “I’ve been looking since I made the decision to stay and with price drops happening left and right lately, I thought it would be a good time to really look.” 

Liam shifted on the sofa, draping one arm across the back as he rested his hand on her thigh. “Really look as in …?”

“I have appointments to view some listings.” 

“I see,” Liam nodded as he held her gaze. “Is this something you want to do right now? I told you there was no rush for you to find a place.” 

“I don’t want to overstay my welcome,” Amara quipped, and he gave her a look. “It’s a process, not something that happens overnight, so I just think it might be time to start looking.” 

Liam nodded again as he watched his finger trace a shape on her denim-clad thigh. “What kind of place are you looking for?”

“Something secure. Obviously, with Sophia …” 

Liam’s jaw tensed at even the mere thought of anyone having easy access to not just Sophia but Amara as well, but he tried to remain casual. “Right …” 

“Something with a yard for her to play in.”

A nod was all Liam offered, unable to say what he was thinking. She has acres and acres of yard to play in here at the palace. 

“Three bedrooms.”

“Three?” Liam questioned.

“I thought having one for a guest room would be a good idea, just in case.”

“In case what?”

“I don’t know … in case Daniel or Riley or someone else needs to crash one night.”

Again, Liam offered nothing but a nod. There are guest rooms galore here. 

Suddenly, the reason why it bothered him so much hit Liam like a ton of bricks. He didn’t want her to leave. And not just because he wanted her to remain at the palace so she’d be within walking distance but because he wanted her with him … in his wing … with their daughter … as a family. Together. 

Yes, Liam was the one who said he wanted to take things slow, and they were — as slow as two people with a history and connection like them could. But he was struck with the sudden awareness that everything they had done up to that point had been ass-backward. Nothing about them or their situation was conventional and it never had been. So, was the impulse of wanting her to stay with him instead of buying her own house really that far-fetched of an idea? No. 

But if she was so adamant about starting to look for her own place, perhaps she didn’t want the same thing he did or didn’t feel ready, at least, not yet. 

“So when are you planning to start looking?” Liam asked.

“Tomorrow,” Amara answered. His gaze snapped up to hers, not having expected it to be that soon, but he managed to keep his expression neutral. “I’m not expecting to find the one on the first day, but I think it’ll give me an idea of what I want to look for going forward.” 

As Liam nodded again, Amara held his gaze; she swore she could see a flash of something in his eyes, but he was quick to make it vanish. Before she could ask, commotion from the movie they’d been watching pulled their attention to the TV screen. 

A moment later, Liam looked back at her as he stroked his thumb across her knuckles; the movement pulled her gaze back to him, and a heartbeat later, he captured her lips in his. 

With that, the conversation ended. 

*******

The following morning, an SUV carrying Amara and Sophia — because Liam wouldn’t let them go anywhere without at least one guard — followed the realtor through the gates of a residential development situated on the outskirts of the capitol. A few moments later, they pulled into the driveway of a two-story home that had recently been listed. 

When they exited the vehicle, Amara smiled as Riley and Drake approached her. “Hey. Thanks for coming along.”

“I had nothing going on, and when I told this one—” Riley threw her thumb over her shoulder at Drake “— he insisted on coming to check the ‘fundamentals’,” she gestured with air quotes.

“You’ll look at the aesthetic, but there’s more to a house than just looking pretty,” Drake said. “That’s where I come in since Liam is stuck in meetings this morning. Although, I don’t know if he’d know what to look for either,” he snorted. 

Amara chuckled. “Well, I appreciate you coming along. You’re right, I don’t really know what to check for other than the basics. So I’ll take any help I can get.” 

“Are we ready?” the realtor smiled from the walkway to the front porch. 

“Yes,” Amara nodded but only managed to take a few steps before her attention turned to another vehicle pulling into the driveway. She turned, recognizing who it was before he even stepped out. 

When the door opened and Liam appeared, she gave him a curious smile. “What are you doing here?”

“I thought maybe you’d like another set of eyes,” Liam grinned as he approached them. “And I want to see the places this little one is potentially going to be living in,” he said as he took Sophia from her and tickled her belly. “So I rescheduled my meetings and cleared the rest of my day.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to,” Liam smiled as he slipped his hand into hers and looked at the realtor.

“Your Majesty,” the man bowed nervously. 

“Just pretend I’m not here,” Liam said. 

The man offered a tense smile and nodded before gesturing for them to follow him inside. 

While Amara walked around with the realtor and Riley, Drake went off on his own to check what he deemed to be important while Liam gave himself and Sophia a tour. 

The house was nice. The first floor was an open-concept floor plan with the kitchen, living room, and dining room all flowing into each other. It appeared to have new wood floors throughout, fresh paint, and he was pretty sure he heard the realtor mention a new roof. 

The three bedrooms were located upstairs. Two were sizable with a Jack and Jill bathroom between them, and the master was massive with an impressive en-suite and walk-in closet. 

It was a pretty perfect house … but Liam didn’t want her to live there. 

Liam had cleared his schedule to tag along on her hunt that day. His goal? To point out everything he could find wrong with each viewing in hopes she’d realize that the palace already had everything she would need or want. Walking through this first home, he knew it was going to be a difficult task if the other viewings were anything like it. 

“Maybe Uncle Drake will find cracks in the foundation,” Liam mumbled to Sophia as they stepped out of the master bedroom and headed back downstairs. When he reached the first floor, he spotted Drake in the living room. “Well?” he questioned as he approached him. 

Drake nodded positively and Liam had to swallow down his disapproval. “It’s really nice. There were a couple of minor things that I noticed, but nothing that isn’t a quick and easy fix.” 

“Well, that sucks,” Liam mumbled under his breath.

“What was that?”

“I said that’s great.” 

“What did you think?”

“It’s … ok.” 

Drake gave him a look. “I know it’s not a palace …” 

“It’s not that,” Liam scoffed. “I just have some … concerns.”

“What concerns?” 

Liam whirled around at the sound of Amara’s voice, meeting her gaze with a small smile as she entered the living room with the realtor and Riley. “The house is … nice. Really nice. I’d be worried about the security, however.”

“It’s a gated community,” Drake said.

Shut up, Drake. “Yes, it is,” Liam nodded. “But the gate is accessed by a keycard, correct?” he looked at the realtor, who nodded in answer. “So there’s no one at the gate, which means anyone who wanted to try hard enough could get in undetected if they climbed over. With who Sophia is, and who you are to me … we know how relentless the press can be at times, and they’re just the tip of the iceberg of people we need to worry about. I just think somewhere where there is a security guard stationed at the gate would be better … safer.” 

It was a legitimate concern, even if he pointed it out for the wrong reason. Had he been on board with this whole idea, he’d have pointed it out regardless. 

“He does have a point,” Amara said as she looked at the realtor; Liam’s shoulders imperceptibly slumped in relief. “I’m sure he’s going to have a guard with us at all times, but having someone at the gate would make me more comfortable with Sophia.” 

“Noted,” the realtor nodded with a smile before looking at the tablet he’d been carrying around. “That knocks off three places from our list of viewings today, but there are two we’re scheduled to see that do have guarded gates.” 

Liam fought back a sigh. 

That was two more places he had to hope she found something wrong with or simply didn’t like. 

And it was only day one of looking.

*******

The following Friday, Amara headed toward Liam’s quarters, walking behind Sophia, who was toddling along the corridor but stopping to wave at every staff member who walked by. They were going to meet him for dinner, along with Drake, Riley, and Leo, who’d arrived a couple of hours ago.

Amara was thankful for Leo’s arrival because it gave her a day’s reprieve from house hunting, which she’d spent the entire week doing. She’d viewed 13 listings over the past week but hadn’t found one that was suitable. 

Suitable not to her standards … but to Liam’s. 

No matter what time Amara was scheduled to view a house, Liam made sure he was available to go with her. At first, she was thankful for it; she wanted his opinion and appreciated his willingness to help despite his busy schedule. But his opinions turned into what she could only describe as nitpicking, proving that his standards were much higher than hers. 

The suggestion Liam made at the first house about a guarded gate made perfect sense. Everything that came after that suggestion, however … 

The yards weren’t good enough for Sophia to play in, or there wasn’t enough space between the houses, or they were too close to the street for his liking. 

At one, the floorboards were “too creaky” which obviously meant that there was something structurally wrong.

Amara had a few listings lined up to look at tomorrow, and Liam said he would go with her, but she wasn’t getting her hopes up. She knew he only wanted what was best for Sophia, but at that point, she didn’t think it was going to be possible to find a home that he deemed worthy enough for his precious little princess. 

Once at Liam’s door, Amara opened it, allowing Sophia in before following her; they could hear laughter from the other room and Sophia walked curiously toward the sound. When they rounded the corner, Liam looked over from where he sat on the balcony and grinned as he playfully slapped the shoulder of the man sitting next to him before they both rose from their seats. 

“Dada!” Sophia gave a toothy grin as she reached for him. 

“Hi, princess,” Liam chuckled as he scooped her into his arms before looking at Amara. He leaned down to press a lingering kiss to her lips, and she softly sighed before he slowly drew back. “Hi,” he whispered, brushing his nose against hers. 

“Hi …” Amara let out a breath. “Sorry if we kept you waiting.”

“You didn’t,” Liam shook his head. “Leo was with Regina earlier. He just showed up here maybe 10 minutes ago.” 

“Am I interrupting?” a voice drawled.

Liam turned and stepped out of Amara’s line of vision, bringing Leo into view. When he met her gaze, she smiled politely yet warily; she was unsure of how exactly he viewed her after what she’d kept from his brother. 

“Leo, this is Amara,” Liam said. “Amara, my brother Leo.” 

“It’s nice to meet you.”

When he grinned, Amara’s shoulders loosened. “It’s nice to meet you, too.” 

“And this is Sophia.” Liam tickled her belly, eliciting a giggle from her. “Can you say hi to Uncle Leo?” She looked at Leo, staring for a moment before sinking deeper into Liam’s embrace and laying her head on his shoulder, hiding her eyes with his neck. 

Leo’s lip jutted. “Aw, don’t be scared of me.”

“I’d be terrified,” Drake snorted as he and Riley stepped inside to greet Amara.

Liam turned his head toward Sophia with a smile as he rubbed her back. “It’s ok.” 

Sophia shifted her head just enough for her eyes to peer at Leo, and he grinned as he began playing a game of peekaboo. After a few moments, a giggle erupted from her as she lifted her head, offering him her signature toothy grin. 

“There’s a smile,” Leo chuckled. “You want to come hang with Uncle Leo for a minute?” He raised his hands towards her. 

Sophia studied him carefully, and after another moment of hesitation, she went to him. They locked eyes and she scrunched her nose with another smile. “Hi,” she said shyly. 

Liam watched his brother’s brow furrow, and his eyes widened when he saw his eyes shine with tears. “Leo …”

“Well, shit,” Leo choked out. “I can’t believe you have one of these.” A laugh simultaneously barreled out of Drake and Liam as Leo turned his head and quickly wiped his eyes on his sleeve. 

“Got you wanting one now?” Drake chuckled.

“Way down the road, maybe,” Leo replied. “Now? Absolutely not. Fuck that.” His eyes widened as he looked at Sophia. “I mean … heck that.” 

“Fuck.”

Amara’s and Riley’s mouths dropped open at the word Sophia repeated as Liam leveled his brother with a glare. “I’m sorry!” Leo grimaced guiltily. “I’m not used to filtering!” 

Drake shook his head with a laugh. “Uncle Leo is here.” 

****

That night after dinner, Liam walked Amara and Sophia back to the north wing. Once he put Sophia to sleep, he stepped out of her room and headed for the main area; he spotted Amara in the kitchen, standing with her back to him as she put dishes away in a cabinet. 

A moment later, Amara’s breath quietly hitched when she felt his hands curl around her waist. “D-Did she go down?”

“Yeah,” Liam replied as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “She’s out like a light. Uncle Leo wore her out.” 

Amara smiled. “They seemed to form a quick bond.”

Liam turned his head so his lips brushed her ear. “I don’t think you’re understanding how much trouble that means for us.” 

Amara tried to suppress a shudder from his warm breath against her skin, but she knew she failed when Liam let out a soft chuckle at having caught it. She turned to face him, and he leaned against the counter, placing one hand on either side of her and caging her in. 

Liam slowly leaned in, his eyes dropping from hers and zeroing in on her lips before he captured them in his. His tongue swept against the seam of her lips, and she parted them in response, allowing him in. When he deepened the kiss, her hands curled around his neck as an imperceptible whimper escaped her, so soft he almost didn’t hear it, but when he did, something inside him roared to life. 

Gripping her waist, Liam lifted her onto the counter as he stepped between her legs and pulled her body flush against his. He slid a hand up her back and into her hair and he tugged, causing the kiss to break; his lips moved to her jaw then down the column of her neck as her hips instinctively arched against him with a gasp, the movement pulling a rumbled groan from his throat as he found her lips again. 

The kiss stretched on, pulling them both deeper into the moment until it broke at the sudden ping emitting from Liam’s pocket, alerting him to a message. He reluctantly drew back and his jaw tensed as he dipped his hand into his pocket to pull out his phone. 

“It’s Leo,” Liam sighed. “He wants to have a nightcap.” 

Liam’s eyes flickered back to her face and more desire unfurled and clawed at his insides at the sight of her: kiss-swollen lips, tousled hair from his hand being buried in it, and her blue-eyed gaze brimming with lust. 

“Ok.” Amara’s one-word response came out in a breathless whisper. 

Liam swallowed thickly as he stepped back and she slipped off the counter. He cleared his throat as he ran his fingers through his hair. “So, uh … 10 tomorrow morning, right?”

“Huh?” Amara looked up at him.

“The first house viewing?”

“Oh, uh …” Amara let out a breath. “Yeah. 10.”

Liam nodded before leaning down; he stopped a hairsbreadth from her lips, reminding himself not to get too caught up before he pressed a lingering kiss to her lips. He drew back a moment later and his hand squeezed hers. “Goodnight.”

“G’night.” 

*******

The following morning, Amara was standing in front of a two-story home in a gated — and guarded — community. It sat at the end of a long driveway surrounded by trees and had a large backyard with a wooden playset complete with swings and a slide. After touring the house with Liam, Drake, Riley, and Leo, who opted to tag along, it was determined not to have any creaky floorboards. 

“I just think that the stairs in the foyer … there’s too many.” 

Amara stiffened beside Liam. 

Drake dropped his head with a silent laugh as Riley fought back her own. They’d been with them at every house and they knew Liam had been coming up with excuses for each one, but they’d kept quiet about it. It was none of their business.

Leo snapped his gaze over to his brother. “What the fuck are you talking about?” 

“For Sophia,” Liam clarified as he continued to stare at the house to avoid making eye contact with him. “And they’re narrow … and wooden, so there’s no cushion if she falls.” 

Steven, the realtor, stood by his car and closed his eyes as he took in a calming breath. “On to the next then?” 

****

“The hedges aren’t trimmed or lit up.”

“Are you—” Leo cut himself off as he looked at his brother, wide-eyed. “You can’t be serious …”

“I am,” Liam said matter-of-factly. “The housing development, which she would have to pay a monthly fee to, is in charge of lawn maintenance and it looks like shit.”

Amara turned and walked toward the car without a word as a chuckling Drake and Riley trailed behind her.

“I think you’ve gone a little crazy in the head,” Leo scoffed. 

Steven slid back into his car and shut the door. 

****

“This is niiiice,” Leo said as he glanced around the kitchen of the next home; it was the last one for the day. 

“State-of-the-art appliances,” Drake said, smoothing his hand across the marble countertop. 

“Big rooms,” Riley grinned.

Liam looked around as he held Sophia. He’d walked around the outside and had been through every room and couldn’t find anything wrong with it. Nothing. He glanced down, scuffing his foot against the floor and his eyes landed on the bottle of grapefruit juice he’d carried in with him before they slowly slid to Sophia. He turned his back toward the others as he quietly unscrewed the cap. “Want a sip?” he whispered. 

Sophia eagerly leaned forward, not knowing what it was … or how bitter it was; honestly, Liam questioned why he drank it half the time. He tipped the bottle back, helping her to sip before pulling it away and screwing the lid back on. He turned back around just as her nose scrunched and her lips puckered. 

“Yuck.” 

Liam glanced at Sophia as everyone else turned toward the sound of her voice.

“Well, she hates it,” Liam shrugged before turning and striding out of the house without a glance back. “Way to come through in the clutch, princess,” he whispered through a laugh. 

****

That evening after having dinner, Amara went back to the north wing with Sophia alone, giving Liam time with Leo, who was leaving in the morning. 

Liam carried two glasses of scotch out onto the balcony and set one down in front of Leo before taking a seat next to him. “I’m really glad you got a chance to come visit,” he said before taking a sip of his drink. 

“Me too,” Leo nodded. “I’ll definitely plan to come back soon and more often. Gotta corrupt my niece and all.” He chuckled at the look Liam shot him. “So …” He paused, taking a sip of his drink. “When do you plan on asking Amara to move in with you?”

“What?” Liam asked, furrowing his brow. 

“Don’t play dumb with me, little brother.”

“I’m not playing—”

“You said the house had too many fucking stairs.”

“It did!”

“And what do you call the stairs in this place?” Leo tossed back. “The grand staircase alone has three times as many stairs, but those are ok … because they’re here.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Liam said casually. 

“You complained about hedges not being lit up.”

“Aesthetics matter.”

Leo snorted, shaking his head. “You’re not fooling anyone, except maybe Amara, who probably just thinks you have your child’s best interest in mind. She also probably thinks that you’re nitpicky as fuck with ridiculous standards.” 

Leo arched his brow in a challenge to tell him that he was wrong. He knew he couldn’t. “Fine,” Liam sighed. “I don’t want her to buy a house.”

“Because …?” Leo smirked.

Liam rolled his eyes as he took another sip of his drink. “Because I want them with me, here, in my quarters”

“See?” Leo chuckled. “Now was that so fucking hard?” 

“Yes, because I can’t say that to her. She’s looking for a house. If she wanted to stay, she’d say something.” 

“Would she?” Leo questioned. “After everything you told me about what happened after you learned the truth about Sophia, what Amara wants doesn’t really matter to her. And making assumptions about what you want doesn’t seem like something she’s going to do after what happened. You told me yourself that she’s been following your lead on everything. So if you haven’t come out and specifically told her that you don’t want her to leave, why would she believe otherwise? Not to mention the fact that you’ve made it a point to go look at all of the fucking houses with her, further making her believe that you’re on board with it.” 

Liam dropped his head back as he let out a breath. Yes, he knew that while Amara had been better since their talk in New York, she was still following his lead with everything, but he didn’t think about it possibly having an impact on her decision to want to house hunt. Thinking about it now, he hadn’t told her he didn’t want her to go and he hadn’t shown her either. 

There was still that possibility that Amara didn’t want to stay, however. Perhaps she wanted to find her own place, that she wasn’t ready for the same thing he was.

*******

The following morning after seeing Leo off at the airport, Liam stared out the window of the SUV as it pulled into a long, winding driveway. Amara had messaged him and asked if he could meet her to look at another house. 

When the SUV came to a stop, Liam’s brows furrowed when he saw Amara standing in a dirt-covered clearing. He instructed Bastien to stay in the vehicle before slipping out and making his way towards her.

“Hey,” Amara smiled as he approached.

“Hello.” Liam leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Where’s Soph?”

“Regina is watching her.” 

Liam nodded before glancing around. “I thought you asked me to meet you to look at another house?”

“I did … sort of.”

Glancing back at her, Liam offered an amused smile. “Is the house invisible?”

Amara chuckled. “No … this is just the location of where the house could be,” she gestured to the open clearing. 

Liam’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I talked with the realtor about the possibility of building. This is an empty plot of land for sale … and I could have a house built to ensure it would have everything I want and everything you would be comfortable with.” 

“Oh …” Fuck. Liam cleared his throat as he looked around again. “I don’t … I don’t know if that’s the best path to take.”

Amara let out an exasperated sigh. “Why not?”

Liam blew out a breath. “I mean, it’s just that … I don’t think—”

“Liam … you’ve found something wrong with every house I’ve looked at. If I build, it can be to your standards … standards that I didn’t realize were so very high and specific until this process.”

“My standards are not high nor specific,” Liam scoffed.

“I beg to differ,” Amara quipped. 

“My standards are not high! I just don’t want you to leave!” The words tumbled from Liam’s mouth before he could stop them.  

Amara’s brows raised in surprise. “What?”

“I don’t want you to leave!” Liam repeated as he threw his arms up. “I don’t want you to buy a house. I want you to stay at the palace with me. If you’re going to move, I want you to move in with me. I want us to be together … as a family.” 

Letting out a breath, Amara stared at him. She didn’t think that was an option — at least, not at the moment — because he’d never brought it up. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”

“Because I didn’t know if you wanted the same. If getting a house is something you want, I didn’t want to stand in your way … which, it probably doesn’t seem like that now considering the ridiculous excuses I came up with …” He scuffed his foot against the dirt. “If it’s what you want, then I’m not going to stop you and I’ll have to deal with it. But if you’re looking because you think I want you to go or because you think you have to … that’s not the case.” He held her gaze, seeing her eyes glisten with tears in the sunlight peeking through the canopy of trees overhead. He took a step toward her and brushed his hand across her cheek. “This is my official offer. Stay with me, Amara. Move in with me.” 

Another breath escaped Amara before she leaned up and closed the small distance between them, pressing her lips to his. Liam’s arms wrapped tightly around her as he deepened the kiss. 

They drew back a moment later and Liam rested his forehead against hers with a hopeful smile. “Is that a yes?”

Amara tearfully chuckled. “Yes.” 

*******

Sitting on the sofa, Liam watched Amara move around the living area, picking up Sophia’s toys and placing them in their respective baskets after she’d gone to bed. 

“You can do that later.”

“I’ll just get it done now.”

Liam chuckled with a shake of his head as he removed his tie. Amara and Sophia had moved in a month ago, and he’d learned very quickly how much of a neat freak she was. He’d always known she’d kept things tidy, but this was on a different level. 

As she walked by him with her hands full of stuffed animals, Liam reached up, and she yelped when he pulled her down; her one knee landed beside his leg on the cushion, and he pulled her other leg over so she was straddling his lap. 

Liam held her gaze as he took the stuffed animals from her arms and tossed them back on the floor. “Later,” he grumbled before pulling her down and capturing her lips in his.

Despite having lived together and sleeping in the same bed for the last month, they had yet to cross any lines. Something would come up or interrupt every time. They played it off as best they could but were both beginning to feel more than a little frustrated. 

But tonight … 

Liam’s hands slid beneath the hem of Amara’s shirt and settled on the bare skin of her waist, and he smiled into the kiss when he felt her shudder under his touch. He urged her forward, causing her body to arch into him, and when he felt her hips press down against his, he groaned and deepened the kiss. 

A soft moan escaped Amara when he pressed her down against him again; she could feel just how much his desire matched her own. “Liam,” she gasped against his lips.

“I love when you say my name like that.” His voice came out like gravel. “Like the slightest touch from me will make you come undone.” 

Amara let out another whimper of longing as her fingers began fumbling against the buttons of his shirt until it draped open, baring his muscled torso. Her hands slid against the taut skin of his chest to his abs—

“Mama.” 

Liam and Amara froze at the sound of Sophia’s voice coming through the monitor speaker. 

“Dada,” she whined again a moment later. 

Amara leaned back, staring at Liam; they were both flushed and breathing heavily. 

“Mama,” she cried. 

Amara offered a rueful grin before she slid off his lap and headed toward Sophia’s room. 

Liam dropped his head back against the sofa and rubbed his hands over his face in exasperation. It’d been so long since they were last together before everything happened. And while he didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to last, it wasn’t something he wanted to have to rush out of worry of interruption either. His hands fell away from his face as an idea struck, and a moment later he had his phone in hand and pressed to his ear. 

“Hey.”

“Hey,” Liam replied. “I need a really big favor …” 

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

Perma Tags (if you’d like to be added or removed for this story, please let me know): @zaffrenotes @cocomaxley @emichelle @sweetest-marbear @indiacater @gibbles82 @the-soot-sprite @esmckenzie @dcbbw @burnsoslow @deb-1106 @bbrandy2002 @charlotteg234 @neotericthemis @foreverethereal123 @choiceskatie @sirbeepsalot @gnatbrain @openheart12 @sincerelyella @superharriet @queenrileyrose @aestheticartsx @kingliam2019 @indiana-jr @bascmve01 @rainbowsinthestorm @emkay512 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @forallthatitsworth @walker7519 @iaminlovewithtrr @amandablink @mainstreetreader @mom2000aggie @princessleac1 @21-wishes @appleone @tessa-liam @pixelatedpassion @malblk21 @lovingchoices14 @nestledonthaveone @forthebrokenheartedthings @nomadics-stuff @differenttyphoonwerewolf

[ragingadhd]

I was going to put this in the corps therapy blog, but yk what I think it deserves a whole post.

It kind of bugs me when people feminize Will. He's definitely a more feminine guy, don't get me wrong, but l'm so tired of people seeing a guy who isn't 100% masculine and immediately taking that as an in to feminize/infantilize him.

I love his feminine side. I love how he's so caring and loving, how he pays attention to details and is a great listener. I love that he loves music and animals and cooking and having fresh flowers in his cabin. I love his loyalty to his friends. I love how smart, quick witted and clever he is.

But I also love his masculine side. I love how willing and capable he is to fight, especially for those he loves. I love how much thought and care he puts in to keeping his body fit and muscular. I love how intimidating he can get if he chooses to, and how he allows himself to get angry from time to time.

That’s part of why I love TRR as much as I do, especially when it comes to Will’s character. I read that series and I see a man who is more comfortable and balanced in his masculinity than ever before.

Of course, that’s all in the view of a fairly traditional idea of femininity and masculinity. Really, those are made-up labels for very abstract ideas. I firmly believe all of the “feminine” traits I listed are very masculine in their own right, and vice versa, but I digress.

I’m certainly not going to be over here trying to police how people enjoy the series, nor am I trying to say it’s wrong to view Will in a feminine way. If you enjoy the series that way, who am I stop you. My point in making this post is simply to vent a bit and maybe start a discussion. In my personal life, I am so tired of people dismissing or even denying my masculinity because I am a more feminine man, so I’m a little more inclined to be upset about my favorite character receiving a similar treatment.

I don’t see much of this issue regarding Will in the main series. I’ll see someone basically “uwu soft boi” him on rare occasion, but that’s the extent of it. I mostly see this happening with his character in The Royal Ranger. So many people hate who he’s become or even refuse to acknowledge the series. Again, I’m not trying to police how anyone enjoys the whole RA franchise. It’s a fictional book series at the end of the day, not that big of a deal. And of course there are a million different reasons why someone might not like TRR, and I’m not going to be over here accusing everyone for not liking it because Will is more (in my opinion) masculine.

Anyway I’m gonna close my ramble off now. Don’t take any of it too seriously, it’s just been floating around my head for a minute.

[choicesficwriterscreations]

CFWC Writer of the Month - Aug 2023: ao719

Each month CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers, and this month’s writer of the month is @ao719. We hope you will enjoy learning more about them and their work below! The writer is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page.

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog: ao719 Blog Masterlist

How do you want to be known on Tumblr? Anitah

1- When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played? 

I first started playing in June 2018. The Royal Romance was the first book I played, and I got hooked from the end of the first chapter. At the time, they were midway through releasing TRR book 3, so I binged books 1 & 2 and finally caught up on the day of the wedding, where the chapter ended with the attack at the boutique. Then I didn’t know what to do with myself because it was the first time I had to wait a week to find out what was going to happen.

2- When and why did you join Choices fandom?

Finding Tumblr was a complete accident. I was googling something really dumb about Liam and TRR and happened to stumble across a link for a fic on Tumblr. At the time, I didn’t know what Tumblr was; I’d heard of it but had no idea what it consisted of. The fic I came across was around 40+ chapters, and I was in my glory reading this angsty story about Liam, but it wasn’t finished, so when I reached the last updated chapter, I was like, “I need more.” So I opened Tumblr and searched for more Liam fics and found a trove. I lurked for another month or so before finally making my account in September 2018.

3- How did you pick your blog name? 

I wish I had some good story for it, but it’s the most basic thing, lol. It’s just my initials and a significant date. I think if I came into the fandom with the intention of actually doing something with the blog, I would have tried to come up with something a little more clever and creative, but I had zero intention of doing anything but reading. I thought about changing it a few years ago, but when I learned that I’d have to relink everything in my masterlist, it didn’t seem worth the hassle.

4- Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it!  

It’s from the day TRR 3 ended and it’s about how I was sad that it was over but was glad that I had all these stories to read.

5- How long have you been writing fanfiction?

I’d never written anything until I joined the fandom, so I’ve only been writing for almost five years now. The thought of writing didn’t even cross my mind when I joined the fandom, but within a couple of weeks of making my blog, I had a random idea pop up in my head, and for some reason, I decided to write it down. A few days later, after talking myself out of posting and then talking myself back into it, I bit the bullet. For me to post a story that I wrote was entirely out of my comfort zone. I’m pretty shy and tend to be more of a wallflower, so I don’t usually put myself out there, especially like that, and I’ve never been someone who does something where I intentionally set myself up, knowing there is a very good chance that I will fail. And social media on any platform can be a pretty intimidating and terrifying place when you open yourself up, especially to strangers, even by way of posting a measly little fanfic. So to say I was terrified of posting that first fic is an understatement, but I’m so glad that I did.

6- What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to write about?

The Royal Romance will always be my favorite. It was the first book I ever played and was the only one I played for well over a year (I just kept replaying over and over and over until @cocomaxley convinced me to give MotY a try, which I fell in love with). It’s my comfort book. And like every book, it definitely has its flaws, but I love it and the characters so much. And TRR is my favorite book to write about. Liam will always be my number one guy.

7- Share the first fanfic you wrote with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were writing it today?

The first fic that I wrote was I Dare You. It’s not an all-time favorite of mine, but I like it well enough that I wouldn’t change anything about it.

8- What is your favorite fic that you’ve written?

This is tough because I have a few that I love for different reasons, but I think Always You will always be the most special to me because it was the first series I wrote that I can truly say I poured my whole heart into. I love that story, and I love the history between Liam and the OC, their bond, and their relationship. 

9- Do you have a fic that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to be but found could use a little more love?

When I decided to start Hopeless Hearts, I didn’t think it would be received any differently from most things I’d written before. It was an idea I’d kept on the back burner for over 2 years prior to writing it because I didn’t think it was anything spectacular or out of the box. It turned out to be my most well-received series, and it became one of my personal favorites as well.

I don’t think anything I’ve written has left me feeling as though I wished it had gotten more. I’m still surprised to this day that anyone wants to read anything I’ve written at all, so any love that my fics get is beyond appreciated.

10- If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? 

Angst (but with a HEA). I love putting my characters through the wringer before giving them that happily ever after they deserve. Whether I’m reading or writing, there’s something about feeling the pain and longing they’re going through that gets me emotionally invested. I think that’s why I love the second chance romance trope so much, too. It’s a really versatile trope, but there’s a lot of room for angst in those kinds of stories because of that established history between the characters and a past that tore them apart the first time around.

11- Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

I think I sprinkle a little bit of myself into all of my MCs/OCs. It’s usually something small like a favorite food, a hobby, certain mannerisms, etc. I think the one that I’ve added more of myself into than any other and can relate to the most personality wise would definitely be Charlotte.

12- What element of writing do you struggle with most?

I struggle with all of it here and there, and I’m constantly questioning whether something makes sense, if it’s flowing together, if it’s too descriptive or not descriptive enough, etc. I think the one area I most consistently struggle with is deciding where and how to end because I always want to leave my chapters with a cliffhanger or if I’m finishing something for good, I want to give it the ending it deserves. 

13- Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

I have quite a few that are unfinished that I know I more than likely won’t ever pick back up, mostly because I just lost my mojo for them, but there are definitely some that I want to finish. I’d really like to get back to Past Meet Present one day. I don’t even remember why I got off track with writing it, and it’s been at least two years or more since I last updated it 🫣 so I’m not sure if anyone would even still be interested at this point, but I’d really like to finish that along with Breaking Point and Us Again.

14- If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to read your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you recommend they read first? 

No. Maybe. I don’t know, lol. I try to be a “never say never” kind of person, but writing is something that I’ve done for almost five years that literally no one in my real life knows about. Not my friends, not my family, not a single soul. It’s like my dirty little secret. And it’s a little tough because it does get lonely sometimes when you have something that you love doing so much but you just feel like you can’t share or aren’t ready to share that part of yourself with even those closest to you. I’m a pretty self-conscious person, and posting on here where I can hide behind a screen is hard enough; I get nervous and have a good spike of anxiety every time I post something, no matter what it is. I don’t know if I could handle someone who knows me personally even knowing that I write, let alone actually reading something I’ve written. I’ve got the bubble gut just thinking about it 🥴

15 - Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing? 

I’ve been lucky enough to talk to and befriend some amazing and talented people in the time I’ve been here who I’ve certainly looked up to when it comes to their writing talents. And there are also those writers who I got to know after I’d been writing for a while that not only continued to inspire me with their amazing stories and talent but who also became a huge support and really close friends. They were and/or are always willing to brainstorm, look over snippets, help in those moments when I’ve been extra critical of myself and feeling very unsure, and/or have just been the absolute best cheerleaders and constantly supportive and encouraging to not only me but others as well. I don’t want to make a list because I always end up forgetting someone and I don’t want to leave anyone out, but anyone that fits that bill above, you know how much I love and appreciate each one of you.

16- Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series? 

I’d say either Always You or Hopeless Hearts for a movie. Series I think Full Disclosure with some Charlotte shenanigans would be pretty fun 😂

17- Do you write original fiction? 

I haven’t. I’ve been asked a few times about whether I’ve thought about turning a couple of my series into original stories, but I just don’t think I’ll have the confidence to ever do it 😬

18 -  What other hobbies do you have?

I do photography. I love calligraphy and making hand drawn quote signs on wood or canvas. I love to read — I’m currently in my fantasy girl era and have been obsessing over the ACOTAR series for months, lol. 

19 - What’s your favorite emoji? 

I use so many to express myself in conversations that I think it would be hard to pick just one. My most commonly used ones: 💀 😂 🥲 😬 😍 🥴 🥹

20: BONUS - tell us anything you’d like (if you want to).

I just want to thank CFWC for working so hard to help keep this fandom active and supporting everyone here. 

To anyone who’s taken any time to read my stories and interact with me in any way, I appreciate it more than I can say. 

This place has been such an escape for me over the past (almost) five years, one I’m still very much in need of. So, whether you’re a content creator, writer, artist, reader, whatever the case may be, whether we’ve interacted before or not, thank you for what you’ve done to help keep this fandom alive.

[solarishashernoseinabook]

Yet another AU where Halt raises Will instead of dropping him off at the Ward…

this might become another trr sequel idk yet

~

After five years, Halt thought he was getting the hang of fatherhood. He would drop Will off at the Ward for longer missions, which Will tended to treat as an adventure, and for shorter missions he had him stay with someone from Wensley Village. In a few years, when he could trust Will more, maybe he would begin taking him along on missions. For now, Will was loud and impulsive, more interested in playing games than sitting still, and Halt saw no harm in letting him stay a child a bit longer.

Will was turning out to be remarkably normal, all things considered. He was much better than Halt socially, outgoing and friendly. He had picked up a few of Halt’s fidgets, and sometimes he would try and imitate Halt’s mostly-blank expression, but his quick grin always shone through after a few moments.

Halt was packing for the Gathering now. He put Will’s things in one saddlebag and his own in the other, but packing for two people meant being very economical with what he brought. He had just finished packing Will’s clothes, and was trying to find a way to fit Will’s toy horse on top of them – Will had trouble sleeping without it.

Halt heard Will climb up to sit on the table. ‘Dad?’

‘Hm?’ Halt responded without looking up. He tried shuffling the clothes over to fit the horse in.

‘What’re dopteds?’

Halt paused and looked up. ‘What are what?’

‘Dopteds. Missus Cherry at the Ward says I’m a dopted.’

A smile tugged at the corners of Halt’s mouth. ‘She said you were adopted, not a dopted. It means I didn’t have a wife, I found you and decided to keep you.’

Thinking that was the end of it, Halt went back to trying to fit the horse into the saddlebag. He gave up and decided to put it with his things instead, though it would mean leaving behind his spare cloak.

But he should have remembered that Will always asked follow-up questions, and sure enough, Will asked the one he’d been dreading. ‘Where’d you find me?’

Several possible answers flashed through Halt’s mind in the space of seconds. For some unknown reason, the one he settled on was, ‘I went out to the bog, dug a hole, and found you at the bottom of it.’

‘I came from a bog?’

Halt paused in the act of setting aside his spare cloak. After a moment, he decided he might as well run with it – he could hardly take it back now. ‘Yes. Took weeks to get the smell of peat off of you.’

Will’s face split into a mischievous grin and he giggled. ‘I bet I had leaves in my hair!’

‘And a tree growing out of your ears. Go get Abelard out of his stall, we’re heading off now,’ Halt said, fastening the saddlebag.

*

Halt had forgotten all about it by the second day of the Gathering. He was jointing a brace of large, fat pheasants, occasionally glancing up at Will as he played a game with some obliging first-year apprentices.

Crowley was watching them as well, and meandered over to Halt. ‘Hey, Halt?’

‘Hm?’

‘Any idea why Will’s been chasing people around all day calling himself the bog monster?’

‘No idea,’ Halt said, keeping his face deliberately blank. If Crowley found out the truth, Halt would never hear the end of it.

Crowley raised his eyebrows. ‘You sure? None of us can figure it out.’

‘Quite sure,’ Halt said gruffly. He gathered the pheasants in a pan and stood. ‘Now stop asking weird questions and help me cook these.’

[jerzwriter]

Top 3 Thursday - Week 9

Welcome to Top Three Thursday! 💙

FIRST, a few quick rules!

Please reblog your answer - don't create a new post. The point is to keep us all together in one place and to get to know each other.

You can answer any way you like - basic answer, headcanons, fics, moodboards, edits, artwork - be as creative (or not!) as you like.

Pixelberry Choices-related content only.

PLEASE BE KIND! People will have different options, thoughts, headcanons, and likes - and that’s a good thing. Be respectful of one another.

For Week 9 - the question is for YOU

THE 3 CHOICES BOOKS YOU MOST WISH WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A SEQUEL?

This doesn't mean stand-alone books only - if you wish TRR, OH or TFS would have had more - you can certainly pick those, too.

REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL ANSWERS!

If you’d like to be added to the tag list, let me know, but anyone can participate! Tags below break. 💙💙💙

@aces-and-angels @alj4890 @aallotarenunelma @angelasscribbles @bebepac @cariantha @coffeeheartaddict2 @cooltuna69 @crazy-loca-blog @headoverheelsforramsey @hopelessromantic1352 @icecoffee90 @karahalloway @korgbelmont @kyra75 @lovealexhunt @missameliep @peonierose @peonyblossom911 @potionsprefect @princess-geek @queenrileyrose @quixoticdreamer16 @secretaryunpaid @takeharryandgo @tessa-liam @trappedinfanfiction @tveitertotwrites @twinkleallnight @surrenderronnie1 @jerzwriter-reblogs-asks

[walkerismychoice]

Serendipity - Part 4

Written for @choicesflashfics - Week 34

Prompt 3  — “ I think I need to be drunk to understand this story ”

Book: TRR/OPH

Pairings: Drake Walker x Ava Matheson, Bryce Lahela x Charlie Hawkins

Word count: 1814

Rating: M

TW: Profanity, Suggestive language

A/N: This is a collaboration between @deb-1106​ and @walkerismychoice using the weekly prompts provided by @choicesflashfics As always if you want on or off the tag list, just let me/us know. Deb usually posts to keep it consistent, but we were both kind of scrambling this week, so I’m getting this in under the wire for us. Charlie gasped. "Oh my God! Congratulations! She tilted Ava’s ring from side to side, watching the facets twinkle from the glow of the pendant lights.I'm so happy for you!" But was she? Well of course she was, but why, on some level did she feel a twinge of Jealousy.

"Yeah, Congrats! You're smart to be locking this one down already." Bryce directed his words at Drake and then winked at Ava. "How long have you two known each other again?

Drake glowered at Bryce momentarily but then lightened up. "You know, in absence of all the Whiskey we've had, I might take your comment as an insult, but you're right. I gotta make this thing legal before she realizes she's too good for me, heh."

"Oh stop!" Ava swatted Drake playfully. "You know that would never happen because it's not true." Turning back to Bryce and Charlie she said, "To answer your question, we've known each other about 6 months."

"Wow, 6 months…that's kind of fast," Charlie mused out loud before she could think to censor her thoughts.

Ava laughed. "If you asked me 6 months ago if I'd be anywhere near an engagement right now, I would have told you to get the fuck out of here."

"That's for sure," Drake interjected, and everyone laughed.

“Anyway,” Ava continued, “When you know, you know. There’s no need to wait for some arbitrary, socially acceptable length of time, right?”

“Cheers to that!” Bryce raised his glass towards the center of the table.

The others accepted the invitation and clinked their glasses, even Charlie who wasn’t feeling particularly celebratory. Cheers to that?! Did his agreement with the sentiment mean he wasn’t sure about his future with Charlie yet? Was Charlie just being dramatic? Just yesterday she had no doubts about the pace of her relationship with Bryce, so why did this suddenly feel like a competition she was losing? She felt tears start to prick the corners of her eyes.

“I’m going to use the restroom real quick,” Charlie excused herself without waiting for anyone’s reply. She locked herself in a stall and waited a few minutes until she felt more composed. 

Just as Charlie exited the stall, Ava walked through the restroom door. “Hey, you were gone awhile. Is everything okay?”

Charlie, washing her hands, stared straight ahead and hoped Ava couldn’t tell she’d been crying.  “Yep, just finishing up.”

“Charlie, I know we haven’t known each other that long, but I could tell something was up back at the table. Do you want to talk about it?”

Charlie was mortified. “No, I’m so sorry. This was a big moment for you, and the last thing I wanted to do was make it about me. I’m really not that girl. I don’t know what came over me. Just give me a minute, and I’ll be back out.”

Ava took a towel from the dispenser and handed it to Charlie. “I’m not the type of friend who needs things to be all about me either, so spill it.”

Ava’s tone eased Charlie’s mood just enough to make her feel comfortable opening up. “I’m happy for you and Drake, I really am. It’s just that your engagement announcement suddenly made me doubt what Bryce and I have. We’ve been together two years and marriage hasn’t even come up.”

“Girl, I’ve seen the way Bryce looks at you. He’s not going anywhere. We aren’t all on the same timeline, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”

“I suppose that’s true.” The logical side of Charlie’s brain knew Ava’s was right, and she hoped the emotional side would soon follow. It was at least appeased enought to put this to rest for now.  She looked in the mirror and cringed. “I just need to fix my face, and then I’ll be out.”

Ava fished a makeup wipe from her purse. “Let me help.” She wiped the black streaks from Charlie’s face and then pulled out a small cosmetic bag. “Just a little eye liner and fresh mascara and you’ll be good to go.”

Once Ava finished, Charlie inspected her work. “Wow, can you do my make-up every day? I don’t even know how to properly apply eyeliner.”

Ava laughed. “Better yet, I’ll teach you. We’ll plan a spa night soon.” 

Charlie hugged Ava. “Thank you. And again, I’m sorry.”

“No worries.” Ava pulled away with a smile. “Now let’s get back out there before the guys think we’re attempting a dine and dash.”

Despite a moment of awkward conversation when the woman got back to the table, the rest of dinner went off without a hitch. Charlie’s face hurt from laughing so much.

“Wait,” Drake furrowed his eyebrows, “So you work at the same hospital, but you met in a strip club?”

“It’s a long story,” Bryce began, “but basically I worked as a stripper to pay my way through med school. Charlie saw me and thought I was so hot, she asked for a private lap dance. My moves were incredible and she just had to have me. She asked me to be her plus one at her cousin’s wedding in Jamaica, and the rest is history.”

“Oh God, Bryce” Charlie rolled her eyes. “That’s not exactly what happened. My friends secretly bought me the lap dance, and I begrudgingly went. I was desperate not to show up to my cousin’s wedding alone and drunk enough to come up with a ridiculous plan, so we made a business deal for him to be my fake boyfriend. However, we failed at the fake part, and he turned into my real boyfriend.”    

“Woah… I think I need to be drunk to understand this story.” Drake raised his glass in jest. “Waiter?!.. Brian?! I need a refill!”

—

Charlie kicked off her shoes and flopped on one end of the couch, while Bryce sat on the other. “I don’t know why I always torture myself with heels. Can you give me a foot rub?” She placed her feet in Bryce’s lap.

“Babe, I’m a surgeon, not a podiatrist.”

“Ha ha, very funny.” She flicked him lightly on the chin with her big toe.

“Ah! Fine, as long as you keep your feet out of my face.” Bryce took her right foot in his hands and started rubbing rhythmic circles with his thumbs on her sole.

“Mmmm,” Charlie hummed in relief. “You sure you don’t have a foot fetish?”

“Negative, but getting my hands on you anywhere is a good place to start.” Bryce had that gleam in his eyes that said he had a plan, and Charlie would be powerless to stop it - not that she would want to.

“Start what?” She played coy.

“Well…” He walked his fingers upward. “Your calves are probably a little tight too, so those clearly need to be massaged."

"Clearly." Charlie echoed.

"And then, since I'm already this far…" Bryce began to slide his hand under the skirt of her dress.

"Hold up." She slapped her hand on top of his. "Don't you think you're moving a little too fast? You haven't even done the other foot yet." She smugly placed his hand on her left foot. Of course she wanted him as much as he seemed to want her, but it was even more satisfying when she made him wait.

"Speaking of moving too fast," Bryce said as he kneaded the bottom of her foot, "I'm kind of surprised Drake and Ava got engaged after only knowing each other for six months."

"Oh really? Back at the restaurant it seemed you were all for it."

"Well, I don't know them well enough to really judge," Bryce backpedaled. "They do seem like one of those 'opposites attract' type couples that just works, so maybe it is like Ava said, 'When you know, you know.' I just couldn't imagine being ready to marry someone so soon."

Charlie sat upright, pulling her knees in toward her chest and hugging them tight as all the hurt and uncertainty she felt at the restaurant flooded back.  "Apparently so. We've been together two years and you're not even sure if you want to commit to me after all this time. I guess in my case you still don't know if I'm the one. Maybe that means I'm not."

"Charlie…" Bryce's near perma-smile transformed to a frown. "I never said that. Would I have moved in with you if I had any doubts?"

"I don’t know, Bryce. Maybe you just want to test everything out before you commit because you aren't sure. If you don't know by now, when will you know? Five years? Ten?"

"Babe, he inched closer and placed a hand on her knee, "where is all this coming from? Okay, wrong question since I'm pretty sure where, but not exactly why. I don't think you've ever brought up marriage before."

"I guess seeing Drake and Ava just made me think, what are we waiting for? Yes six months is pretty quick, but lots of people get engaged after a year and we're at double that. We live together, we're both becoming established in our careers, we love each other…Making it official just makes sense."

Bryce looked her in the eyes intently. "I love you, and as far as I can see, my future includes you. I don't need a piece of paper to prove that."

"Does that mean you'll never want to get married?" Charlie was still reeling. 

"I'm not saying that, but you know how things turned out with my parents. I just… I'm afraid of repeating the same mistakes. That may sound like a cop out, but I just need time, and I'll know…we'll know when it's right. Things are going so well right now, why rush to change that?"

Bryce had a point, and Charlie recognized her perception of the situation was colored by her past as much as Bryce’s was by his. The way her ex Andrew left her just as they were planning a future together made her a little more anxious to make things official this time. But would rushing to marry Andrew have really changed anything? He'd probably still have left her for another woman, and then they'd have a messy divorce to contend with. She had to remind herself that Bryce was nothing like Andrew. Even without a formal commitment, her relationship with him was progressing at a perfect pace. 

"You're right." Charlie inched closer to Bryce and laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry for getting all in my head again. You know how I can spiral sometimes."

"And that's why I'm here to keep reminding you what a wonderful, loveable, and strong woman you are. But in case you need more than words to convince you," Bryce hopped off the couch and then pulled her up with him, "follow me to the bedroom and I’ll show you too."

[twinkleallnight]

The Stolen Interview

Book: TRR AU

Characters: Rashad x Kiara, Joelle Theron.

Word count: ~2000+

Disclaimer: All characters belong to pixelberry.

Rating: Mature

Warning: Fluff

Prompt: prompt 1 by @choicesflashfics in bold

: Day 1 of @kiaratheronappreciationweek

Special thank you @lizzybeth1986 for brainstorming and the valuable inputs.

The warm sun rays of spring, sieved through the white clouds on the Castelsarreillan abode that nested the Theron family.

A pleasant breeze traversed through the windows of the library to flutter the pages of “Geetanjali” by Rabindranath Tagore, a book the youngest Theron, Kiara, was engrossed into.

As if just on cue, her phone chimed to distract her further. Her brown eyes fell on the known name flashing on the screen, bringing a smile on her face. She pushed her owl-shaped bookmark on the page she was reading and swiped the green button on her phone.

“Bonjour!” she chirped.

“Hello and sorry to disturb your reading hours.” The sultry male voice replied.

“How do you know that I am reading?”

“A little bird gave away your secrets to me.”

“Have you been spying on me?” Kiara questioned.

“Nah, just been observing you. What are you reading?”

“Geetanjali.”

“Oooh! You seem to be inclined to the east.”

“Since our last discussion. You have piqued my interest in that culture.” Kiara confessed honestly.

“And here I thought the interest was in a handsome brainy guy.”

Kiara giggled, “Someone has too many wrong notions about himself.”

“I guess I can challenge the smart lady of Castelsarreillan.”

“Bet!” she almost jumped in excitement.

“Okay. Accepted. Open the doors then.”

Kiara looked at the closed ornate doors of the library in surprise. She rushed to open the doors and found Rashad beaming at her, phone still against his ear.

“Bonne soirée ma dame!” he flashed the widest smile.

“Aadaab!” She cupped her hand raising it to her forehead to greet him.

“Your way or my way, it’s a lovely evening.”

“It surely is. Please come in.” She walked him in. “What brings you here, today?”

“I am here to meet your mother on my father’s behalf. I dropped in a bit early to catch up with you.”

“I am glad you did.”

He saw the book she was reading, “How are you finding this one?”

“It’s a unique experience. I haven’t read much of your culture before this.”

“This is just a part of my culture, you may say. Every time I visited India with Ma, I discovered a new treasure chest.”

“Like?” she raised her brows. Rashad loved this particular expression of hers. It made her eyes look like two big brown balls shining, bewildered.

He bit on his lip to hide his emotions and then continued, “English, French, Swiss, German etcetera. They all collectively form the European culture. Similarly, there are regional divisions that come under the roof of Indian culture.”

“Does Tagore come from your region?”

Rashad shook his head. “No, he is from the neighbouring land of Bengal. He was a Nobel laureate. Ma introduced his poems to me. She had a Pandora box of stories.”

“I love listening to those tales. I wish I could have met her in person.” Kiara expressed sincerely.

Rashad pursed his lips at the mention of his mother but then quickly changed the topic. “I would love nothing more than to spoil you with attention, but it’s going to have to wait until later. How about you come along with me for my meeting with your mother?”

“That sounds good. Just give me a moment.”

Kiara picked her book and neatly arranged it in a stack on the right. Rashad made a quick note of the titles she had placed on that rack. He knew she had a habit of arranging her “to read” books there. And he didn’t want to miss the opportunity to discuss and debate the reviews with her. He enjoyed following what she read and the talks that followed. Sometimes he quietly would push a book to her to gain her views about it. He was in awe of her intellectual prowess of varied subjects.

***************”*

Duchess Joelle Theron’s studio

“What do you think? Is this, okay? Am I looking good?” Rashad whispered while adjusting his tie maybe the tenth time.

Kiara swatted at his hand. “Stop fidgeting.”

Rashad’s eyes widened at her gesture.

Kiara gave a playful smile to lighten his mood, “You look handsome. As always.” She pinched his cheek and pulled it.

Rashad squealed, “Ouch.” And started rubbing on his stubble where she had pulled so hard.

Kiara covered her mouth with her hand to hide her laughter.

Rashad cleared his throat and adjusted his pose when he heard his two workmen lumbering down the hall with a heavy life-size painting in their hands.

“What is this?” Kiara gasped.

“You will see.” Rashad swelled up his chest with pride. “A small gift from the duchy of Domavallier for Castelsarreillan.” He guided the men to place the painting against a wall.

Just then Joelle, Kiara’s mother walked in

“Good evening, Lord Rashad.”

“Good evening, your grace. Please call me Rashad.”

“Rashad.” She smiled. Rashad looked from her to Kiara in amazement.

“What’s wrong?” Her brows furrowed.

“Oh, it’s nothing, your grace. Just that I realised where Lady Kiara’s bright smile comes from.”

Joelle narrowed her eyes, “I don’t know whether I should be flattered by your compliment to me or worry about your keen interest in my daughter’s smile.”

Rashad lowered his eyes to the floor. “My apologies.”

Joelle laughed, making Kiara jump with surprise. “Do you think these old bones can’t do some teasing?”

Rashad rubbed the back of his neck nervously. ‘This isn’t going well,’ he thought.

“So, what have we got here?” She pointed at the covered painting.

Rashad quickly stepped forward to unveil his gift, “It’s a small token from us on occasion of the upcoming flower festival in your duchy.”

He lifted the covers and Kiara drew in a breath. “Its Raja Ravi Varma’s painting!” She exclaimed.

It depicted a lady standing against a pillar plucking a lone flower in her hand. It looked like words were frozen on her lips. She was standing in anticipation. Her other hand caressed the tender petals of the pink flower while a man quietly stared at her from the other side of the pillar. He seemed to be mesmerized by her beauty. His expressions showed as if he was waiting for a reply from her.

Joelle gave her an astonished look. “You know about this famous Indian artist?”

“Of course, Maman. Raja Ravi Varma remains the most renowned painter of the 19th century from Travancore, India.”

Joelle addressed Rashad. “You must be knowing that He was a royal.”

“Yes,” he momentarily looked at Kiara, “Raja means King.” Giving the polyglot feed for the day, he shifted back to Joelle, “he belonged to a kingdom that interestingly followed the matrilineal system.”

Kiara pitched in, “They still follow matriarchy in few of those regions.”

Joelle nodded, a small smile on her lips. “What do you know about this painting, dear?”

“Maman, this painting is titled ‘The stolen interview’ a hushed moment between two lovers. Varma was famous for combining European techniques and Indian style in his work.

Joelle raised her chin, “I am impressed Kiki. When and where did you collect all that knowledge of Indian art?”

“Ummm, Rashad mentioned it from one of his tours to India.” She sheepishly looked at Rashad while he tried to hide the blush in vain.

Joelle gave Rashad an approving nod. “Rashad, please convey my regards to your father. This is the most beautiful and unexpected gift. I will treasure it for my lifetime.”

“The pleasure is all mine.” Rashad bowed his head with respect.

“Hakim will be here in an hour. Kiki, why don’t you give Rashad a tour of our vineyard in the meanwhile?”

“Sure, Maman.”

“See you soon, your grace.” Rashad scurried behind Kiara.

Joelle nodded; her eyes fixed on the painting.

Kiara guided Rashad out of the hall. Joelle turned to look at their receding figures. Her lips curled up in a knowing smile.

“Phew!” Rashad released a breath that he unknowingly was holding back. He loosened the knot of his tie and wiped the sweat beads from his forehead.

Kiara gave him a questioning look.

“How did that go?” He had his hands on his hips.

“What?” Kiara asked, confused.

“Nothing,” he waved off his hand. “You won’t understand.”

Kiara shrugged her shoulders and started walking.

Rashad matched her steps. “By the way I had just mentioned the art of Raja Ravi Varma. You went into the depth of the subject.”

“And I have you to thank for all that detailed study.”

“Me? How?”

“I picked up the book about the artist co-authored by Eric and Christian from your study.” She revealed.

Rashad stopped in his tracks and turned to her, his jaw hanging open.

“What is it?” Kiara gazed into his dark eyes.

“Lady! You never cease to amaze me.”

“I can’t help when someone raises my curiosity like that. So, I read all about his life, his work, his lithography.”

Rashad shook his head, smiling, “Did someone ever tell you that you are a walking encyclopaedia?”

Kiara strutted ahead proudly, “I like that Nickname.”

“Look at you gloating now! Are you going to fill me up with details about the vineyards too?”

“Now that you asked for it, I may.” She stretched out her hand, “This way my Lord.”

Rashad dramatically bowed, “After you milady.”

They both laughed at their silly act and walked down to the vineyards.

Joelle stood in the window watching them tread away. Hakim joined her, “Sorry, I am late. What are you looking at Jo.” He followed her gaze. “Is that Lord Rashad with Kiara?”

Joelle smiled and nodded. “Our daughter seems to be making some smart choices.”

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

In the vineyards

Kiara was busy explaining the quality of the fruit, the terroir, the production and storage process while Rashad heard out keenly. He plucked a few tiny flowers that grew on the winding path.

“They are like rose pearls, embedded into the green gown of the landscape.”

“What a poetic way of defining it. Here.” He handed out a flower to her.

“Thank you.” She gladly accepted it.

They came across a clearing that looked upon the valley.

“And this,” Kiara stretched out her arms, “is my favorite place.”

They both stood looking at the serenity before them. The soft breeze brought waft of the fresh crop every now and then.

After sometime Rashad turned to look at Kiara. She was still holding the flower he gave her. Her other hand caressing the petals while she kept looking in the distance.

“The stolen interview.” He said softly.

“What?” She shifted her focus to him.

He pointed at the flower in her hand. “The way you are holding and touching it, reminded me of the lady in the painting.”

Kiara shook her head, making light of it.

“Kiara?”

She searched his eyes in anticipation.

“I don’t want to stand on the other side of the pillar and keep stealing moments to watch you. I want to be on your side of the pillar.”

Kiara looked out at the valley again.

“Rashad, can you see the end of the land from here?” She questioned him, instead of replying to his words.

Rashad turned his attention to the valley too. He knew this was not going to be an easy conversation. “It’s a breath-taking beauty. What a vast expanse, as if it’s never ending.”

“That’s what attracts me the most. I want my life to be just like that. I want to keep exploring, learning, growing, crossing new horizons every passing year. I…I don’t know if …you….”

“I would love to be a part of such a journey.” Rashad stretched out his hand, palm opening to her.

Kiara looked at his inviting hand. She reflected on the time since she had known him. He encouraged her, he competed with her. He challenged her, he channelled her. His patience around difficult situations, his maturity in dealing with matters of state and his witty replies.

She turned to look at the valley again. He clearly gave her every chance to learn, explore and grow. She didn’t realize when she had grown fond of his company.

Rashad’s heart was pounding hard. Had he hurried through it all? In an attempt to strengthen the bonds, was he going to lose a good friend? She had turned to look away from him. She was now looking at the valley. That’s it. That’s the end. He closed his eyes, finding it difficult to face the truth. He slowly retrieved his hand….when he felt her slender fingers. His eyes snapped open.

Kiara had discreetly slipped her hand in his, though she was still gauzing the skies above the valley.

Rashad held her hand and matched her gaze. A subtle smile played on his lips. They both stood facing the valley silently, in their own moment of a stolen interview.

Tags: @3pawandme @alj4890 @angelasscribbles @bascmve01 @bebepac @busywoman @choicesficwriterscreations @dcbbw @gkittylove99 @harleybeaumont @iaminlovewithtrr @karahalloway @kingliam2019 @lizzybeth1986 @lovingchoices14 @nestledonthaveone @neotericthemis @mom2000aggie @phoenixrising0308 @princess-geek @riseandshinelittleblossom @sazanes @secretaryunpaid @sfb123 @sillydg @tessa-liam @tinkie1973 @txemrn @walkerdrakewalker @yourmajesty09

[inlocusmads]

My top predictions for Crimes 2

[SPOILER ALERT FOR BOOK 1]

Okay I also went through some of the spoilers and leaks that was put up here on Tumblr. I don't want to link it or repost it, fearing it can be taken down. I'm no expert on Leak Laws, so you'd just have to trust me lmao.

And also my thoughts can be incredibly redundant and repetitive, because I wrote this on a dopamine high which is something you shouldn't ever do. (Also not tagging this)

The crown in the book cover might link to MC's potential coronation, but that's the obvious direction. I feel like there's a royal infiltration plot coming up, which eventually leads to a potential coronation or Trystan resigning to go solve crimes with MC.

However in the spoilers, it does mention a "coronation" outfit which I believe is -- a little less fancy for a proper coronation? Like you'd have some patriotic Drakovian colours and so on, it kind of looks like a fit you'd wear to blend in with a crowd of royalty. I definitely feel like Trystan would have a potential coronation storyline, but without MC's involvement and maybe the crown is just a red herring?

(I really don't want a TRR storyline again.)

Perhaps it isn't about the coronation, rather the crown in itself. Perhaps the crown is a symbolism as the wearer would have all control and can potentially overlook a lot of things and learn a lot of secrets. The crown provides authority. It is also studded with sapphires. A quick Google search tells me sapphires are supposed to "protect the wearer from envy and infidelity". Perhaps MC's detective skills can come in handy here, which might explain what Juliana had gone through.

Maybe there's a Juliana plot where she has some sort of an affair which costs her her life(?) since Trystan and Juliana's marriage technically isn't based on romance, rather a strategic political move. And it kind of mirrors the dangers Trystan and MC will be facing themselves.

A link between MC's father's disappearance and Juliana is definitely a long shot. Niko Borodin in Chapter 9, Book 1 says "Scarlottis and Big V" are people to watch out for and Uncle Tommy mentions a person by the name of "Viola Scarlotti" who's got ties to the mob. She was powerful back in the day and inherited an empire from her father who'd gone missing. Since Drakovia would definitely have some ties to the criminal classes, considering they've managed to tap into Trystan's life, there might be a connection between Jimmy Rose and the Juliana case.

The book cover looks like it could be situated in an old library or a sitting room of sorts. There's a painting which looks like a King's one, it might be Maksim Thorne.

The pin on MC's suit in the leaks (body type one) looks a lot like a snake eating its own tail and the outfit is also titled "Snake Charmer". It also looks like knots full of infinites in them, which can allude to the fact that their lives are a lot more connected than they thought. Drakovia might also have a thing for snakes and dragons or just mythical reptiles in general and we might see a lot more of these "snakes" personified as human traits.

The collar design in MC's black, goth dress (body type two) titled "Cloak and Dagger" has a head of a lion sewn into it, mounted on this Hermes-like Caduceus staff. It could mean that they're trying to protect someone, with the enigmatic description - "fit for Trystan Thorne's favourite guest"

It could imply MC might be looking out for Trystan, perhaps a "meet the parents" moment (?) of sorts? I'm slicing into thin air here, but I am considering all sorts of possibilities, however absurd they might be. But since it might have a medical implication, I have a strong feeling someone might either die or get poisoned and there's some sort of sabotage to remove Maksim or whoever from the throne and target Trystan next.

The snake theme is recurrent throughout the outfits and is incorporated in any one item of jewellery or the outfit in itself. It could mean MC is the catalyst that would bring about a change in Trystan and hence, the whole of Drakovia. Snakes usually symbolises "rebirth" or "change" under a positive light. I suspect MC would be a key target in this, having to evade a lot of Trystan's relatives and family and friends, apart from the case they're already solving.

There's also a fire in the background of the book cover. It could highlight some unresolved issues, some schisms within the family. It might also allude to the fire in the Iverson Ball, where MC and Trystan were going against two cults at the same time. Maybe there might be a red herring where Trystan and MC would have to pick and choose their battles and form key allies.

It isn't a total coincidence that Trystan is sent away to New York out of all places to be exiled. Clearly it is done with an intent to watch over him and carefully gather details. I'd like to think that someone knew something about the connection between Jimmy Rose's murder and Juliana and hence, had an idea to plant Trystan there and wait until the natural course of events happen.

Maybe they're doing them a favour. Maybe it was just a big old distraction, so everyone else focuses on Trystan and their blossoming romance with MC and not have to pay attention to whoever set this up.

Maksim , Trystan's father, likes them better than any other sibling, as it is revealed in a premium scene, I think, in Book 1. At the bare minimum, he'd be Eleanor Rys to Trystan's Liam Rys, because of his preference towards his eldest child. But if PB makes things interesting, we can expect Maksim to not know what's going on. He might as well be a blind ruler, doing his best to govern the kingdom when really, it is someone else pulling the strings. There might be layers to this royal conspiracy, ending with the Person Who Planted Trystan In New York, who could also be Juliana's killer.

Juliana's murder could be because she was collateral damage when really, they were targeting Trystan. You've got two sides of the schism, fighting for the same cause but being extremely sloppy about it. One group wants Juliana dead so Trystan can be removed from the line of succession.

The other might like Trystan to just fuckin die already, but would've been terrible with their work so much so that Juliana might've consumed the poison or taken the bullet or whatever, in place of Trystan.

As per Juliana's dossier leak, there's a Duchess Eveline whose children were projected to join the line of succession. Which sort of gives an insight into Mags' past, as she is not Viktoria Thorne's daughter, rather a Duchess Eveline.

Juliana wanted a law to pass that even people who have one Drakovian ruler as a parent should be allowed to stand in line for the crown, but the law was forestalled and permanently tabled after Juliana's passing.

This could be an interesting set up, because it could further prove Trystan had been a pawn all along and his future was all set and ready even though he should've had a say. So a lot of political shenanigans, surrounding a murder mystery. It reminds me a lot of The Unexpected Heiress. Possibly a closed-door mystery.

In Book 1, the Gaulish three headed statue appears to be the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone. I figure these would be the main character archetypes? (besides MC and their team, of course.) We saw something similar occur in Book 1. The killer, Eleanor St. Claire could be called a Crone for her alleged wisdom. Tony Kowalski could be the Mother, being the "provider" or an active catalyst in securing the hearts for Eleanor's plan. The Maiden could refer to either Sonja or Bethany.

Perhaps Trystan's mother could be the "Crone" in this situation, as it is established she could be a likely villain, since the diamond scene refers to the Person On The Phone as "Your Majesty". It is likely Trystan's father might not be a major antagonist, rather he'd be kept in the dark, unknowingly taking part in the scheme.

Even though I really don't want this, I definitely believe they're going to bring in every royalty trope ever. Like there are going to be scandalous dinners, with MC being Trystan's guest, exploring the palace for clues, sabotaging people, interrogating suspects - I really, really, really don't want it to be another version of The Royal Finale, with the whole "Sigrid and Liam's secret sister plot" and some grand reveal about a character who has been dead the whole time, is actually alive though I don't think it would be the case for Juliana because it is established in stone that she's very dead.

Mirrors to Book 1, where instead of Trystan taking a stab for MC, it is MC who does it. Cue the tears.

MC being pounded by Trystan's siblings and family. Some are nice. Some aren't nice.

A 'crime of passion' by definition is a crime committed at the heat of the moment or with a strong emotion. In Book 1, Tony Kowalski killed the victims hoping he would be able to ascend in a spiritual manner, when really it was obvious that Eleanor was using him to -- exert revenge on people who were snooping around a lot. It is unclear as to why Eleanor did it in the first place, because her motivations have just been strong feelings of revenge. I feel like the pattern might repeat itself in Book 2, as someone might have been pissed off by Juliana enough to commit actual murder.

Juliana's death was that she tripped over a topsail rope, suffered a head injury and was thrown overboard, which.. I mean, I understand head injuries can be critical and serious, but I have a feeling that she could have been deliberately tortured, enough to make her go weak.

It is a long shot, but it kind of reminds me of Veil of Secrets and when the kidnapper took Kate O'Malley and essentially just restricted her food and everything in that basement, beating her up and feeding her drugs. It could "count" as a crime of passion, maybe? But it's more of just deliberate torture that Juliana had to endure for having more progressive values.

Queerphobic!Thorne family. If they're that resistant towards Juliana pushing for an amendment to the succession laws, they're most definitely homophobic too. For M!Trystan's case, it could be a quick and easy arranged marriage to take Trystan out of his "courting" eras, possibly erase him of his sexuality.

In case of F!Trystan, maybe it was her own choice to marry Juliana and hence Juliana was wrongly targeted and taken out? Like, the promise of a political union that made everything advantageous for the Thorne family and the Georgescu family was a lot less important than standing against a woman marrying another woman?? I don't know.

This brief bit where Maksim goes, "What do you see in Trystan?" and MC goes, "Yeah well, they're.. a fucking moron" and they have a laugh about it. I NEED MORE MAKSIM OKAY I haven't even met that guy but he seems cool enough to be that cool dad who'd let you microwave spoons and set your house on fire.

Okay. That's it. I'm just going to stop before this gets too redundant. I'll come back and add more theories whenever I find the time before June 28th! I'll also come back after playing the book to see if I got it right!

Thanks so much for reading!

[burnin0akleaves]

Will Treaty for the character ask

Oh you KNOW thats what I was dying to ramble about. And I mean it, this post ended up being VERY long ahdbfjbdjd sorry not sorry.

First impression: I read the series in middle grade first so I don't remember what my exact first impression was? But I'm pretty sure I found him relatable in Ruins of Gorlan, and then I thought he got cooler with every new book. I was a kid that didn't go outside a lot so reading about him travelling to different countries and having an important role to play in each new mission was extremely impressive to me. Funnily enough, I don't think he became my favourite character until I got to TRR, Horace took that role at first.

Impression now: Oh I think all of you know.

Favorite moment: I'm not sure if I have a singular favourite moment, so I'll go through a few really quickly.

In book 2 while the Skandians are leaving on the ship, Will actually gets a chance to escape. There is a brief moment where no eyes are on him and he acknowledges that if he jumped right now, he could probably swim back to shore easily. But then he remembers Cassandra, and decides to stay. Thats honestly such a huge fucking sacrifice to make, and he was a child at the time too! No one would blame him if he took the opportunity to escape, but Will would just never do that. When it's a choice between the people he loves most and his own well-being, he always chooses others first. No matter how scared he might be.

Speaking of fear, another scene I love is when Will is getting taunted by Ruhl. Like, the book acknowledges that Will is actually feeling scared shitless that Ruhl will burn him alive, and that he has to actively hold himself back from reacting when the man pretends to drop the torch. He even ends up letting out a sigh of relief when he finally backs off. But throughout the whole thing, he manages to keep all of it inside and doesn't emote anything. That takes so much self-control.

Also quick shoutout to how sassy he is when Ruhl's men overpower him. "Glad to hear it, pity I missed you."???? Slay.

And one last scene I gush over a lot is in Escape From Falaise; where Will decides that if the worst happens and they run out of time, he will make sure Maddie escapes and then face the wrath of the Baron alone. Again, selfless sacrifice. What a man.

Idea for a story: I'll be honest, I want to watch Will and Gilan fight. This has been trapped in some little part of my mind ever since the scene where Halt and Gilan confront Will at the start of book twelve, WHICH I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ABOUT FYI.

Maybe its a complicated situation where there is no right answer and Gilan has to be cold and collected because of his status as Commander while Will is passionate and wants to act as soon as possible. Both of them have understandable reasons for their side and its a situation where there is just no right answer, but Will is too passionate to let it go while Gilan is too responsible to bite more than he can chew at the time. So they fight. Really badly.

It ends up getting personal and at some point Will just drops his oakleaf and walks away. No one hears from him again for a really long time, including Maddie who had finished her training a few months ago. Gilan can't tell exactly what happened to anyone because the situation is something that needs to be kept secret, so everyone is in the dark about Will for a very long time.

A few years later Gilan has to go on a mission himself since the situation is dire and they need the best ranger they have. Halt is too old and Will is gone, so that leaves him. An unknown power is rising in a nearby country and threatening the king. This person's motives are unknown but according to this foreign king's word, they are extremely dangerous and need to be stopped immediately.

When Gilan arrives to take care of it, suprise suprise, its Will. Said king is a terrible person thats about to threaten all the neighbouring countries, so Will is hellbent on taking him down. Turns out in the years he was gone, Will had gained a lot of respect and power along with new friends. Gilan and Will fight, again.

In the middle of their fight they get ambushed and they have to fight side by side after so long. They handle it and end up having an emotional conversation where they hug each other and make up. Gilan learns more about the situation and realizes that while maaaybe willing to go a bit too far for it, Will is in the right. He also gets to know Will's new friends better and ends up liking them.

At this point Gilan has been gone for too long and the rest of the gang come to find him. They find him and they find Will. After everyone gets to have a reunion where the truth finally comes out, they work together and resolve the situation. I'm not sure whether Will goes back with them, refuses to go back to Araluen after he has made a life for himself in this new place, or abandons all things related to war and buys a remote cabin in the woods to live a peaceful life after that. But its one of those three. Also he has a second unnofficial apprentice and she and Maddie start dating after they have their own enemies to lovers arc.

Unpopular opinion: Sigh. The beard looks good on him and if you boil Will down to being Halt's son you're doing a disservice to his character, let it go, let him grow up.

Favorite relationship: I already wrote waaaay more than I should have so I'm going to ignore all family relationships and go straight for Alyss/Will/Horace/Evanlyn. "Godfather" my ass, you mean Maddie's parents call you babygirl.

Favorite headcanon: Eventually, Will goes out like his father Daniel. Surrounded by way too many enemies, putting an amazing last stand to save someone. I know this sounds angsty or whatever but honestly, I think a legendary man deserves to have a legendary death too. Him dying in bed peacefully of old age after everything he had to go through comes as a close second.

[ao719]

…Sometimes Not (Part 8)

Turn A Blind Eye

This is a submission for @choicesflashfics, using prompt #3, “Why are you being so weird?”

Title inspo: Enough Is Never Gonna Be Enough - Ross Copperman

A/N: This is an au mini series to my Always You story. Thank you @burnsoslow for prereading! Please excuse any errors.  

Book/Pairing: TRR; Liam x OC (Reyna)

Rating: T • Warnings: None but some mild language.

Word count: 2500

Catch up here

Laying on the lounge chair, Reyna soaked up the sun on the royal family’s private beach. She had flown in with her father when he came for a week’s worth of meetings to discuss an event being hosted in Cordonia by a charity that he and Constantine were both patrons of. A week in Cordonia with Liam was better than a week in New York any day, so she’d requested time off work as soon as her father told her of his travel plans. 

Suddenly, something eclipsed the sun, casting a shadow over Reyna’s bikini-clad body; she opened her eyes as she slid her aviators down the bridge of her nose and glanced up to see Liam, who had just come from a quick dip in the water. “You’re blocking my sun. And dripping water on me.” 

“Well, excuse me,” Liam quipped. He shook his head, spraying her with the water that flung from his hair.

“Liam!” Reyna squealed as she turned her face away. She lifted her sunglasses to the top of her head and wiped her face.

“Oh, my bad,” Liam chuckled before moving to the chair beside her. He swung his legs up and laid back, tucking an arm behind his head with a content sigh. “I didn’t realize how badly I needed this day off until I had it.” 

“You’ve been stuck in those negotiation meetings for nearly two months. You need more than just a day off.” 

“Well, lucky for me, someone convinced me to take the whole week.” Liam glanced over at her, meeting her gaze; her amber eyes sparkled under the sun like pools of honey as she smiled at him. 

“So, what time are we going out tonight?” 

“I told Max and Liv we’d meet them down at the beer garden around nine,” Liam replied.

“Leo too?” Reyna asked.

“Yeah,” Liam nodded. “Whose turn is it?”

Reyna chuckled. “Mine.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“I am. Last time, it was you in New York. I had to tuck you in after Kismet, but not before you stole my pillow, remember?” 

Liam snorted. “Barely.” 

In the months since their drunken pillow fight kiss, Reyna and Liam made an agreement: no drinking at the same time. It was to help them control what they seemed unable to while inebriated together. One set of lowered inhibitions was easier to manage than two. So they took turns; one would drink, the other would be the designated babysitter for the evening. 

It wasn’t as easy as they initially thought it would be. The one drinking would be more flirty than usual and would go into ramblings while falling asleep that sometimes left the other overthinking every drunken word. It worked well enough, however, leaving the sober one able to ignore what they typically wouldn’t be able to and push their feelings down further. 

Those feelings were about to combust, though. At least for Liam, they were. 

It had been nearly a year since their Parisian reunion and to say Liam was struggling would be the understatement of the century. Whether drunk or sober, he found himself on the verge of spilling the confession of his feelings every time they were together. He thought over time it would get easier to keep them to himself, but it had only gotten more and more difficult. Reyna still seemed content where they were, however. She was the one who said it wasn’t a good idea for them to venture down that road again. Liam took the words as her way of saying she no longer looked at him that way. That helped a little when it came to not saying anything to her about how he felt; his silence was better than the sure rejection that would come.

****

Leaning against the table with his chin resting on his hand, Liam watched Reyna toss back another shot with Leo; he’d lost count of how many that was. 

“Rey! Come dance with me!” Maxwell called out before grabbing her hand and tugging her away from the table. 

When he saw her stumble, Liam reached out and grabbed her. “Careful,” he murmured as he steadied her.

Reyna giggled as she looked up at him with a kittenish grin. “I want you to dance with me.” She gently jabbed him with her finger before letting it trail down his chest.

Liam caught her wrist, shaking his head with a playful smirk. “Max asked you first.” 

“Ever the gentleman.” Reyna winked before turning away to follow Maxwell.

Olivia laughed. “Based on that look she just gave you, I’m pretty sure she’d let you rip her clothes off, but your ass is as sober as a judge and I know you wouldn’t take advantage of that.”

Liam shook his head. “It’s not like that between us.” 

“Why is that, anyway?” Leo asked.

“What?”

“Why are you sober? You’ve had two drinks all damn night.” Liam shrugged; he didn’t need to tell him the truth. “And why isn’t it like that between you two?” 

“It’s just not,” Liam replied.

“But you want it to be …” Liam silently shook his head, but Leo knew better. “Li, you weren’t fooling anyone back then, and you’re not fooling anyone now. Full stop, Max, Liv, and I have a bet going on how long it’ll take you two this time around,” he chuckled, and Olivia nodded in agreement. 

Liam looked at his brother. “It’s not the same as back then,” he shook his head. “Things are … different now.” 

“They don’t have to be,” Leo replied matter-of-factly. “Have you guys even talked about it?” 

Liam looked at him without responding. 

“You haven’t told her that you’re still in love with her?” Olivia asked incredulously. “What the hell are you waiting for?”

“Nothing,” Liam answered. “Like I said, things are different … it’s not like it used to be, not in that sense anyway.”

“So, what I’m hearing is that you’re avoiding talking about it. Got it,” Leo nodded. “Call me crazy, but I don’t think that’s going to get you very far. And it’s not going to win me this bet, either, so I’m gonna need you to get your shit together so I can take Max and Liv’s money.” 

Liam chuckled despite himself. “I wouldn’t hold your breath.” 

“Stop being a chicken shit and just tell her.” 

“That’s easier said than done,” Liam mumbled under his breath. 

****

“Easy does it,” Liam chuckled as he helped Reyna out of the SUV at the front entrance of the palace. 

“Everything is shpinning,” Reyna slurred.

Liam laughed, wrapping his arm around her waist as he guided her toward the steps. “That’s what happens when you get shit-faced.” 

“I’m-I’m not poop-faced.” 

“Whatever you say, Rey,” Leo snorted from behind them. 

After taking her sweet time going up the front steps, the three of them stepped into the foyer. Reyna glanced up at the grand staircase, trying and failing to blink it into focus. “When did you add another staircase? That is a looooot of stairs.”

“Need help getting her to your wing?” Leo asked.

“No,” Liam shook his head. He effortlessly scooped Reyna into his arms as she yelped with a giggle. “This’ll be easier.” 

“You’re so strooooooong,” Reyna laughed as her head lolled against his shoulder. 

Leo snorted. “Have fun with that,” he said as Liam started up the stairs.  

After carrying Reyna inside the south wing, Liam opened the door to her bedroom. He set her down by her bed, holding onto her to keep her steady. “You need to get changed.” 

Reyna closed one eye in what was supposed to be a wink and gave him a thumb … sideways? “Yes, sir.” 

Liam shook his head with a smile. “Are you gonna be alright for a minute while I go grab you some water?” She swayed with a nod. “Ok, I’ll be right back.” 

Liam stepped out of the room and headed to the kitchen; he grabbed two bottles of water and some aspirin to leave on her nightstand for the morning before heading back down the hall.

When he made it back to her room, Liam walked inside to find it empty. “Rey?” he called out. He spun on his heels when he heard something behind him; across the hall, he could see her standing in his room. “What are you doing?” he asked as he approached her.

“I wanna sleep in here.” 

“That’s fine, but you still need to change.” Without hesitation, Reyna began to peel her shirt over her head. “I didn’t mean … never mind.” He set the water and aspirin down on the nightstand before helping her when she got her arm stuck in the sleeve. “Hold still,” he chuckled. Once her shirt was off, she started unbuttoning her pants. “Rey, wait—” He grabbed her arm when she started swaying as she shimmied out of them. Once she was in nothing but her lace undergarments, he sat her on the edge of his bed. “Stay right there. I’m going to grab your pajamas.” He turned and hurried across the hall, grabbing the pajamas from her bed before rushing back to his room; he paused in the doorway as she pulled one of his button-up shirts over her head. 

Liam came in front of her; he lifted his hand, reaching behind her and untucking her hair from the collar as she looked up at him. “This smells like you.” 

“Well, I would hope so considering it’s mine,” Liam chuckled, lifting the shorts he grabbed for her. “Here—” she turned and climbed into his bed “—Or not.” He tossed her clothes on the chair and stepped into the bathroom; he returned a few moments later after changing and laid on the bed next to her, turning on his side. “You ok?” he asked, brushing her hair away from her cheek.  

Reyna opened her eyes to look at him. “I wish you were poop-faced with me.” 

Liam chuckled. “Why’s that?”

“Because I really wanna kiss you right now.” 

“Rey—” 

“And I know you won’t.”

“This is why we said only one of us would drink,” Liam reminded her with a smile. 

“That’s a stupid rule,” Reyna slurred. She tilted her face as she shifted closer to him. “Innit?” 

Liam closed his eyes, feeling her breath on his lips; he was fighting every instinct he had not to give her what she claimed to want. When he opened his eyes and met her gaze again, he offered a rueful smile. “We made the rule for a reason.” 

“I decree we can break it just this once.”

Liam chuckled and shook his head. He wasn’t going to break the rule no matter how much he wanted to. 

Reyna sighed as she shifted back and nestled into the pillow. After a few moments of silence, her eyes began to flutter. “You and I …” Reyna mumbled. “Always almost …”

Liam’s brows furrowed as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “What?”

“We were always on the verge of almost. Never nothing … but never quite something … ”

Liam held his breath for a moment as he watched her drift to sleep. “We were something, Rey,” he whispered. “More than something.” We still can be … 

*******

The following morning, Liam and Reyna sat out on the balcony of the south wing, eating a late breakfast once Reyna had finally woken up. 

Liam had barely gotten any sleep, too consumed by Reyna’s drunken words the night before; that paired with his conversation with Leo from earlier that night when he insisted on him telling her how he felt was all he could think about. He tried clearing his head with an early morning run on the beach while Reyna slept. It didn’t help. He felt more on edge than ever before. 

Reyna noticed how Liam seemed off that morning; he was more quiet than usual and it was obvious that something was weighing on him. She wondered if something happened the night before … if she’d done or said something that had upset him. She sorted through what flashes of their night she could recollect, but nothing stood out. 

Finally, after another bout of silence, she couldn’t take it. “Why are you being so weird?” Reyna asked, and he looked at her questioningly. “You’ve been acting off all morning.” He sighed and looked away from her. “Did … did I do something last night or say something that upset you?” 

“No,” Liam shook his head adamantly. “Not at all.” 

“Then what’s wrong?”

Liam glanced back at her. “Nothing.” 

“Don’t lie to me,” Reyna said. “I know you, Liam. I know when something is bothering you.”

“Rey, really, it’s nothing.” Liam stood, taking his empty plate inside. 

Reyna stood and followed him. “So there’s something …” He gave her another curious look. “You just said, ‘it’s nothing.’ So that means there’s something bothering you.” 

Liam became flustered with both himself and his slip-up, just wanting her to drop it. “Rey—”

“If it’s nothing, then why can’t you just tell me?”

“Because it’s not a big deal,” Liam lied. It was a huge deal, of course. 

“Well, if it’s not a big deal, then why can’t you just say what it is?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“Li, you can tell me anything. I’m your best friend and—”

“That!” Liam finally snapped. “That’s what’s wrong!”

“What is?”

“Me having to walk around pretending you’re nothing more than just my best friend and acting as though there’s not a single part of me that isn’t still in love with you!” Liam shouted. Reyna’s brows slightly rose both at his tone and his words. He stared at her for a moment before letting out a breath, throwing his hands up in frustration. “I’ve been struggling every damn day since we reunited in Paris not to tell you, Rey, but it’s just …” he trailed off for a moment before dropping his voice to a whisper. “It’s too damn hard.” 

Reyna stared at him, her own confession on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t get the words to come out because that fear — that stupid gigantic fear of history repeating itself, of losing him again — stifled her voice. 

Liam closed his eyes, running his fingers through his hair before meeting her gaze again; he knew he couldn’t tell her to forget what he’d just said, but by the look on her face — one that filled him with panic — he was certain he didn’t want to hear her response.

Reyna cleared her throat. “Liam—”

“Don’t,” Liam shook his head, cutting her off. “Please don’t say anything. I’m begging you, Rey. Please. I didn’t mean — I think we — let’s just act like that didn’t happen because I don’t — just please don’t say anything.”

Both Liam’s voice and eyes were pleading with her. A part of him was hoping she’d tell him to shut the hell up, that she still loved him, too, but instead … she nodded, complying with his request for her to remain silent.

It made Liam believe something he’d been long afraid of acknowledging: she didn’t feel the same. 

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

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[alj4890]

Hey my dear! How about a request? What will happen between Liam and Riley if they don't find Tariq or find him to late? Will Riley return to New York, and will Liam eventually have to marry the snake of Madeleine? Do you plan to write about it?

😬 well........hmm. This is a tough one. Normally, I'd be like, Liam will just tell everyone what happened with his father and how Riley is innocent. They'll ride off into the sunset toward their happily ever after, blah, blah, blah 😂. Then I remember how he reacted in TRR Book 2 when Constantine said he couldn't go to the press and clear this up. It would ruin the people's trust in Liam due to having a manipulative father, etc. And Liam AGREED. Here, given just what we know of Liam from the first two books of The Royal Romance, is what I think would have happened if Tariq was not found in time. Sorry for it being so long! It kept growing and growing 🙈 angst and fluff from here on out.

@gkittylove99 @krsnlove @kingliam2019 @texaskitten30 @yourmajesty09 @mom2000aggie @ofpixelsandscribbles @twinkleallnight @lodberg  @amandablink @neotericthemis  @mm2305 @sfb123

Masterlist

The Decision

New York, the day of the wedding shower...

He couldn't hide his desperation. It was getting more and more difficult to remain hopeful.

Liam splashed some cold water over his face. While drying it, he studied his reflection in the mirror.

They should have landed by now, he thought. Surely it won't take them long to find Tariq. Between Riley and Hana, he won't be able to say no to their gentle pleading to finally come forward and end this scandal.

Liam gripped the vanity. His head dropped forward to silently pray that all would end tonight.

"It has to work." He whispered to himself. "Riley and I are meant to be together."

He glanced once more at his reflection. He could see how visibly tired he was of this pretense that he and Madeleine were happily on their way to the altar.

If the wedding shower happens, then I am honor bound to marry Madeleine.

Could he go through with it? Riley told him the night before that she didn't think she could remain with him if he did marry the countess. He hadn't allowed himself to think of that situation occurring. He understood Riley's feelings, but he'd selfishly hoped she would still be with him if they were left with no other option.

He rubbed his hands over his face. He was so sick of keeping their love hidden from the world. He wanted to finally be free of everything keeping them apart.

Bastien knocked upon the bathroom door.

"Your majesty? The car is waiting downstairs."

"I'll be out in a minute." Liam automatically responded.

He slipped his black jacket on. Combing his hair once more, he straigtened his shoulders and adopted his pleasant court mask, one perfect for noble gatherings.

His stomach twisted in knots as he made his way down. He had two meetings with delegates to deal with before the dreaded shower. He wished he could have gone with Riley and their friends. There was simply no way to do so because of duty.

Duty. He snorted softly as he watched the buildings go by. Duty was once more keeping him from the one he loved the most.

"It must work." His hands balled into fists. "Tariq will be found."

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

Los Angeles...

"This is it." Riley took a deep breath.

"You got this, Brooks." Drake positioned himself behind her.

Hana took her hand and gave a gentle squeeze of encouragement.

"We're with you til the end of the line, Blossom." Maxwell pulled her close for a quick side hug.

While flashing a grateful smile to her staunchest supporters, she knocked on what had to be Tariq's apartment door.

This has to be the right one, she thought to herself. It's our last one...our last hope.

No one came to the door.

"Try again." Hana said softly. "Perhaps, he didn't hear the knock.

Riley knocked a little louder.

Silence followed.

"Here, let me." Drake nudged them to the side so that he could pound on the door.

"Hey!" A neighbor across the way stuck his head out. "Keep it down! Some of us have to work tonight."

"Excuse me," Hana smiled warmly at the man. "Do you happen to know the gentleman who lives here?"

"Who? You mean the shoe freak?" The neighbor grumbled. "Saw him earlier today. Left with a bunch of suitcases."

"He's gone!" Riley exclaimed. "Did he say where he was going?"

"No. Shoe Freak kept to himself." He noticed how upset the group was becoming. "Sorry. He must be a friend of yours."

"Did he say anything to you?" Drake asked. "Did you notice anything that might help us find him?"

"He didn't say anything." The man yawned while apologizing and shutting his door.

"Let's go check with the super." Riley hurried toward an elevator. "Maybe he knows where Tariq is."

The others followed on her heels.

Maxwell checked his watch. Time was running out.

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

New York: the wedding shower...

Madeleine's laughter echoed about as she talked to Kiara. The moment she caught sight of Riley, she excused herself and made her way over.

She immediately noticed the red rimmed eyes and unusually pale skin upon the other woman's face.

"There you are." Madeleine coldly greeted. "Did you bring my ring like I requested?"

Riley dug around in her clutch. She finally located the little black box.

"Here." She swallowed back her tears.

"Thank you." Madeleine replied with a sly smirk forming. "I told Liam you could be useful."

"Useful?" Riley bit out.

"Of course." Madeleine admired her wedding band. "I knew you could be more than simply Liam's paramour."

Riley stepped back with a sharp ibtake of breath over that observation.

"Do enjoy yourself. I better go find my fiancé." Madeleine giggled, thoroughly enjoying a chance to rub it in. "We have so many to personally thank for joining us today."

Riley merely glared at her.

"You okay?" Maxwell asked, once Madeleine left.

"No, I'm not." Riley whispered. "How could I possibly be okay with any of this?"

"Oh Riley." Hana wrapped her arm around her. "I'm so sorry."

"I told Bastien." Drake muttered as he joined them. "Maybe he can find out where Tariq went."

"He could be anywhere." Riley felt the overwhelming hopelessness she first experienced the night of the coronation ball.

While her friends debated on the location of the elusive noble, Riley's thoughts focused in on the fact that it was now twice she'd had to watch the man she loved end up with another.

It wasn't fair. She'd played the court games, uncovered the mystery of the scandal, and had helped her friends with their own problems along the way. Didn't she deserve to have something good for a change happen to her?

Or...

Was this fate telling her once again that she was not meant for Liam?

She sucked in a stilted breath. It has to be that. It was a foolish dream to think for even a moment that she could possibly end up with Prince Charming. She was nothing in their world. She wasn't Cinderella like she once joked about in her coronation ballgown. She wasn't even a background character.

Riley was simply a waitress from New York who naively believed that dreams do come true.

But even dreams can be nightmares.

This was her nightmare. Seeing Madeleine hug Liam's arm after his toast to their future as king and queen was too much. It was too hard to watch her lips kiss his cheek.

This life Riley had been living all these months was a dream.

And a horrible one at that.

"Time to wake up." She whispered to herself.

She downed the champagne someone handed her then searched for an exit.

Like all dreams, this one was finally over.

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

A few hours later...

"When did she leave?" Liam asked once he was in the elevator with Drake.

"A couple of hours ago. Maxwell and Hana went with her." Drake explained. "It's been a rough eighteen hours on Brooks."

"I can't believe Tariq disappeared again." Liam ran his hands over his face. "I just knew everything would be," he trailed off, "what am I going to do?"

Drake folded his arms. "Simple. You love Riley and she loves you. Go be together."

"It's not that simple." Liam pointed out. "As much as I wish it was, I can't just make it so."

"Liam, you're king." Drake argued. "If you don't have the power to make it right, then who does? Your father had the power to ruin your chance with her. Can't you fix it?"

"You don't understand." Liam stepped out on the fifteenth floor. "The only way to fix this is by exposing my father for the manipulator he is. The people of Cordonia will doubt everything he did as king and then doubt me."

"They won't doubt you." Drake grumbled.

"They will. They will either wonder if I will act just like my father or they will think I am a weak ruler to allow something like this to happen to me in the first place."

They approached Riley's door. Even from out here they could hear the muffled, pleading tones coming from Maxwell and Hana.

Upon their knock, Riley opened the door.

Her eyes were red from the tears she'd finally allowed to fall. Hours of arguing had nearly exhausted her.

"Hey." She managed a half hearted smile. "Come in."

Liam eyebrows drew together at the sight of her suitcases out and open on the bed. Drawers were nearly empty as she resumed her packing.

"Where are you going?" He asked.

"Home." She replied in what she hoped was a determined tone.

"But..." Liam turned toward their friends. "Would you give us a moment, please?"

"Sure thing." Drake opened the door for Hana.

She gave Riley a tearful hug, then hurried out. Maxwell stopped right at the door.

"Promise me you won't decide on leaving until I get back."

Unable to deny her sweet friend who'd been the one to offer her this chance at romance from the start, she nodded.

Shoulders slumping at seeing her so unhappy, Maxwell quietly closed the door behind him.

Liam tried to take Riley into his arms.

"We will find a way to be together."

She pushed him away. "You mean me as the other woman? The king's mistress?" She shook her head. "No thanks."

"It isn't looked down upon in Cordonia." Liam argued. "Everyone already knows I'm in love with you. The nobles treat you well. We--"

"Treat me well?!" Riley glared at him. "So well that Penelope and Kiara can't talk to me for more than a minute so as not to anger Madeleine. And your fiancee never hesitates to let me know that I'm nothing more than your personal sex toy."

Riley couldn't stop her words. The mere thought of continuing in this lifestyle for the rest of her life angered her.

"Did you know she had me go pick up her wedding band when we got here? Me! The one she knows is in love with you and hoped to end up as your wife. How do you think that made me feel? Do you honestly expect me to just swallow my pride and be your wife's punching bag while hoping for an hour or two of your attention?"

Liam blanched. "I had no idea Madeleine was treating you this way. I--"

"You had no idea?" Riley's bitter laugh made him cringe. "Some king you are. You don't even know what's going on with the two women in your life."

Liam swallowed. He'd never seen Riley this angry before. It was as if a dam had burst and all her emotions were able to flow out.

"Look Liam." Riley stopped packing so she could face him. "We knew it was a long shot that we could have the future we wanted." She gestured toward him. "You'll be a lot happier once we have some distance between us."

"Happier?" His voice cracked.

"Yes." She somehow managed to look into his eyes. "You'll no longer have to decide between doing right by your country or by your heart."

Liam shook his head, refusing to accept her words.

"We had a," Riley swallowed. "We had a nice love affair that was only meant for a season."

She tried to smile. It came out strained at best.

"You'll see this is what was supposed to happen from the beginning." Tears filled her eyes. "I was never meant for you." Her breath hitched. "No matter what either of us originally thought."

She zipped up her bags. "At least we had some good times."

"They were perfect." Liam choked out. "The best of my life."

Riley briefly closed her eyes. Tears slipped down her cheeks as she tried to walk past him.

"Riley." He gently grasped her arm. "Please, don't leave me."

She bit her lip. Letting go of her bags, she hugged him tight.

"I can't be with you while you're married to another." She burried her face in his chest. "I can't."

He clutched her close. His whispered words of love did little to dent her resolve.

Riley abruptly left his arms.

"Tell the others I couldn't stand saying goodbye to them." She couldn't bear another moment of his heartache. "Take care of yourself, Liam."

Quickly gathering her bags, she left him standing alone in her hotel room.

Liam sat down at the foot of her bed as the reality of losing her completely hit him.

He didn't know what step he should take next in his bleak future.

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

A few days later, on a train in Cordonia...

"...and I spoke to Bastien about..."

Madeleine narrowed her eyes when she noticed Liam was not paying her any attention.

"Liam!" She snapped.

He jumped. "Yes?"

"Did you hear anything I said?"

"No." He focused once more on Cordonia's countryside.

She huffed in irritation. "And I thought you were bad when Riley was around to distract you."

He swiftly turned back towards her. "Do not," he snapped, "EVER speak her name again!"

Madeleine's jaw dropped. He'd never spoken to her abruptly much less in anger.

"I..." She swallowed nervously, "I won't."

He turned once more to look out the train window.

"But we do need to discuss the homecoming ball."

"It's canceled." He replied.

"Canceled? Why? When did this--"

"I'm king." He interrupted. "I don't want a ball so therefore I won't have one."

"But, the people expect to see us celebrating--"

"There's nothing to celebrate." Liam cut her off again.

"Our wedding is coming up!" She whined.

"So?" He narrowed his eyes upon her again. "It is nothing more than a political alliance."

"Yes, but the people expect to see us in love."

"Then it's better now to stop that train of thought." He grumbled.

Her brow furrowed. She'd assumed Liam was the one prince she could mold and make do whatever she wanted. He was usually so polite. So eager to please and do what was expected.

This new version of him worried her.

"If you will excuse me, I need to go speak to my ladies in waiting." She murmured.

He didn't bother to look at her, merely waved her away.

Liam saw no need to keep up any pretense. What did it matter? It wasn't like he needed the people to approve of him. They were stuck with him as ruler.

For better or for worse. Nothing could be any worse than this.

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

New York, a month later...

"Hey!" Daniel greeted warmly. "Long time no see."

Riley slid onto a stool with a grin. "Yeah, well it is kinda hard to get your old job back after you write screw you on the receipt."

Daniel snorted as he mixed her a drink. "How's the new job going?"

"Pretty good." She took a sip. "No one's made me take the trash out late at night, so that's a plus."

"Living the dream." He chuckled, making a needed drink for himself.

They drank in companionable silence.

"Kinda dead tonight." Riley twirled about.

"It's the rain." Daniel poured her a refill. "Only the truest patrons venture out on a night like this."

She laughed. "I guess so."

She looked up when he placed his hand over hers.

"You know you can talk to me about Liam?"

"I know I can." She downed the rest of her drink. "But why make you listen to the same frustrations every single time I see you?" She gently squeezed his hand. "I can't afford to lose you. You're all I have in New York."

"Not necessarily." Daniel looked over her shoulder at the group who walked in.

"Riley!" Maxwell rushed over, lifted her off the barstool, and spun her around.

Her startled yelp turned into a rush of greeting him, Drake, and Hana.

The four talked over one another, laughing, hugging, then sat down at one of the nearby tables.

"What on earth are you doing here?" She asked.

"Checking on you." Hana replied.

"But the wedding is coming up." Riley wondered how she managed to say it without crying.

"Liam postponed it." Maxwell explained.

"He did?" Riley blinked in surprise.

"Yeah, he went ahead and told the people about Constantine's cancer." Drake added. "He's not in any hurry to make Madeleine, queen."

"He's holding out hope that we can somehow find Tariq." Hana said softly.

"Oh." Riley's shoulders slumped. "He shouldn't bother."

"Of course he should!" Maxwell draped his arm around Riley's shoulders "You two are made for each other."

Riley shook her head. "I meant, there's no point to finding Tariq."

"What makes you say that?" Drake asked.

"Because I not only found him, I also talked to him." She replied.

Taking a deep breath, Riley shared what happened after they left New York.

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

New York, nearly three weeks earlier...

"Taxi!" Riley whistled, trying to get someone to stop.

The storm clouds were only growing darker as thunder rumbled overhead.

"Come on." She waved at a few. "Don't make me have to take the subway soaking wet."

One stopped not too far from her. She hurried over when she saw both the passenger and driver exit the cab.

Once she was close enough, she nearly tumbled in shock at the sight of the one noble she'd searched so hard for.

"Tariq!" She shouted.

He looked around to see who had said his name.

She ran over to him, ignoring her screaming muscles and sore feet in high heels, and grabbed hold of his arm.

"Lady Riley!"

His astonishment would have made her laugh if she wasn't in such a desperate, wretched situation.

"I've been looking for you everywhere!" She nearly shook him.

He swallowed nervously. "Oh?"

"We need to talk." She jerked him toward the hotel they were standing near.

"I suppose we do." He followed her inside.

She took him to one of the hotel bars after dropping off his luggage with concierge.

"Now," she began, "where have you been?"

"Traveling." He muttered. "I thought it best after," he grimaced, "after our scandal was discovered to gain some distance from you and the court."

"Must have been nice to travel while I was left to deal with the mess." She muttered.

His eyes narrowed. "I had to leave my home. I left everyone I knew." He couldn't hide his bitterness. "All because I was told you had feelings for me and was given the wrong room."

"I lost Liam!" She snapped. "Don't think that you are the only one to suffer!"

"Then you should know how awful it's been!" He arugued. "I lost the respect and friendship of many in Cordonia because I supposedly went after the prince's suitor." He glared at her. "Unlike you, I can't go home again to live my life."

Riley closed her mouth. She hadn't thought of all that happening to Tariq. Her only concern was how the situation affected her.

"You...you aren't going back to Cordonia?" She asked.

"No." He replied. His tone was harsh as he glared at her. "I'm no longer welcome for trying to steal the monarch's suitor." He took a swallow from his drink. "I've been traveling and searching for a new home in a different country."

"I'm sorry." Riley whispered.

Unshed tears blurred her sight as she thought how destructive Constantine's actions had been.

Tariq tried to shrug it off. "No matter." He downed the last of his drink. "Tomorrow, I leave for my new home in Barcelona."

"Oh." Riley sniffed. "Would you mind..."

"Mind what?"

"Mind giving a statement to clear my name?" She asked.

His eyes narrowed upon her. "Clear your name? Will it clear mine?"

"I...don't think it will." She mumbled.

"Then, no." He got to his feet. "My giving a statement would make me the only guilty party. Right?"

Riley knew she couldn't share with him Constantine's part. With how bitter and resentful Tariq was, he'd immediately go to the presses with the news. It would ruin everything.

It would ruin Liam.

"Have you been hurt from the scandal here?" Tariq asked, picking up his attaché.

"No." Riley honestly admitted. "I haven't seen or heard anything about it since I came home."

"Then enjoy that bit of peace." He nodded to her on his way out. "And move on from Cordonia."

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

Present day, New York...

"He won't come forward?" Drake asked.

"Nope." Riley slumped back against the cushions.

"I can't believe he won't try and help." Hana reached over and squeezed Riley's hand. "I'm so sorry."

Maxwell had been unusually quiet throughout the story. With a grimace, he offered his opinion.

"Honestly, after how they ostracized him back home, I don't blame him for wanting to keep out of it."

Drake rounded on him. "Are you saying, you'd do the same thing?!"

"I hope I wouldn't." Maxwell argued. "But I can't imagine losing all of you, Bertrand, Ramsford...it'd be the worst thing to ever happen to me."

"That's why I didn't keep pushing him to make a statement." Riley added. "He's been through worse than I--"

"No, he hasn't!" Drake snapped. "He's had a cushy life since he was born. He--"

"And that's why his situation is so much worse!" Riley cut in. "I wasn't born to the noble lifestyle. My home is far enough away where the scandal can't touch me." She took in all three of them. "And I have friends who stuck by me through it all."

Hana threw her arms around her. Maxwell joined in, hugging them both. They looked over at Drake.

He bit out a curse, then joined in.

"You guys really are the best, you know that?" Riley said softly.

They simply hugged her tighter in response.

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

A week later, Cordonia...

"You sent for me?" Olivia asked.

"Yes, please have a seat." Liam waved toward a comfortable couch.

She eyed the door closing behind them, leaving them completely alone.

"What's wrong?"

Liam sat down across from her. "Tariq was found."

Olivia sat up straighter. Her lips parted to congratulate her friend finding a way to his happily ever after. She paused when she noticed the sadness lingering in his eyes.

"He won't come forward, will he?"

Liam shook his head. Running an agitated hand through his hair, he got to his feet, pacing the length of the room.

Olivia, feeling a tad uneasy, observed him. She'd never seen him in such a state before.

"Are you all right?"

"I can't keep doing this." He told her. "Not without Riley."

"Have you called her?"

"No." His head dropped forward. "She refuses to have anything to do with me now that I'm stuck with Madeleine."

"Oh." Olivia's brow furrowed as she tried to find a way around this for him.

He dropped down to his knees in front of her.

Olivia visibly jumped in alarm over such an erratic move.

"Do you know who is next in line to the throne if something were to happen to me?" He asked, eyes wide for the first time with a hint of hope.

"...no..." She replied.

"It's you." He got to his feet and rushed to his desk, yanking open desk drawers until he found the paper he was searching for.

"See!" He handed it to her.

Olivia eyed the convoluted line of succession.

She found her name, eyes widening in alarm.

"Liam? Why did you summon me?"

She didn't bother to hide her shock at this unexpected news.

"Because you," he said with his first smile since coming home, "are about to become queen."

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

Two weeks later, New York, Coney Island...

"Thank you. Thank you. Thank you." Maxwell squeezed Riley in a hug, lifting off her feet.

"You're welcome!" She gasped in a breathless laugh.

"I've always wanted to come here." He rubbed his hands together. "What should we do first?"

"That's the beauty of this place." Drake nodded down the midway. "Whatever you want, when you want, no schedule required."

Hana sniffed the air. "Something smells wonderful!" She eagerly turned toward her friends. "May we try one of the carnival foods? There a a few I read about last night that I am most curious about."

Riley linked her arm through Hana's, trying not to laugh over her dearest friend's research. "Lead the way Hana."

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

A few hours later...

"Any word?" Maxwell whispered.

"His plane landed." Drake checked to make certain Riley was distracted with Hana. "He wants to meet up with her."

"Where?"

"Her old bar."

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

A couple more hours later...

The group entered through the doors, laughing and talking about their long day at Coney Island.

Daniel beamed at them from behind the bar.

"Sounds like somebody had fun."

"You should have been there with us." Riley told him. "I hate that jerk wouldn't let you off for the night."

Daniel shrugged. "It wasn't too bad of a night working."

Riley snorted softly. "It's empty."

A smile played about her friend's lips. "Somebody rented it for the night."

"Oh." She looked about. "You need some help setting up?"

Daniel glanced at the back room. "Yeah, that'd be great."

Riley hopped up. "Bachelor or Bachelorette party?"

"Both." Daniel muttered. "I think."

"I'll go get the table decorations for you." She hurried off toward the back store room.

Maxwell , Hana, and Drake watched her until she disappeared.

"Is Liam here?" Hana whispered.

"No. He was." Daniel checked over his shoulder. "Then he went out to run a quick errand."

"So what's the plan?" Maxwell asked.

"We find a way to keep her busy." Daniel explained.

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

An hour later...

Hana, Maxwell, and Drake offered to go get some takeout while the pair worked.

"What do you think?" Riley stepped back to admire the room.

"Looks great." Daniel's phone vibrated. "Oh geez. Listen, would you mind staying here alone for about twenty minutes."

He held his phone up.

"I need to get home. Drax is fighting the pet sitter again."

Riley doubled over in laughter to hear that his new pomsky puppy was refusing to leave his bed to go for a walk.

"I'll hurry." He promised on his way out.

Once alone, Riley wandered around the empty bar. Her eyes lighted on the table that a certain group of guys had once sat at.

She walked over, thinking about that night and how it led them all down a road none of them could have possibly imagined.

Her mind then replayed how it all began. Maxwell declaring stakes for the table. Drake wanting shots. Then Liam appearing behind her and saying--

"Pardon me miss..."

Riley spun around.

"Liam!"

His smile was tender as he finally had a chance to see her in something other than a photograph.

"Hello, Riley."

She weakly sat down in the booth.

"What are you doing here?"

He sat down across from her, taking her hand in his.

"I came to see you."

"Liam." She sighed. "That's sweet, but you know we can't be together."

"We can, my love."

She shook her head. "We can't. I can't be the other woman in your life."

He lifted her hand to his lips. "Would you be willing to be the only woman?"

Her brow furrowed when he slipped out of his seat and dropped to a knee.

"What are you--"

"I love you, Riley, with my entire heart." His grip tightened around her fingers. "I regret every moment I missed in declaring that to the world."

Her eyes were wide, waiting anxiously to hear what next he would say.

"Everything that happened," he looked up at her, "has only shown me that you are the very definition of my happiness."

He pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.

"I lost that the moment we parted in New York." His smile dimmed. "I was nothing but a hollow shell of a man. Without you, nothing in my life mattered. I was of no use to anyone."

She shook her head, a stray tear following. She couldn't help but think of how she had been in a similar state once she knew their relationship was doomed.

"My reign without you by my side would be nothing but a blot upon Cordonian's history."

Her lips parted in a gasp.

"Liam, what--"

"Since I can't have you as queen of Cordonia," he pressed her hand to his heart, "I can no longer be its king."

"You abdicated?" She whispered in disbelief.

He nodded. "And the moment I was finally free to do so, I rushed here to ask you the very question I wanted to so many months ago."

He produced a diamond solitaire.

"My love, will you marry me?"

She couldn't see him through her tears. She recalled all the times he'd mentioned abdicating during that awful engagement tour. She'd thought he wouldn't be able to be happy in a life not doing his duty.

Yet, here he was, smiling at her as if she was truly all he needed in the world.

"Are you sure?" She choked out. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

He pulled her into his arms. "I've never been more certain, more at peace, more excited for any decision than I have been for this one.

She kissed him through her tears, breaking off with a laugh to say yes, before surging forward to kiss him with all the love in her heart.

"Can we celebrate now?"

The couple broke apart at that question.

Maxwell grinned at them. Drake and Hana softly groaned at him interrupting such a romantic moment.

"We can." Riley replied, snuggling once more in Liam's arms.

Liam nodded. "We couldn't have made it without any of you."

The group hugged each other, knowing this was just the beginning of a an all new happily ever after.

[choicesficwriterscreations]

November Creator of the Month: Lizzybeth1986

Each month CFWC highlights one of our talented fanfic writers, and this month’s writer of the month is @lizzybeth1986 We hope you will enjoy learning more about them and their work below! The writer is selected at random. More info can be found on the navigation page.

Quick Links:

Tumblr Blog: Blog Masterlist

How do you want to be known on Tumblr?

Lizzy, absolutely 😁

*Center art by @sazanes

More below...

When did you start playing Choices? What was the first book you played?

I started playing mid 2017, I think. I played the flagship books (TF, TCaTF, MW), and def preferred TF at the time.

When and why did you join Choices fandom?

I joined the Tumblr fandom in 2017, around the time of the TRR finale. Mostly because the Liam hate at the time was intense and I wanted to write metas about why Liam was, in fact, not “a dick who betrayed the MC” 😂

I did have a Tumblr account before that (made it in 2015 to follow Bollywood film posts), but never actually used it.

How did you pick your blog name?

I was lazy af so it was my middle name plus my birth year haha

Pull up the first post in your archive, and tell us about it! 

I started out with a couple reblogs, but my first actual post was about the romance points mechanism in TRR1. There was a point in the middle of the book where one nice word to Drake would give you an automatic romance point, and I was like, “Huh??? Either treat him like shit or risk him catching feels for me? Is that how it is???”. Thankfully, that stopped after two chapters. After that, I did an essay series analyzing Liam’s actions in the finale called “The Crown, The King and The Flame.” Romance Points Post The Crown and the Flame

How long have you been writing fanfiction?

Almost 6 years now! I started doing Liam fics around the beginning of TRR2.

What is your favorite Choices book, and what is your favorite Choices book to write about?

I’m the most invested in TRR and PM, but between the two I’d probably say PM is my fave book overall. But yeah, my favourite book to write about would be TRR, because Liam, Hana and Kiara are such fantastic characters to write about! (Hayden and Sloane, too, but I’m still in the process of getting comfortable writing them).

Share the first fanfic you wrote with us. Do you still like it, or would you change it if you were writing it today?

It was Keychains, my two part fic series featuring my MC and Liam. It was set around the time the MC was waiting in the airport in TRR2, just before Maxwell and Bertrand intervene. It had a follow up with Liam’s PoV too.

I really like it. It included some really good hc’s I made at the time, like Esther buying an apple keychain to represent Cordonia at the same time, and Liam calling her his wife in Greek and Esther not realizing what the phrase meant. I thought the pathos and slight humour was quite well-done. I can’t think of much I would want to change in the story.

Keychains 1 Keychains 2

What is your favorite fic that you’ve written?

As a series – Eleanor’s Kitchen! It’s ongoing, and it’s a joy to write. I love exploring food from a cultural lens, and since Cordonia was a fictional country, I could explore a variety of ethnicities and food cultures. Liam had a literal diamond scene that explored gastrodiplomacy, and I wanted to explore his childhood and Eleanor’s friendships too.

Individually – I would say my Kiara fic “An Ear to the Ground”. Kiara is a delightful character and exploring the social season through her eyes was a real journey! I also love “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)” which explores the early days of the Sloane & Hayden friendship. I used asterisms and constellations to symbolize moments in their friendship.

Eleanor's Kitchen An Ear to the Ground The Stars (Are Out Tonight)

Do you have a fic that you didn’t expect to be well received, but it was? What about one you expected to be but found could use a little more love?

Cordonian Waltz was definitely a surprise in terms of reception!! It was written in the style of headcanons I was seeing at the time, and I wrote it in second person. It became my most widely-read fanfic very fast, and every once in a while it would experience a major surge in readership. I enjoyed writing it and thought it was a lovely, romantic piece, but I really wasn’t expecting it to finally have 250+ reblogs out of it, and people coming and telling me this was the fic that got them into Liam x MC in the first place. I find that deeply gratifying 😍

There’s a lot of fics that I feel need more engagement and appreciation, but I can understand that those characters also don’t exactly get much of an audience. My entire PM set comes under this category; they typically get low readership. I think my Hana and Kiara fics too could do with more of an audience.

@twinkleallnight once told me that when she reads my stuff, she usually takes a long time just to ruminate on the story, and I like to believe that often, that’s why the engagement isn’t always immediate. Which I like too!! I like that some of my stuff can make people stop and think, and I like to believe that over time, the work will have its own impact.

Cordonian Waltz PM Set

If you could write only angst, fluff, or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why?

Probably fluff but with a lot of observation and sometimes somber reflections. I’m not that great with angst…and I’ve never actually tried smut? But maybe one day 😄

Do you ever recognize yourself in any of your MCs or in your writing?

Yes! Some of my MCs are v different from me but I always incorporate something from my life experiences in them. Like Esther taking photos of the sunset or Basil not being science oriented but still having an interest in space.

Character wise I find I put a lot of myself into a lot of the characters I write. Notably, Liam, Hana, Kiara, certain Haydens and Sloane. Liam’s love for learning, different aspects of Hana and Kiara’s experiences as queer women, Sloane’s experiences as a neurodivergent woman, and especially my Scholar!Hayden’s (Iris) observations. I tend to incorporate a lot of my feelings and experiences more into certain canonical characters than in MCs.

What element of writing do you struggle with most?

Dialogue, I think. Especially when it’s a character I don’t relate to that much. But also sometimes when it’s a character I love but am only starting to write because then I really overthink it!

Do you have any neglected work you really want to finish?

Hmm…probably neglected wouldn’t be the word I’d use…I just take a very long time to kickstart them 😂

But yeah, definitely my Petals and Thornes series? That’s the fic series I’m doing for Hana x Kiara, that is supposed to explore TRR2 and 3 from their PoV (with significant changes). So far I’ve only been able to do some one-shots and hcs in that universe, but I do want to start the actual series soon!

I have some essay series’ I’d love to work on too! My Hana essay series which has two essays left, The Hayden Young Project, and a possible series on the alternative Lis of TRR!

Petals and Thornes Hana Lee: A Study in Erasure

If someone you know in real life (who isn’t involved in fandoms) asked to read your work, would you let them? If yes, what would you recommend they read first?

Hmm. A few people have asked me, actually, and while I’m not fully opposed to showing them I’ll probably take some time before I do show my work. I’ll probably overthink how much will be understandable to a reader who doesn’t have the context of the source, and what they may not understand.

What to show them first? I’m not sure! Maybe the smaller ones first, like Cordonian Waltz. Or my RCD fic Snowstorms, because it doesn’t have more than 2-3 canon characters featuring and I do talk a little about being a closeted queer teen figuring out their sexuality through cinema, which is an overall relatable experience to some! Snowstorms

Are there any writers (published authors and/or fanfic writers) who influenced your writing?

In my early years I used to emulate Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s style. Much of her work that I read as a teen was pretty flowery, sometimes bordering on purple prose, and I really loved that style and tried to go that way. But now I think a variety of writers from different genres inform my writing. In terms of published authors, Jhumpa Lahiri, Helen Hoang, and non-fiction ones like Rukmini Pande, Ruby Hammad and Mikki Kendall.

In Choices fic, @callmetippytumbles for sure – a lot of the questions she was tackling with her MC in her Home series served as inspiration for some of the ideas I’ve been having in mind for Petals and Thornes. @thefirstcourtesan is a great writing buddy to have, too, and she has a knack for saying a lot in very few words! There’s also my amazing group of friends (shoutout to @cassiopeiacorvus, @thecapturedafrique, @mand-delemonde, and @beyonceswigs, as well as @twinkleallnight , @dcbbw @mariemarieohcontrary , @choicesfrog, @grapecaseschoices and @ohsnapitzlovehacker…the discussions are so good and leave some much to think about afterward 💖💖). All these discussions ALWAYS fuel my ideas and make me think out of the box.

I’ve also recently started writing polyamorous characters and relationships, and @angelasscribbles stories and resources have been such a great help in navigating that!

Home

@angelasscribbles Poly Resources

Which one of your stories would you most like to see as a movie/series?

Haha! I’ve not even started the proper series yet but I think Petals and Thornes? But besides that maybe Eleanor’s Kitchen may work as a series idk 😄

Do you write original fiction?

I do try! I’ve done a few short stories but before I started fanfic, I did a lot of spoken word poetry and that was fun.

What other hobbies do you have?

Reading, watching video essays, spending months on hyperfixations 😂 and a little cooking. My kid’s gotten into craft recently and has succeeded in taking me down that rabbit hole too haha.

I used to be into making fruit wines but have gotten inconsistent with that over the years.

What’s your favorite emoji?

Because I have a huuuge thing for nerds – this one: 🤓

BONUS – tell us anything you’d like (if you want to).

A story my mum often tells about how I got into writing, began with some good old-fashioned sibling rivalry. Apparently as a child I was notorious for writing things on the walls of our house. One day my older brother got a hardbound royal-blue covered notebook to write in, with gold lettering on the cover…and I got instantly jealous that I didn’t get one (I was 6 or 7 and already fond of telling stories). When I complained my mum made me a deal – she would get me the same notebook…IF I stopped writing on the walls and began writing in that instead 😂 It worked. My mother is a smart woman.

I love spoilers!! I will read the end of a novel I’m reading and then go back and read the rest. Sometimes I even read books all the way backwards lol.

I love romance, and my favorite tropes include second-chance romance and mutual pining while believing the other person will never love you back! Because, at heart, I’m a dramatic bitch.

[bebepac]

Six Sentence Sunday 07.17.22 / Mood Music Monday

Legit how I’m going to feel if one more I.T. problem happens at my job.   For some of you I talk to frequently outside of here know about the stream of issues I have that makes it almost feel like there is a conspiracy against me getting my job done in a decent number of hours. 

Here’s what I’ve released  lately:  

The Rotten Apple 🍎: Rock Bottom

Original Post: 07/17/22 at 9:11PM EST

Chapter: 5: Work Retreat

Series:  The Blue Honey Cafe

The Book:  TRR (no royals)

Pairings:  TRR MC is single

Status: Still in the writing process

“Round two of interviews.  I’m in it to win it.”  Liam flashed a smile at Riley.  

“Bertrand, if you don’t mind, I’m going to help Riley back to her room.”

Liam slipped his arm around Riley holding her close.  He felt Riley lean into his embrace.  

They walked slowly and silently to her room.

“I’ll get you dinner later, I’ll text you alright. Now try to get a little rest, and I’ll check on you later.”

“Thank you Liam.”  

“You don’t have to thank me for this Riley, I just want to make sure you’re alright.”  

Hana had just left for the group dinner and she was sure Liam had forgotten about dinner.  Riley skimmed through the food delivery app on her phone, when there was a knock at the door.  

“Liam! I thought you had left for the group dinner?”

“I didn’t go, because all of our group didn’t feel up to being there tonight.”  

“You stayed behind for me?”  

“Yeah,  you’re the person I would have been talking to most anyway. So this works out.  So can I come in?”  

“Heck yeah, I’m ready for dinner.”  

When Riley decided on her dinner choice Liam laughed.  “You know we’ve been here two nights and being at the beach we’ve eaten anything but seafood?”  

“I know, but i’m not in the mood for it.”

“So Italian it is!”  

She found it incredibly endearing that Liam had ordered a simple spaghetti with meatballs.  

“I don’t know if you feel up for it, but do you want to go eat on the beach?  It’s a really nice night Riley, and I hate it that you’re having to be cooped up in your room, and you haven’t had a chance to walk the beach yet.”

When their food had arrived, Liam packed the spare blanket.

“You’re right, it’s a beautiful night.  I’m glad we decided to come out here.  Looks like others  had the same idea.”

Riley glanced around seeing multiple couples  together cozying up together on the beach.

“Yeah but our idea is way better than theirs.  We have food. Gazing romantically into your eyes isn’t going to make my stomach stop growling.”  

Liam burst out laughing at Riley’s honest admission.

Mood Music Monday Submission

The Series:  The Rotten Apple 🍎 : Chapter 13

Sincerely, Lady Liberty

The Book:  TRH/and beyond 

The Pairings;  Liam x Riley / Eleanor x Nico (Eleanor x M!OC)

Status:  Still in the writing process

Song Inspiration:  I Love You by Billie Eilish

"Papa look!!!"

Nico gazed up from his book to Ana as she stood at the top of the slide ready to go down.

Nico proudly cheered for fearless Ana as she squealed excitedly as she went down the swirly slide at the park. She jumped up enthusiastically, and broke out into a little run, heading for the ladder to climb up the playhouse again for round two.  

Nico glanced down at his book reading, it was only for a moment just long enough for Ana to climb back up the play house slide.  He glanced up again at the slide, expecting Ana to be at the top, but it wasn’t her, another child was in her place.

Ana must be next, he thought to himself, but instead another child emerged at the top of the playhouse.  

Nico dropped his book trotting over to the playhouse peering in. Ana  was not in the playhouse.

“Ana?”  

He did a quick scan of the playground not seeing her.  

Nico tried to stay calm as he called out her name again.  “Ana answer me!”   he screamed in Greek. Panic was starting to set in, and he was starting to get the attention of other parents in the park as he called out Ana’s name.

Stay calm, he reassured himself. He ran over to the restroom, a woman with a child was coming out.  Ana always knew to ask if she needed to go to the bathroom, but it was worth it to check.

Nico quickly pulled out his phone, showing the woman Ana's picture.  “Did you see my daughter in there?  Please can you check and see if she's inside?”  

The woman paused to look at the picture of Ana.

“We were the only ones in there, I’m sorry.”  

Nico completely lost his cool, as he began to frantically scream her name.  What if he lost her?  What if… something worse had happened, someone had taken her? Elle’s words from years ago rang in his ears.  

“Because of who she is, makes her a target, because of who they think I am.”

God what if someone took her?!?!? Panic and fear had set in.

“ANA!!!!!”

He ran the perimeter of the park seeing Ana standing  outside the park talking to a woman who was kneeling in front of her.  Nico hopped the fence and barrelled toward Ana’s direction, at full speed.  The woman kneeling was wearing a veil covering her face, and was handing Ana ice cream.  

“Get the hell away from my daughter!” Nico screamed in Greek, snatching Ana away from the woman, pushing the woman away from her, the ice cream falling between them. 

[cassiopeiacorvus]

KTAW DAY 6 | CASTELSERRAILLAN

Tagging: @kiaratheronappreciationweek, @lizzybeth1986, and @sazanes

My headcanons about Castel are not as well-developed as they will be in the future, but I can present five quick thoughts, all subject to change.

Being the descendants of the Kingdom of Bellmere, Castelsarreillan is the largest of Cordonia's duchies and likewise contains the most marquisettes, counties, viscounties, and baronies.

The Wild West-themed bar the TRR crew visits to celebrate Drake's birthday is located in Castelsarreillan. As the artistic hub of the country, it's also home to many eclectic businesses with unique themes.

Castelsarreillan is the founder of the Cordonian Medieval Historical Society mentioned in my fic A Lesson in Sources. Castel prides itself on its preservation of history and has the largest collection of extant artifacts second only to the capital, Thýella.

Kiara and Hana are both heavily involved with the branches of the Cordonian Public Library located in their respective duchies. In Kiara's case, she and Hana cycle through every public library in Castelsarreillan to host and LGBTQ+ themed storytimes for children. The events also include all-ages entertainment for the broader queer community.

Let's end with an angsty headcanon. During the first International Art and Food Festival, Hakim and Joëlle decided to honor the tenth anniversary of their close friend Queen Eleanor's death with an art exhibit. Constantine, still reeling from his second wife's death and a recent assassination attempt against Liam, decides not to go. He makes it very clear he doesn't approve of the exhibition, leading to the breakdown of his friendship with Hakim.

[solarishashernoseinabook]

Hey folks, sorry for the slow updates lately! Once again, life has gotten in the way. Also this upcoming chapter of TRR is going waaaay slower than I thought it would.

To make up for it, please look below the cut for an excerpt from TRR chapter 23, a lighthearted scene of little four year old Halt (tho the scene does stand on its own, if you're not following TRR!) :3

(Note: the word for autism in-universe is phóg laechonnachie)

Summer, 613 CE – Year 15 of the Reign of King Brian O’Carrick of Clonmel

The rumour sprang up seemingly overnight. Phóg laechonnachie. Fae-kissed.

The first time Brian heard a servant utter the term in front of him, he fired him on the spot. The next week he fired two maids who were discussing it as they did the laundry. Three days later, he dismissed an apprentice groom who mentioned the laechonnachie, and didn’t care at all when the boy protested that he only meant that a little ring of mushrooms had appeared behind the stables, a sure sign that the Little People were there.

But the rumour didn’t go away. It travelled Dun Kilty in hushed tones, in shadowed corners where servants stopped to chat on their rounds, over the long tables where the staff ate their meals, from bunk to bunk amongst the apprentices before they fell asleep.

Phóg laechonnachie. Prince Halt is one of the phóg laechonnachie.

*

Halt was crouching by the edge of the woods, holding clover flowers to the stitched-on mouth of his stuffed rabbit Nínin. It was the quietest part of the grounds, and Halt insisted to Bridget that Nínin liked eating there best.

When he decided Nínin was done with the clover, Halt dropped the flowers he’d picked and straightened up.

Something caught his eye and he peered through the trees. Just visible through them was a pure white mushroom. Curious, Halt jogged over to it, pulling Nínin along by one ear.

When he got close enough he stopped. He burst out into a bright grin and waved one hand rapidly, bouncing on the balls of his feet. It wasn’t just one mushroom, but a whole ring of them, perfectly encircling a massive oak. Acorns littered the area around its base, and when a squirrel darted through the branches of the oak dozens of them showered down to patter on the ground. The sound was delightful, and Halt let out a small squeal and giggled in delight.

‘What was that?’ came a voice, and Halt’s smile faded and he stood very still.

‘Could be one o’ them laechonnachie. Look, we’re near one of their rings,’ said another voice.

Halt darted into the ring of mushrooms and flattened himself against the mossy trunk of the tree, and peered around it. Off to one side were two of the apprentice blacksmiths who worked on Dun Kilty’s grounds. Their green tunics marked them as third-years, seventeen years old. To four-year-old Halt, that meant they were practically grown-ups, and grown-ups liked to get him in trouble when he got too close to the woods.

‘Laechonnachie?’ the first apprentice said.

‘Gotta be.’ The second apprentice lowered his voice. ‘You heard, right? About the Prince? So there’s gotta be some nearby.’

‘Actually…look, I’m from Celtica, I only came here a few years ago. What’s with this whole phóg laechonnachie business? What even are the laechonnachie?’

‘Shh!’ The second apprentice made a quick sign with his hands. ‘They’re the Little People.’

‘Oh! Them. We call them Tylwyth Teg.’

‘Yes, well, whatever they’re called, you ought to be careful of ‘em.’

‘So what’s that whole phóg laechonnachie thing about? What do some fairies have to do with Prince Halt?’

Halt had started to get bored of this conversation, but now he leaned in, trying to catch every word, even though the falling acorns and singing birds made it hard to hear.

‘Tried to steal him away, didn’t they? Twins are more susceptible to it, you know, because laechonnachie care so little for their own kids they hardly notice them, so they figure human parents won’t notice if one disappears and gets replaced with one o’ the laechonnachie babies. And there was this great storm just a couple months after the twins were born, worst I’ve ever seen, it sent this branch through the window in the nursery, so that must’ve been when they got in and tried to take him.’

‘Did it work?’

‘Nah, if he was a full changeling he would’ve been this ugly little thing. But the laechonnachie like to come back for the ones they tried to steal, y’see. They mark them for later. That’s where the word comes from. And the mark changes them. Makes them strange.’

The first apprentice looked at the tree for a long time. ‘Should probably go, then,’ he said. ‘I wouldn’t want to end up on their bad side. Should we leave them an offering? We always do that back in Celtica.’

‘Yeah, just don’t touch the mushrooms when you do.’ The apprentices each took a small thing out of their pockets and left them at the very edge of the circle, then stepped back. The second one clapped the shoulder of the first. ‘Let’s go. But hey, look, don’t go mentioning anything about the laechonnachie where Their Majesties can hear, okay? They hate anyone saying their little darling Prince ain’t perfect.’

The apprentices went off, and Halt slowly crept away from behind the tree. He didn’t fully look where he was going, and his foot nudged one of the mushrooms, bending its stem. Halt stepped back from it quickly and crouched to straighten it again, then stood and jumped over the mushroom ring so he wouldn’t knock over any others.

Halt fumbled in his pockets, but he didn’t have anything with him to leave as an offering. But he couldn’t just leave, because that would probably make the laechonnachie mad, especially as he’d touched one of the mushrooms.

A sudden idea struck him and he lifted Nínin so he was looking properly at him. ‘Nínin, d’you think the laechonnachie would want some clover?’

Taking Nínin’s complete lack of response as agreement, Halt ran back to the clover patch and picked up the flowers he’d left there, then ran back to the mushroom ring. The apprentices’ offerings were just outside the circle, but Halt reached over the mushrooms to sprinkle the flowers inside it instead, just in case that would make the offering work better. That done, he turned and rushed back to the edge of the woods.

He swore he heard a sound behind him, like the sound a breeze would make if it could laugh, and he stopped and looked back. Something colourful danced at the base of the oak, just on the edge of his field of vision, but when he turned to see it fully it disappeared.

Halt was struck by sudden nerves. He held Nínin close and darted out of the woods.

[karahalloway]

Wanting to spread some positivity among fic writers. 

When you get this ask, link your:

Favourite fic/series you’ve ever written

That one fic/series you poured your heart & soul into

One underrated fic/series of yours you’d recommend

You don’t have to link just *a* fic. Go ham! Even link your masterlist! This is all about all your hardwork.

Thank you for creating!

Thanks so much for the ask @inlocusmads! 😘

Favourite fic/series you've ever written

God... Hard to choose!! 😫I love all the stuff I've written, in one way or another! But, I guess top four would be:

Sleepless in New York

I love living in Drake's head! Which was part of the reason why I started this series - I got a taste of his stream of consciousness in Crazy and Drive and I wanted to dive even deeper! But I didn't really want to do a complete rewrite of TRR1 (and TRR2) from Drake's POV (@angelasscribbles has already done that!), so I decided to do an AU of the New York bachelor party from the start of Book 1 instead - with quite interesting (and hilarious!) results!

Extraction

This actually came out of a request from @aussiegurl1234 and @lunaseasblog in relation to conversation that Drake has with Harper in (Less Than) Intentions about why he was delayed getting to Madeleine's estate for the start of the engegament tour (PB never provided a great explanation for why you don't see Drake until the end of day two... 😒)... and I honestly thought I would be able to get everything into one chapter. But then I started writing, and Drake had quite a lot to say (and do!) so this has also turned into it's own wild mini-series where I get to explore Drake's 'tactical' side a bit more... and watch him cringe over the stuff that Harper's family subjects him to😅

Thanksgiving

This started off as a one-shot, that turned into a three-parter, that may now actually turn into a mini-series 🤦‍♀️ I wanted to explore what would happen when Drake went with Harper to spend Thanksgiving with her family, and - Harper's family being Harper's family - it is absolute chaos! (Hoping to pick this up again around October/November this year)

The one fic/series you poured your heart and soul into

This would have to be (Less Than) Noble Intentions.

In contrast to (Un)Common Attraction (which more closely followed canon, and during which my writing style hadn't quite 'burst into full bloom' yet lol), I have really made Intentions my own - there is a lot more original content, original characters, and I explore a lot of 'darker' themes that I didn't think canon paid sufficient attention to (sexual assualt, PTSD, jealousy, etc.) and I think my writing is much better.

One underrated fic/series of yours you'd recommend

Definately my Lord of the Rings abridged script! 😆

I know LoTR isn't as popular now as it used to be when I wrote this fic with my brother and sister, but if you want a laugh (and a quick read), then this is the one I'd recommend!