#trr the greatest show

[thecapturedafrique]

KLAW: Day 4 Post—Childhood/Family

It’s @kingliamappreciationweek’s last day for submissions, and I wanted to share some head canons I’ve developed for my TRR MC Ally and Liam’s three kids. Tagging the amazing hosts @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes!

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Face Claim: Issa Lish

Full Name: Regina Adriani Hongyao Romero de Torres Reese

Noble Title: HRH The Princess Regina of House Reese, Princess of Neso, Duchess of Faryll, Countess of Applewood

Named after her yayá Queen Mother Regina (whose disposition she also shares), Adriani goes by her middle name, though most call her Adri for short

She’s named in Chinese for her late grandmother Eleanor’s favorite flower, as her name 红药 (Hóngyào) means “flower of the Chinese peony”

A model for her godmother Hana’s charity fashion shows part-time, in the fashion world she is known as “the Princess of Poise” for her svelte figure

The definition of a horse girl, Adri is an accomplished equestrian and champion polo player, which has earned her the epithet of “the Centauride”

Bertrand is the favorite of all her uncles and aunts both surrogate and biological, which is helped by Bartie being her best friend

Adri is left-handed and plays the violin, and she often finds herself at odds with her little sister as she winds up playing the Liam to the other’s Leo

Raised by a bisexual mother in a very open environment, she never had to formally come out as a lesbian; rather, she simply demonstrated an attraction to girls—and only girls—from a young age

A total daddy’s girl as well, Adri’s greatest fear is not measuring up to her father as a sovereign

Face Claim: Sebastian Castro

Full Name: Diego Alexander Hongguang Romero de Torres Reese

Noble Title: HRH The Prince Diego of House Reese, Duke of Ennan, Earl of Limáni

Diego’s named after his late maternal grandfather, and in Chinese his name 红光 (Hóngguāng) means “ruddy glow”

His favorite sport is football, and he plays midfield; in fact, he made it into his grandmother Eleanor’s alma mater on a sports scholarship

Of the three royal children, Diego is the one considered the press darling, having won them over with his genuineness and goofball antiques

His godmother taught him how to play the piano, and she is also the favorite of all his aunts and uncles

After coming out as aroace as a teenager, Diego was given the title Duke of Ennan after graduating college rather than upon his marriage as tradition dictates

He’s a mama’s boy and closer to his younger sister than his older one

At 5’7”, Diego is considered a short king, which along with his temperament earned him the epithet of “The Little Prince”

Of all his siblings, he is the best at speaking the multiple languages of their household, which include Greek, Spanish, Sabir, and Putonghua

Face Claim: Jessica Sanchez

Full Name: María-Eleonora Hongyue Romero de Torres Reese

Noble Title: HRH The Princess María-Eleonora of Valtoria

Named after her late maternal great-grandmother and late paternal grandmother, she goes by Nora for short

Her generation name is 红 (Hóng) like the rest of her siblings, and her name 红月 (Hóngyuè) in Chinese means “red moon”

As third in line to the throne, Nora is set to inherit Valtoria from her mother, and thus shares her charge (the phoenix) and colors (gules and or)

She’s the lead guitarist and singer for her own band, Spoiled Barrel, which was formed while she was in lyceum

The night before her cotillion, Nora cut her hair short and dyed it pink, and she keeps it in that style but experiments with various shades

She’s skilled in embroidery and has a passion for fashion like her godmother, having designed most of her personal wardrobe

Even with her penchant for rebellious and impulsive behavior, Liam often says that Nora of all his children reminds him most of his mother

Leo is Nora’s favorite among her many aunts and uncles because he’s one of the only who won’t take her parents’ side when it comes to her acting out

[indigothemuse]

Indi's Masterlist

hi hello!! i realized that this might be helpful, so here we go! (you can find a lot more on my ao3)

WRITING

All for the Game

Promises- Andriel, semi proposal (promise rings) FINISHED

Keeper of the Lost Cities

Lemongrass Tea and Other Small Things- my 2022 secret santa! soft Tiertice + minor study of Tiergan FINISHED

I got a new tattoo, it reminds me of you- my fic for keefitz week 2023!! Keefitz + keeper gang college au! chapter 1. chapter 2. IN PROGRESS

Fatphobia in Keeper- an essay/look at how fatphobia affects the view of a specific character in the fandom

The Chasm- Coming soon! A multichap, from the concept: what if elves had wings? Inspired by @bookwyrminspiration's wings au, and other similar concepts. (Has my own spin, of course.)

Art school au- Coming soon! A multipchap centered around the keeper gang at a school for the arts, and what they go through.

Ranger's Apprentice

How Does a Legend Die?- a short piece about what if Will had actually died in trr, instead of maddie saving him! middle work of a 3 part series!

to die from smoke and fire; a lovely curse- a oneshot about how will died. first work of the 3 part series.

Music School au- coming soon!! where the ra group are students as Redmont Conservatory! VERY self indulgent IN PROGRESS

Original Works

An Idiot's Guide to Colorguard- Coming soon! A multipchap centered around some of my (favorite) ocs (getting together, high school, going through one year of colorguard marching show and winterguard show are based off of my own) (A resource doc w/ videos is currently being complied as well, and will be linked <3) ***in the process of being rewritten to change from a fanfic to original*** please bear with me i had. over 5k. its gonna be a hot minute

Noxilore- In progress! Again, a multichap, about a group of friends who must figure out how to cast a spell to restart time. There is a magic school, but despite the (current) name, it's not truly set there!

ART

disclaimer: i do not draw that often, and i'm still learning, so it's...not gonna look the greatest for a while

Keeper of the Lost Cities

Sophie Foster- 1.

[msjr0119]

WIP

So I’ve been slightly drunk for the last 24hours - not like me one bit 😉... Hope everyone has had a brilliant day 😘🎄🍸

I’ve even been ‘forced’ to do a new series and Drake x Kiara one shot 😭 - @dangerouseggseagleartisan took advantage of my drunk mind good job I love you so much girl 🤣 Here’s what I’m working on at the minute...

Tags:

@annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan @gnatbrain @walker7519 @lodberg @cmestrella @hopefulmoonobject @addictedtodrakefanfic @angi15h @liamxs-world @rafasgirl23415 @notoriouscs @yukinagato2012 @dcbbw @qammh-blog @nz1091 @beardedoafdonutwagon @cordonianroyalty @custaroonie @indiacater @seriouslybadchoices @rainbowsinthestorm @princess-geek @jared2612 @desiree-0816

End Game

Series Request of Riley x Liam based around the song End Game - Taylor Swift ft Future and Ed Sheeran - where Liam is jealous of Riley and Drake spending time together and questions her because he thinks something is going on with them, but nothing is, and he feels he has a right to be jealous even though he’s engaged to Maddy 🙄 ⬇️moodboard by the fabulous @dangerouseggseagleartisan 🥰

*****

Cordonian Wags

“What is it?” Riley looked into his eyes, they provided hope. She couldn’t tell him the truth not yet. The future. He is planning our future even after what has happened.

“Erm, the nurse has just advised me to not have sex for a few weeks. That’s all.”

“Ri, I don’t care about sex. Just having you in my life, when we are ninety with a football team of grandkids... that is all I want.” Ninety. Grandkids. Shit. I’m going to break his heart.

“Me too, I’m a bit tired. Why don’t you go and see the others? I bet you are all tired due to rushing here. I’m fine.”

“Okay. I’ll grab a coffee, then I’m not leaving your side.” Kissing her on the forehead, the nurse walked back in as he stood up to leave. Making sure none of her friends were close by, she knew the staff had an inkling regarding the tests they did upon her arrival, and was eager for answers.

“So? Can you explain any more about what we spoke about last night?”

“Miss Brooks, after the examination it does look as if the results will show positive......” Riley felt as if her whole world had come crashing down.

******

One Temptation

Leo picked Riley up with Olivia. Feeling like a gooseberry, she did however feel grateful for them escorting her to the charity event.

“You look amazing Ri. Are you sure you want to go? I can use some lame excuse.” Riley smiled at Leo, taking a deep breath- she nodded her head.

Arriving at the venue, Liam’s eyes widened seeing the trio make their entrance- his gaze mainly focusing on Riley.

“Riley you look beautiful as always. I’ll get you a drink- follow me.” Riley hesitated, Leo noticed her reaction. Even though he was now in a relationship with Olivia, he still deeply cared for Riley and always would do- he would even defend her over his own flesh and blood.

“Oh little brother, you can buy us a drink too if you are feeling generous.”

“I’d appreciate a word alone with Riley if you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine Leo. Enjoy your night with Olivia.”

“If he hurts you or anything, ring me.” Leo whispered, knowing how his brothers personality had changed since Riley had returned to New York. Knowing that Drake hadn’t been invited to the event made her feel like a traitor. Hoping that Liam would just accept friendship and her support for his company was going to be hard to convince him.

“I’m glad you decided to come.” Accepting the drink off him, he noticed her hesitantly drink it.

“Well you did bribe me! I’m not doing this for you. I worked for this company- no matter what happened between us in the past I will support the company.”

“In the past? What about the other night?”

“You took advantage of me. Seeing my bosses eyes light up wafting your wallet around- of course she would agree to your arrangement. I don’t know who you are anymore Liam, money and power has changed you.”

“I’m still me.”

“No you’re not. If you ever loved me, you’d let me go. Let me live my life. Yet you believe you know what’s best for me.”

“Drake isn’t the one for you. You didn’t even know what he did for a living until the baby shower. I can look after you, Alice adores you- all she talks about is you. We can be that family that you always wanted. You can work for me, have your old job back. Please Ri.”

“No. I’m content at the strip club, when arseholes like you don’t come in. I’m going to tell Drake what happened that night, if he doesn’t want anything to do with me - fair enough. If he does, then I am going to go on a date with him as planned. I had a family and I let my child down. Do not try and tell me what I want Liam or what is best for me.”

“We had sex!”

“It meant nothing to me Liam. I was forced into it by you and Rita. Excuse me, I’m going to find Maxwell. Please do not follow me.”

******

The Greatest Show

“Amber, it’s so nice to finally meet you. You are a very hard woman to find.”

“Who are you?”

“I am a private detective. A friend of yours from New York is very concerned about your whereabouts. As far as I can see, you are doing just fine and this has been a waste a time.”

“Who is this friend? What is your name?” Assuming it was Daniel Who was concerned about her- she felt guilty not communicating with him before throwing her SIM card away. Beginning to panic, Bastien placed a comforting arm on her shoulder- providing reassurance that she was safe.

“Brett is worried about you. My name is Nazario. Damien Nazario.”

[bebepac]

Derby Girl

ORIGINAL POST DATE: 05/12/21 at 7:22PM EST

This is The Life of Riley Book Two.  To catch up with what you’ve missed so far, please click:

  The Life of Riley- Book Two. 

My Book 2 starts with basically TRR book 1 starts.  

If you’re curious to see the elaborate back story I have created for my version of Riley Brooks Please click: 

The Life of Riley Book One.

It will answer a lot of your questions that are left out of the Canon that PB wrote.  

The Book: TRR

The Pairing:  Liam x Riley

Word Count: 2011

Warnings:  Sexual innuendo

Summary: Riley goes to her first derby.  Liam and Drake make a bet (this episode has a few canon-ish parts. The most you’ll see in my series.) 

Deena is my own character, all others belong to Pixelberry. 

A/N:  I’m on vacation as of yesterday until May 25th.  I plan to do as much writing as i can in this time period.  Hopefully release some chapters of people’s favorites and get back on schedule a little bit with some releases on things people haven’t seen in a bit.  

Riley slowly opened her eyes.   

She thought she had dreamed the whole thing.  She was sure she would wake up in her tiny little apartment with Daniel.  She sat up in the ornately designed bedroom.

She went to peer out over the balcony seeing the beautifully trimmed gardens.  

I really have the chance to win a Prince’s heart. She thought. Last night dancing in the Maze with Liam was the most amazing feeling. Riley could not wipe the dopey grin she had on her face.

There was a soft knock on her door.

Maxwell appeared.  

“Good Morning Little Blossom!  How are you today? You look so happy this morning.”

“I’m great.  I’m still so amazed by this place at times Maxwell.  There’s just so much beauty here. And Liam is here."

“And you get to be a part of this Little Blossom, because of the way he feels about you.  I see the way Prince Liam looks at you.”

“Then why can’t he just say it then?”

“Because that’s not how things are done here with people of his status.  You wouldn’t only be only his choice, but the choice of the people and they have to love you too and they don’t know you.  No one knows who Riley Antonia Brooks of New York truly is.”

Both Riley and Maxwell abruptly turned around to the voice of the person talking in the room.

Smile officially gone. Stolen by the rat bastard with the sneer standing at the door to her bedroom.

“Lady Riley meet my brother Bertrand.”

“The Duke of Ramsford.”

Riley decided since he went with such a formal title even though she was wearing her pajamas she should curtsy.   He seemed stuffy and the antithesis of Maxwell.

He nodded.  “The New Yorker can be trained to fit in here.”  

Riley glared at him.  “I’m not an animal Duke Ramsford.”  

“That remains to be seen.  If the Cordonian people do not fall in love with you, even though he could be Lady Riley, he will not choose you.  Love is not the only thing that matters here.  It’s honestly not even a factor here.  Prince Liam has a duty to his people to pick the most suitable woman to be at his side.  So you, my  dear idealistic girl, must learn to give the people what they want.  The derby today will give you the opportunity to meet the press for the first time.  This will set the tone of how the people will begin to approve of you or disapprove of you.  The Queen is also important here as well.”  

“I think the Queen might potentially be on my side.”  

Bertrand laughed.  “You don’t know The Queen.”  

“I met with her and she wasn’t rude to me. She was actually helpful when you think about it.  She told me to get a feel for the audience that will be watching me and dress for them.  I think that’s helpful advice.”

“You’re right, that is helpful advice.”  Maxwell chimed in trying to release some of the tension.

“You need to get ready. Head to the boutique and make sure you pick something suitable.”

Riley almost didn’t want to go to the boutique after what happened to her the last time.

However, when she walked in, she was greeted by a kind middle-aged woman with a genuinely welcoming smile.

“And you must be Lady Riley.”

“I am.” Riley still had her guard up her voice and body language tight and protecting herself.  

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”  

“Oh?”

“I know that the last time you were here, you didn’t have the greatest experience with the staff, and I apologize for that, but if there is anything you need I will be more than willing to assist.”  

“Thank you so very much.”  

Riley smiled.

“It’s no wonder….”

“It’s no wonder what?”

“Why he’s so enchanted with you.  Lady Riley you’re absolutely breathtaking, without a stitch of makeup, and you have such a kind-hearted spirit. I can almost feel it radiate off you.  I was sworn to secrecy, because he couldn’t hide how he feels about you.  Let me know if you need any help picking out something for him.  You’re living your very own Cinderella story right now.”  

It was the nicest anyone had been to her since she landed.  Riley’s eyes filled with tears.  

“Oh no, don’t do that dear.  I know things have been a little rough for you.  The royal life is not easy.  They don’t only fight with words, they fight with glares and  underhanded behaviors.  But I’m here now.  At least here, you will always be treated like the royalty I believe you will become someday.  Now let’s pick out something beautiful for him.”

Riley thumbed through the racks.

"If I may?  I did notice his eyes fall on this dress here.  It looks to be your size, and that color would look like heaven on you."

"Pink is my favorite color."

"Then you should try it on."

This woman Deena, had made the palace boutique an oasis.

Riley tried on the dress staring at herself in the mirror.

"His face is going to be just as pink as that dress when he sees you. That dress was made for you. And since you're going to the derby try this as well."

She gave Riley a white hat.

The hat didn't quite stay on.

Riley laughed. "Big hair goals and hats don't generally mix."

Deena laughed.  "This is true. I think Dolly Parton said it best, if someone tells you hair is too big. Get rid of them, you don't need that kind of negativity in your life!"

"That's a plan!"

“Thank you Deena.”  

“You show them honey. You show them why he’s picking you.”  

Riley decided to be the "Derby Girl" for the day she would straighten her hair. The hat laid perfectly.  

“Little Blossom! You look amazing!”

“Thank you Lord Maxwell,” she responded as Bertrand walked into the room.

“Yes, she picked a suitable outfit to be seen in and for the media.  We should be on our way.”

The whole duration of the ride Bertrand droned on about  royalty, the queen, and the event and the Cordonian Ruby Apple.  

“When you are done with your interview you’re going to go over to the pink tents to watch the race with the other suitors.”  

“Greaaat. Will Prince Liam be dropping by?”  

“Probably not, you’ll see him at the picnic afterwards.”  

“You got this Little Blossom!”

Riley managed to stay cool and calm while talking to the press.  The press deemed her “The Mystery Woman” based on her answers.  It was fitting she thought, because a lot of her life, even for herself, was a mystery to her. All the missing memory gaps she had of her life before the accident, at times, Riley felt she barely knew herself.  

She looked for the pink tents not seeing any, but when she turned she saw Drake heading toward  a tent.   She quickly followed him, leaping inside.  

The Prince jumped to attention, his jaw locked, his body rigid, and his face stern.  She realized what she had done.  He had probably been trained for surprise attacks, and he had to always be alert.

“I’m sorry...I didn’t think..” Riley whispered.  

The prince visibly relaxed. 

“No, on the contrary it’s a very welcome surprise.  How did you manage to get in here?”  

“Playing a game of following the leader.”

The beer Drake was about to drink she pulled from his hand.

“Thanks for the beer Drake, you're too kind.”

Drake looked like he wanted to say something, but  he remained silent.  

Liam lightly cleared his throat.  

“I’m going to….”  

“You don’t have to….”  Riley started to say, but she saw the look in Liam’s eyes.

“Bye Drake.”  She whispered, her eyes not leaving Liam’s.  

Drake walked out letting the tent fall closed.  

He pulled Riley to his lap, softly stroking her hair.  

“You look beautiful.  But you know I love your curls.”

“I know.  I would have had a wardrobe malfunction otherwise if i didn’t straighten it.  My hat wouldn’t fit.”  

“You would have been just as beautiful without it.”  

“I know but it’s the derby and Bertrand was making such a big deal about the derby and looking appropriate.  And even though I know nothing else about derbys I know next to the horse race, number two is woman in hats.  Your hat game must be on point.  Serious hat-age.”

Liam laughed, tightening his grip around her.

“Lady Riley, no one makes me laugh like you do.   I’m always so happy when you’re around.  Not just the things you say, or the way you look at me.  It’s who you are, that radiates off you, and I just feel it wrap around me.”

“And what does that feel like?”

“You feel like sunshine Lady Riley.  Sunshine on a summer day.  The perfect summer day. When you close your eyes and just feel the sun warm your skin, and you are so content to just.....be in that moment.  That’s how I feel when we are in the same space together.”

She softly kissed his lips.  

He began another kiss, but then pulled away too soon.  “As much as I would love to see where this could go, we have to at least watch the race.” Riley slipped off his lap into the seat next to him as he opened the tent.  

Drake came in a few minutes later with new beers.  

Riley was silent, listening to Liam and Drake talk about  the race and their friendly wager, and how she got roped into it she’ll never know.  She was going to be sitting on the back of the loser while they did ten push-ups.  

“Who’s your money on winning the bet, me or Drake?”

Riley winced.  

“As much faith as I have in you Liam, I think Drake might know more about horses and the stables. So my money is on Drake. I’m sorry.”

“Ouch that had to hurt Liam.”  Drake chuckled.

Liam looked hurt. 

“Did you want the truth, or did you want me to lie to you Liam?”

“The truth Lady Riley, always the truth.”  

Annnnd…. Riley was right.

Liam unbuttoned his shirt, tossing it on the empty chair.

He got into a push-up position.

“Lady Riley if you will.”

Riley hopped onto Liam’s back.  Even though he was surprised he still held a tight planked push up position.  

“Lady Riley!”

“God she’s ruthless, are you sure you want this one?”  Drake laughed.

“I’ve been on him before, I knew he could handle it.”  

Liam choked back a laugh for a moment, his form unwavering.

“She’s right, I can handle her.”  

“TMI Brooks!!!”

Liam easily did all ten push ups unbroken.  

When Liam was done  he put on his dress shirt again.  

“Drake will take you back to the other suitors for a late lunch.”

“A sweet little goodbye kiss to tide me over until I'm in your presence again?”

Riley seductively puckered her lips, tapping her index finger against them.  

Liam glanced around  and pulled her to him kissing her.   Her fingers gently tugged his hair as his kiss deepened and his grip tightened around her.

Drake dropped her off with the other suitors.  

“I can’t believe we didn’t even get to see  Prince Liam at all!”   Lady Penelope's voice rang out in annoyance. “I had the best story to tell about my poodles to make him laugh.”  

“Where were you Lady Riley?”  

“I got lost again.  All these places around here look the same.  Drake found me finally and brought me over here to you guys.”

“Lady Riley you need to get it together.  Being late because you got lost won’t look well for you with the media.”    Lady Kiara  shook her head.  

“I’m not sure I believe her.”  

Olivia stepped up to her staring into Riley’s face.  

“Why would I lie?  You saw Drake drop me off here right Liv?”  

“I saw, but something feels off.  I don’t trust you Lady Riley.  Something is afoot.”

“Well, then I guess it’s game on then, Scarlet Duchess?”

“Yes.  Game on.”  

Tags in the comments!

[blazerina]

*M A S T E R  L I S T*

Hi dear ones - this is updated as of 4.24.20 - let me know if I’ve missed anything. Stories are alphabetical by book.  Hope you enjoy!

A Courtesan of Rome

Cassius & Lydia

No Question

 Blades of Light & Shadow

Mal & Raine

Rain

Hundreds of Tomorrows

 Desire & Decorum

Ernest & Edith

All Alone

I Wanted To

 Endless Summer

Sean & Taylor

A Lot to Live For

A Lot to Live For - Part 2

Every Little Thing - Sean x MC

Going to Find You

Greatest Weakness

Here Comes the Sun

Honestly

Not This Time

With Any Luck - Sean x Taylor

A Special Day - Sean x Taylor

Time

Missing (includes all ES main characters)

 Mother of the Year

Thomas & Samantha

After All

 Open Heart

Ethan & Allie

Linger

A Day in the Life

Better

Show You

The Other Side

Not Delivered

Us

Road Trip Ready

Messed Up

Impossible

Do No Harm

Night Shift

Surprise

 Allie & Bryce

Six Sentence Sunday Drabble

 Harper/Allie/Ethan

Connected

 Perfect Match

Damien & Kendall

Completely Undone

Thanks to You

Probably Never Will

A Chance

Breathtaking - Part I

Breathtaking - Part 2

Only for One Night

Not the Last

Deceived

Maybe, Finally

Tell Me

 Red Carpet Diaries

Matt & Veronica

Mine - Matt x Veronica

Special - Matt x Veronica

Real - Matt x Veronica

Right - Matt x Veronica

Wrong - Matt x Veronica

You - Matt x Veronica

Goodbye - Matt x Veronica

There - Matt x Veronica

 Save the Date

Justin & Jessica

Running Away

 The Freshman

James & Bridget

En Francais

Follow My Lead

Good Morning

Take Us Home - James x Bridget

Love Despite - Part 1 - James x MC

Love Despite - Part 2

Love Despite - James x Bridget - Part 3

Side by Side - James x Bridget

Stay Warm

With You - James x Bridget

Worth the Wait - James x Bridget

Do Nothing Together - James x Bridget (Part 2 – Worth the Wait)

You Don't Have to Stay

 James & Bridget & Chris

A Regular Tuesday - James x Bridget x Chris

A Regular Tuesday - Part 2

 The Royal Romance

Liam & Charlotte

All Wounds - Liam x Charlotte

Don't Ever Stop

Pain into Power

 Drake & Charlotte (Charlie)

All at Once - Drake x Charlie

You Do Too

What Have We Done? (Crack!Fic) Drake x MC

 Drake & Charlotte & Liam

All Too Soon - A Christmas Fic - Part 1

All Too Soon - Part 2

All Too Soon - Part 3

All Too Soon - Part 4 - The End

 Madeleine

I Won't - Madeleine

 Riley/TRR MC

Make Good Choices - TRR MC

 The Crown & the Flame

Kenna

Tomorrow - Kenna

 Veil of Secrets

Flynn & Annie

Together

What am I doing here?

[chappela]

Quarter Life Crisis

Pairings: Friendship only!! Hanna x Eadlyn (MC)

Rating/Warnings: G. Like super stupid G haha! And no real warnings...maybe some language?

Words: 1182

Disclaimer: I do not own Hanna or Maxwell or really anything to do with TRR or Choices. I will take ownership of dear sweet Eadlyn, my MC.

A/N: This fic is something I’ve been meaning to write for a very long time. It has been brewing within me for years. A few years back I went through a self proclaimed ‘quarter life crisis’. To be perfectly honest I am still dealing with a lot of the things that came about back then. It may seem silly to some but as adults we all know we can’t possibly ever have life figured out. Whether we are 25, 40, 50 or beyond, we all struggle. I struggled, and am still struggling with feelings of jealousy, confusion, the thought of disappointing those who mean the most to me, as well as myself. I made a pact to myself back then that I would attempt to be a bit more selfish and begin going down a path paved for me and by me. I am a people pleaser, I hate disappointing those around me even if it means putting myself last. This is not healthy, and this is what I have come to realize.

When I found choices and read TRR I immediately knew Hanna would be the character vessel to help me let this all out.

It has taken me some time to finally get it together and write this, and honestly its really just a personal therapeutic word vomit. There is no romance in this fic, and I understand that most prolly won’t give this fic a second glance. I realize this may not be everyone’s shot of tequila, and thats ok. If you find the will to power through, then thank you, but please know I take no offense if you don’t. I hope this story resonates with some of you out there, and if any of you are ever in a weird place please know I am always here to listen. 😘😁❤️

Also my tag list is basically only the few people who have asked after my last fic to be tagged for any future writing I do...not super sure if this is any of your styles.

Hanna was conflicted. Confused about a lot of things. Worried about most everything. Overall frustrated with what she hadn’t done with the past 25 years of her life. 

 She cursed Maxwell. Why did he have to bring up the catch phrase ‘quarter life crises’? It was too damn accurate a description for her current emotional state.

She envisioned herself at 8 years old. She had imagined her life as being so different than what it was currently. Then again she had wanted to be an astronaut back then, which she knew was out of reach after she failed her very first physics exam.

She never envisioned the life of a noble. The life her parents expected of her. Yes expected not hoped for, but actively betrothed her too. How was it possible that with all of their demands and larger than life expectations she was still somehow, single, farther from any throne or title, and on the verge of a complete breakdown. She had never had a job or experienced a frat party. Sure she could play the piano like Beethoven himself, and was fluent in several languages, but at 25 what did that all really get her?

She wished she could have gone abroad for personal matters not court dealings. She longed to experience the nitty gritty that life had to offer. She wished she could be more like Eadlyn. There she thought it! The green eyed monster suddenly took hold. She was jealous of her best and closest friend at court. Shit, in the whole damn world!

How could she be jealous...it made no sense. Eadlyn was amazing. She was perfect. She was both the pageant show winner as well as miss congeniality. It was hard for Hanna to admit that every now and then she wanted her friend to fail, just at something, anything just to prove she was human.

How awful can one be that they wish for the failure of someone they love?

Then again this was certainly nothing new for her. Any and all friendships she ever partook in were arranged by her parents, the social season, or just the damn demands of nobility. This meant friendship and competition seemed to always be fused together. Her friends were always her competition in every way. Ulterior motives were like friendship bracelets seared on the wrist.

Her jealousy made sense. It wasn’t romantic in any way, just pure frustration. Eadlyn simply appeared one day in the world Hanna had always been a part of. The new kid on the block moved in and immediately made the biggest splash. It just wasn’t fair...right?

Eadlyn made friends literally everywhere she went. She was beautiful, kind, grounded, humble, helpful, only intimidating in the sense that she was so popular. The second one opened up to her though, it became clear she was as intimidating as a cotton ball.

Hanna let out a heavy sigh. What was she doing? How could she be so vindictive towards someone who had always been there for her? There was truly no reason for her to feel this way. She was angry at someone because they were too good of a friend?!

She thought on the subject a bit harder. Was it truly Eadlyn she was jealous of or maybe it was the other people in Eadlyn’s world. The more she pondered this the more she agreed that this was what she truly held issue with. Eadlyn had other people in her circle who she was closer with. There were friends back in America surely whom she had known for years. Even people here in Cordonia that must mean more to her then Hanna. She had only been in Eadlyn’s life for a year and a half at most, and a good part of that she was supposedly competition. At that she let out an aggravated snort. As if Hanna had ever truly been competition. As if she was even in Eadlyn’s inner most circle today...

What was she doing to herself? What was she doing to her relationship with Eadlyn? How could she think this way?

She hated herself for thinking like this. Eadlyn loved her and she loved Eadlyn. They were friends, best friends she reminded herself. And maybe that sentiment applied more towards her than Eadlyn but in her mind the feeling was hopefully mutual. Friendship meant lifting each other up not tearing each other down. She needed to support her friend unconditionally not root for failure.

She internally apologized to Eadlyn as she slayed her green eyed monster. She needed to move forward by confessing this internal struggle of hers to Eadlyn. She knew she needed to clear the air and she knew Eadlyn would understand. That’s just the kind of friend she was. And that was exactly the type of friend Hanna was always in desperate need of growing up.

Who could have ever suspected she would have found her in an optimistic, sassy, American? There was suddenly a knock on her door. Hanna reached for the handle opening the large oak door to reveal the one and only Eadlyn White.

“Ready for the greatest sleepover evvvverrrr?!!!” Eadlyn sang the last word letting her jovial voice float through the room.

Hanna could only smile as she took in Eadlyn clad in a ridiculous plaid onesie. Rom-coms in one hand and a bottle of tequila in the other.

Hanna just shook her head and stepped to the side to allow her friend access to her bedroom.

“You better believe I am!” She retorted in what she hoped was an equally sing-songy tone.

“Before we begin though there was a confession I wanted to make to you that has kind of been weighing on me lately.” Hanna became nervous, wringing her hands together. Eadlyn turned to her suddenly much more serious than a moment before.

“Is everything ok, hun?” She inquired stepping towards Hanna, concern etched across her face.

“Yeah I just had some unsavory feelings I have been meaning to express to you for a while now...” Hanna paused and took a cleansing breath before opening her eyes to continue. “Why don’t we crack open that bottle and have a roaring round of Hanna tells all?”

“Sounds like a plan Chica!” Eadlyn replied as she opened the bottle and offered it to Hanna to take the first swig. “First sip is always the best”, she smiled as Hanna accepted the bottle and took a long pull from it.

The night progressed with more confessions, stories, secrets and tequila then either girl could have ever anticipated. In the end Hanna had nothing to worry about. Eadlyn made sure of that. She and Hanna had one of the greatest sleepover/therapy sessions any girl could ever dream of.

It was that night that Hanna learned the most important relationship lesson of all...

The key to success in any situation is communication. And from that day forward Hanna never held in her true feelings towards those she cared about. Thanks to her quarter-life crisis, a good friend, and a bottle of tequila.

Tag List?: @burnsoslow​​ @fromthedeskofpaisleybleakmore​ @emceesynonymroll​​ @loveellamae​​

[lizzybeth1986]

Quick Thoughts on The Royal Fast-Track Pregnancy, Book 1 Chapter 15

• A friend of mine just called me Cassandra recently coz when I predict things, not a lot of people take what I say seriously, and by the time they find out I'm right it's too late.

• I have just one thing to say there:

• If you don't want to see these posts on your dash, here are the tags to block: #trh quick thoughts, #trh qts, #trh qt reblogs, #long post.

• Title: Apple in the Oven

Alternative Title: ...Will Be Burned to A Crisp From The Speed At Which You're Trying to Bake It!

• Screenshots:

Hana: The Abhirio YouTube channel and the Universal Studio 77 YouTube channel.

Maxwell: @itsbrindleybinch and the rash rec YouTube channel

Drake: @thefirstcourtesan and the HIMEME YouTube channel.

• I liked parts of this chapter - the MC definitely seems to show a bit of the concern and caring towards her certain LIs that has been missing for a while now. I liked that she could try to talk to Liam about how he's feeling as his wife + friend, and that as Hana's wife she could encourage Hana to take a step back and bask in the attention for once. But I'm wary too. Like, is this just a small carrot they're dangling in front of us, before returning to the status quo and continuing to perpetuate the same problems in their writing?? It certainly wouldn't be the first time I've seen tiny glimpses of progress before the team took 50 steps backwards in their storytelling for some of these characters.

• How the heck did Edenbrook get a branch in Cordonia? 🤭

• Also...it's plausible that Brad/Thad/Chad may have reached there and settled in before we made it to the hospital...but still, Olivia didn't notice anything suspicious? Nothing at all? Why is it that the moment competent individuals (like Mara) become security detail, they become as stupid as the people they're protecting?

• So within our own playthroughs we have 3 people to choose from: our LIs, ourselves, or Olivia:

I like how this incorporates all their ways of thinking into how they fight.

Liam has the ability to fight a man but also the wisdom to know when delegating will make things more effective.

Hana's is reminiscient of her fight at the boutique (if she was part of your bridal party), where she had the forethought and flexibility to use anything that was at hand as a weapon (and here, she uses a potted plant).

Maxwell is someone who enjoys sliding down the stairs via the bannister (his last scene in Book 1 features him and the MC do this together), and he uses that to gain leverage over his opponent.

Drake opts for speed and aggression, since raw power is what he is most known for.

Olivia is a master of fighting skill and agility, which is obvious from her tackling of the man.

Of course...the "opponent" is really a dudebro reporter who was easy to catch so I doubt any of them saw him as that big of a challenge 🤣

• The MC then gets to choose how to tackle him - two of the options involve coming down heavily on him for invading their privacy, and one offers to provide him a picture that's taken with the consent of the MC and LI.

• Why do none of them even bother to grill this guy over where he came from? Who sent him? Who he was reporting to? Why is NO ONE asking these questions oh gosh why are you all so stupid.

• DIAMOND SCENE TIME. In some ways it could be a throwback to Liam giving you a massage in Book 1 Chapter 16 at Beaumont estate, but like all LI scenes, it plays out differently depending on who you're married to.

Liam: The MC is surprised that Liam managed to secretly set this (the arrangements for the massage) up, and Liam confesses to taking a course from a professional masseuse (wasn't he already very skilled in massage? I recall the MC saying so in TRR Book 1 Chapter 16. I mean it's likely he wanted to sharpen his skills etc but why no acknowledgement from the MCs who did the scene back at Beaumont House?). You get to choose between letting him focus on your upper body or lower body, and you can either flirt with or help Liam to set up.

The variations for the sex scene involve the MC telling him what she wants in terms of speed and tempo (slow, or "right now"), as well as positioning (under her, or on top of her). The couple then relax and speak of how moments like these will be few and far between once the child is born, and how they will make time for their children and each other regardless. If you're a Henney fan, you'll love this scene coz at some point the MC calls Liam "Mr Perfect".

Cmon PB tell me that wasn't done on purpose! 🤣🤣🤣

Hana: There's plenty of Hana's thoroughness in action here. The skill is something Hana has already learned and picked up from before, and it's something she is excellent at (for instance, there is a point where she tells the MC that she almost put her course instructor to sleep with her rendition of a Swedish massage). Hana's version of the scene is detailed in terms of the oils she uses and the names of the massage therapies she employs.

We get a choice between two oils - elderberry and rose, or sage and sandalwood - and two massage therapies: Swedish and Shiatsu. The first therapy is meant to soothe and relax, the second is meant to invigorate and awaken. The MC can either respond by talking about how much she needed this, or jokingly offer to be "Hana's personal genie".

The MC also gets to set the pace for sex - either hard and fast or slow and tender - and the scene shortly after involves the women engaging in playful banter about how there will be less time for private moments like these after they have children, but how it will all be worth it for the joy those very children bring.

(Also the one time I went to France I saw the sun set at 9 PM or something to my utter surprise 😲)

Maxwell: The tone of this - including the MC's as well as Maxwell's dialogues - sound a lot like the fun couple they're expected to be, and have a different vibe. I liked this scene particularly because the MC gets to show her mood swings here, and Maxwell has a story similar as Liam's about taking a course on massage ("with a complimentary chakra kit"). Additionally he also provides his own recorded music.

The MC gets to choose how they'll do foreplay ("my mouth on you" or "your mouth on me"), and how they'll have sex (behind or under). Once that is done, they speak about their wishes and dreams for the child. Maxwell mentions needing to lock the door so the kids won't hear them during moments like these, and contemplating on their growing years (he mentions "preschool" then jumps straight to "first car"). They do, however, agree to relax and take each moment as it comes. Which is a theme with Maxwell even in the buildup of the scene where he talks about living in the here and now.

Drake: More attempts to make Drake more flexible and open, and less "manly man" stuff. He gives the MC the opportunity to choose who should "order around" even though he isn't used to it (at least they acknowledged that). He doesn't say a lot about his massaging skill - and he shouldn't considering the writers already write enough about it in their Chapter 13 scene where he talks about his dad playing masseuse for his mother.

The MC gets to decide whether Drake can watch or touch, and positions (on top, or under). Afterwards, Drake gets to talk about how far they have come as a couple - how the MC didn't imagine how her life in NY led her to this charmed one, and how Drake could hardly imagine until she chose him that he was the one she wanted. While all the others speak about the changes that having children will bring into their lives, Drake gets to also talk about how unbelievably good their present life is.

• The next few weeks pass in a blur. Another couple of days pass in a blur. A whole six months is reduced to a montage wowwww. Amazing. What was the premise of this book again?? Family, right? And surprisingly, we spent AGES on only one LI's family, so much so that the rest of us have to be satisfied with just 5 chapters of the theme for our own LIs!

• Your free dress is basically a peach monstrosity (sorry guys I can't stand the colour peach 😅😅), and the diamond option is a floral blue short dress, which is fitting considering our next diamond option involves an actual flower garden. It would go with the theme.

• Our second trimester montage includes the following:

- Maxwell googling pregnancy-friendly yoga poses and learning them so he can practice them with us. For solidarity awww (which could be either as a friend, or as the father. Both are adorable). He teaches us the downward dog pose (we call it adho mukha svanasana I think. It's supposed to have many benefits, though I hear that earlier, pregnant people used to be advised against doing this asana during late term).

- Drake making something that was supposed to be a rocking horse but that looks either like a footstool or abstract art, further reiterating that if he has so few skills maybe he shouldn't be yapping about how nobles swan around doing nothing of importance.

- Liam doing the rounds of our estate with us, and proposing the lakeside be converted into a garden with a gazebo...kiiinda similar to Applewood's? The narrative promises that paying for this background art will unlock scenes not only in this book but in other books in the series as well.

- Hana suggesting names for our kid - either Oswald, Valentina or as our namesake. Valentina is the popular option, obviously, because Hana then gets to give us a callback to TCaTF where she can speak of the "great warrior" who was close to Cordonia's greatest warrior queen. This comes MUCH later in the scheme of these scenes, and if you're a Hana fan who doesn't romance Hana...it'll definitely feel like you spent a huge chunk of the chapter not even catching a glimpse of her.

- In addition, you get two scenes exclusively with our LIs - one where we're dancing with our partners and experience the baby's kick together for the first time (it's cute because the sprite wiggle and shake a couple times from surprise and joy in this scene 🤭), and this adorable af dream section:

Now this scene takes place while the MC worries over the number of kicks in two hours that her character should be doing, and the LI is in the middle of a dream when she wakes them up. It's followed by the LIs calming her down and attempting to communicate with the child before they eventually kick. The dreams are cute, but I couldn't help but notice how all of them are in some way connected to themes of family (and perhaps responsibility? IDK this is just a wild guess):

* King Liam and the Baklava Arm: Liam's dream involves him and Leo (they remember Liam's brother exists! Hallelujah!) eating baklava, before Liam turns into this sweet and gets eaten by his older brother. Which I take to mean that sometimes, it really does feel like the responsibilities Leo - and why just Leo! I would include Liam's father in this as well - has left behind for him may swallow Liam whole. After all, Liam is in many ways, spending his time as king constantly fixing his family's messes.

* Hana Lee and the Tea Party: Hana's dream focuses on enjoying a tea party with the MC and her future child, to the point where she is reluctant to shake herself out of the dream. As a child Hana was deprived of this experience - forever keeping a place for her mother that her mother never bothered to fill - that she now views the same thing as an opportunity to NOT be that person towards her own child. In a lot of ways she may view this as "I will not make the mistakes my mother made, and make my child suffer believing I don't care for them". Why is why, when the MC wakes her up she shows such a reluctance to leave. In a lot of ways her view of parenting rn is largely coloured by her desire to be the exact opposite of her mother.

* Maxwell Beaumont and The Shrimp Buffet: Maxwell's recurring dream involves him being in a shrimp buffet, being fed shrimp till he wants no more. This is a little tougher to decipher, but I'm guessing that since their house sigil is nautical and shrimps are a delicacy of the waters, the shrimp buffet mayyyybe represents his House and family, and the responsibilities and complications that will eventually pile up from them. Remember, he enjoys his father's respect and regard now, but perhaps there may come a time where being a Beaumont will feel like being in a carousel that refuses to stop.

* Drake Walker and the Giant Marshmallow: Drake's dream involves being smushed by a giant marshmallow that he seems to be fighting. Now most of us usually associate the marshmallow with Drake only, but in a lot of ways the treat has its roots in his memories of his father. In fact, that's the earliest actual memory we get of Jackson. So the dream could either mean he fears he may not live up to Jackson's example, or foreshadowing that Jackson's secret may blindside and engulf him.

• One thing I really don't get about the TRR/H team re: Hana is...why do they sometimes spend chapters and chapters repeating the same things like a broken tape recorder? In the early chapters she wound up making constant mentions of embroidery, even when it wasn't needed. When it was pointed out that they forgot she was skilled at horseriding then they kept beating that reference to death. Now it's tea parties. Hana is a layered character, PB! Start treating her like one!!

• It's nice that the MC has that rare moment of checking in on Liam and asking him how he's taking the news that his mother was pregnant when she died. That doesn't happen much in the books - she can ask a ten-second question about how Liam is holding up after his father died but somehow never tries to check up on how he's down again, even when she's his wife. It would be nice to see more of that...but I don't have any hope left of that happening.

• Hallelujah! The members of the Council speak about something other than balls and parties!! There's a brief mention about "transportation reforms" which gets knocked over by the press in favour of more pregnancy speculations. Which is on par for pregnant celebs - in that once you're pregnant, everything else seems frustratingly unimportant in comparison in the eyes of other people. You begin to feel less like a person and more like a vessel (and if you don't have the right support, those feelings will keep gnawing at you even after childbirth).

• I wanted to hear more about those transportation reforms! Dammit PB!!

• The MC and LI eventually celebrate the point where her morning sickness is out of the way in a short scene.

• Man I miss seeing the palace. It felt almost like the team had forgotten that some of our MCs might actually live there.

• Callback to Book 1! We get a scene where the friends are having dinner, but the MC now has a craving for cronuts so they go to the same bakery they visited when she was still new to Cordonia.

- Jumping out the window was Liam's thing in Book 1 (and he almost fell on the rose bushes), but this time it's the MC who is doing it

- Maxwell speaks about how fun rule breaking is, leading to an interesting observation from Hana (the last time they went to a cronut shop she sidestepped this question and merely commented on how much more fun it was that their destination was "something delicious"). This time around, Hana actually focuses on the "rule breaking part", where she speaks about what it feels like to break a rule for her:

I've mentioned in my QT for Chapter 9 how Hana often speaks of her parents "as if they are still there, still controlling her choices, as if she cannot remove herself from her fears concerning them even if they're physically away from her. In her head, she still has a lot of difficult getting out of the obedience mindset (particularly towards her parents) built in her.

I can connect to this personally. As a teenager and a young adult, I wasn't allowed to go out too often, and the few times I did go out to meet friends I was given deadlines that left me with very little time to actually have much fun. (yknow, like 6 pm, or 7.30 if I was lucky...even if I'd gone out at 4 or 5). My college days were mostly spent in convent-run hostels with strict curfews (like 6 pm), and you had to repeatedly hit at a locked gate if you were even a minute late.

Now I'm married, to a man who understands if I run late...and even now I think in terms of timing and curfews. I still get a tiny chill down my spine when it's 10 pm and I'm not home yet - for no other reason than "I'm late". It's just the way my brain's been wired from years of that routine and it will probably take a lot of unlearning to grow out of it.

Hana's guilt about rule-breaking is kind of like that. She knows it's unreasonable, she knows theoretically that she is safe from harm, she knows logically that she's free to do what she wants, but her brain has been wired to certain routines that will take her maybe years to grow out of.

...and this fandom acts as if she's just a weak, passive, one-dimensional character who is nothing next to the Almighty Olivia Nevrakis. LMAO.

- A lot of the callbacks are in the shop scene, such as the way Maxwell shouts for the cronuts as soon as they enter, the way Maxwell finishes his cronut before the other LIs finish their countdowns, and the compliments they deliver for the treat hold a few similarities too.

- There is also a tiny callback when Maxwell recalls Liam and Drake "stealing a boat" - something Liam talked to us about at the Regatta.

- If there is anything different, it's the messages the LIs now deliver to the child:

The friendly version includes all their plans for this child they have already begun to love and consider as their family, and involves what is important to all of them. Hana simply lets the child know there is an amazing support system that will shower them with love, Maxwell playfully asks the child about what flavour of cronuts they would prefer, Drake promises them fishing and trekking trips just like the ones he had as a child, and Liam assures them that even though their future lies in the throne, they are not entirely bound by it (why couldn't the writers have made the heir an "heir presumptive" then? Rather than make this a permanent arrangement! Oh, I know. Coz the MC has to be the front and center of everything).

• Slight variations if the LI is married to you:

Le Moi:

• It's now time for our baby shower, which means we're now in our third trimester. So much for a book about having a child 🙄

• One of my favourite variations in this chapter happens around here. If she is your friend, Hana is organizing the baby shower along with the other women in court, and the MC tells her she should enjoy it with her and she doesn't need to fuss so much, and Hana responds that the MC is her best friend so it's important for her to be involved.

Fortunately, in Hana's playthrough, the MC ensures (and insists, actually) Hana enjoys the function alongside her, rather than playing second-fiddle:

It's a lovely scene. It's all I could want. The MC shows that she cares about Hana, follows up on the "I won't let you play second fiddle when you're my wife" promise from last chapter, and generally includes rather than excludes Hana. It's heartwarming and shows some effort from the side of the writers.

But...at this point it's been FOUR BOOKS. Four books of seeing the MC simply use Hana when convenient and discard her when convenient. Four books of seeing the MC not bother to even ask Hana how she is when she is affected by terrible things, while showering attention and advice on people like Olivia and Penelope and Madeleine. Just a book ago, the MC marrying her was treating Hana like a bridesmaid on what should have been a memorable wedding day for Hana.

It's great that this mistake is not repeated now, but this is one tiny spark in a long, long line of lackadaisical writing. It shouldn't take you four fucking books to come to the conclusion that, hey, maybe we're treating our lone female LI like garbage and we should do better.

So...yeah, I love this scene. But I have no idea whether PB will continue doing better in terms of their treatment of Hana, or whether this and the previous scene are just brief flashes in a pan. I probably never will trust them on this, but honestly the team has only themselves to blame for that 🤷🏽‍♀

• I'm tempted to say "too little too late", but (foolishly) I'm still holding on to a sliver of hope.

• Hallelujah! The writers also remember that Kiara exists outside of being Penelope's bestie! And she comes to us and the LI, delivering the news that Auvernese and Monterisso royalty have decided to come to the baby shower to find out who Cordonia will make an alliance with. Jesus Christ. Stop.

• In my playthrough, Kiara interacts with Liam and Esther (but more to Esther than Liam - and I saw similar interactions on the plane trip back to Cordonia) which felt...different because up until now the narrative never allowed the two to even speak to each other (she's the only suitor in Book 1 who never gets to even talk to Liam, and in Book 3, they went as far as to replace her with Hakim in the armoury scene at Lythikos). To me it simply goes to show how deep the rot goes with regards to Kiara's treatment in this series (as well as the fact that they make Kiara interact just as normally with Drake in his playthrough, yknow, that asshole who treated her like shit last series. Oh what I wouldn't give for Kiara to rake that man through the coals for his treatment of her, if only just once).

• We're also told that our in-laws will be in attendance, which means we will have different playthroughs featuring different characters visiting or gaining additional dialogue. Regina and Leo for Liam's playthrough, Leona, Bianca and BertVannah for Drake's, Barthelemy and BertVannah for Maxwell's, and Xinghai and Lorelai for Hana. I think Hana's family is the only one so far who have NOT made an appearance...and will for the first since Book 3 this week. They'd better treat her well this time around!

• I'm wondering - with the arrival of the other royals - whether another flashback scene will be shown. Or perhaps it will be reserved for Chapter 17 since we'll be traveling to Lythikos.

• I wonder if one of the gifts will include something for the nursery. I think it might.

• Another visit to Lythikos. This has to be the third time I'm seeing this place. It was the only duchy besides Beaumont Estate we were allowed to see in Book 1 and one of the major turning points in the plot in Book 3. We haven't seen any duchy (besides our own) as extensively as we have seen this one, and I know it will involve more opportunities for Olivia to gobble up space.

• Like at this point why the hell am I being regarded as an honorary Beaumont when the only time I bothered to visit Ramsford was in Book 1, and I have never, ever visited Hana's Cordonian side of the family even once - not even aware of anything besides their sigil being flowers and her great-grandmother teaching her a Cordonian tradition featuring three coins in a fountain (and don't even get me started on Shanghai!!!)

• In an ideal version of this story, where the writers made a damn effort on all the LIs...I'd be really happy about the writing for Olivia. I'd be fine with it. But now I'm sick and tired. Sick and tired of her concerns, her issues, her pain getting more attention than Hana's ever has, or ever will. Sick and tired of how often I see both the writing and people in the fandom (yes Olivia stans who downplay Hana just to make your fave look good, I'm looking at you) act like Hana's story has zero value, every time the narrative gives Olivia attention. At this point the narrative is giving a secondary character the space and attention that they should have been giving the female LI. And not because Hana's story is not equally compelling - but because the writers didn't want to put in the effort. Why the hell do I have to wait four goddamn books to see even a tenth of this much effort put into Hana, huh?

I'm fed up at this point. I like Olivia but can't even enjoy her scenes nowadays without thinking of how much the same amount of space could have benefited Hana, or wondering how and when the fandom will use this opportunity to shit on Hana just because she's not their preferred female LI or BFF.

• Chapter 16 has always been the kind of chapter where the nobility have an excuse to go wild and party a lot (except in Book 2, where Chapter 16 was set aside for Liam's proposal and the MC finally choosing her endgame). In Book 1 it was the Beaumont Bash. In Book 3, it was the MC's bachelorette in Vegas. Now in Book 4, it's the baby shower (maybe less wild...but still partylike). It's kind of a pattern at this point.

• Liam's suggestion of a flower garden + gazebo at Valtoria brought me back to that Book 1 Chapter 4 scene, where he spoke about the palace gardens and hedge maze being his mother's vision. But it also reminds me of that gazebo with cherry blossoms, and that flower conservatory, in Applewood.

There is a statue of a woman with a crown on her head and a specter in her hands, at the back of the garden, and I wonder who that is supposed to represent.

• That's it for this week! Until Chapter 16, guys! (gosh how did I survive 15 chapters worth of meta with this).

[i-choose-liam]

With the new TRR rewrite, @playchoices said FUCK GAY RIGHTS, FUCK POC RIGHTS, FUCK INTEGRITY, AND HAIL CAPITALISM. How? I'll explain.

They wrote the ENTIRE cu*ting book to make the male white LI look good. It wasn't just retconning this time like they have done for Drake Walker before. This time they had to turn Liam into a douche canoe. It hits especially hard if your Liam is poc.

And what did they do for the one female LI? NOTHING. Their treatment of Hana is beyond despicable. She didn't get ANYTHING from the rewrite! That's how much they care about wlw relationships in their "books".

This rewrite shows that good stories will not get sequels at the @playchoices office. Uh uh. THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT MONEY. That is the bottom line.

Their shitty rewrite is hurtful for me because Liam is the character me and my girlfriend initially bonded over. It's not the same character anymore, thanks to Pixelberry. And like my babe said, "This is worse than if they would have killed off his character".

I don't know about you but this is the last straw for me. Fuck playchoices. I'm not spending my time or diamonds on it anymore. I love Liam too much to support a greedy, racist corporation (YES IT IS, look it up) to keep using this trashy app.

It's why I'm going to make this an inactive blog. I'll still be using my original @thatoclady but Choices is over for me now. Consider all my ongoing Choices fanfics to be discontinued. I may also be changing my url for this blog and the look of it. It may seem extreme to some but Liam is and was the only reason I stuck with this app for years since it first came out. @playchoices is not worth my time and money after doing this to the greatest character they had.

[choicecrossover]

Get to Know the Writer Part 2: @tornbetween2loves

Thank you @tornbetween2loves for making this moodboard and answering these questions. I hope all of you enjoy getting to know her more as well as @strangerofbraidwood @begging-for-kamilah @sawyeroakleyscowboyhat @stopforamoment and @teamtomsato in the weeks to come.   What’s your name, gender and age (if comfortable)?

Liz, female age 42.

How did you become a part of the Choices fandom?

I downloaded the Choices app because I was bored and became obsessed with trr. I joined a couple Choices groups on Facebook and came across a few fandom members who posted links to their tumblr fics. I had set up my own blog to write an original story of mine so I started by reading fics that grabbed my interest. Soon I created a sideblog specifically for Choices and started writing myself.

How did you first develop an interest in writing fan fiction?

I had the hardest time choosing between Liam and Drake in TRR that I wanted to create a world where I didn’t have to choose. That is basically the premise of my blog and how my first fic from my first series, My Heart Torn Apart, was born. I’ve found that I love writing poly relationships and have sort of made that my niche.

What was the first piece of fan fiction you ever wrote?

It was part one of My Heart Torn Apart.

What is your favourite Choices book and why?

So this is really hard for me to pick. I love TRR, it’s the first book I’ve ever played and the book I write the most fan fiction for. However, I have to say that tcatf is my absolute favorite. I just feel like it blows all the other Choices books out of the water. Gripping storyline, great LIs and I mean come on, isn’t Kenna like the greatest MC ever??? Plus I feel like it was less diamond-costly. I also really like BB and D&D. Once again, I can’t choose.

Who are some of your favourite characters to write for and why?

Liam. I adore Liam and could write him paired with just about anyone. Olivia is also one of my faves. Especially in a Baslivia pairing. I also love writing her with Adrian, a pairing I never would’ve thought of if not for this crossover. I am now obsessed with this pairing. I can’t get enough of these two. I also love to write my Kenna x Val x Michael poly series. Those three are so much fun to write.

Which piece of fan fiction are you most proud of?

I am proud of all my fan fiction, but actually I’m most proud of the most recent part of A Story Worth Telling, Michael’s Birthday. I swear it’s the best fic I’ve ever written. I poured my heart and soul into that fic and agonized over it for a week and it shows. It’s beautiful and I’m super proud of it.

What sort of tips would you offer to a person suffering with writer’s block?

Take a break. Focus on something else. Talk to a friend about it. Sometimes talking it out can jar the ideas in your brain

What can we expect to see from you in the future?  

Lots of collaborative efforts. I enjoy writing with others and between this cross over and my other collaborative AU I’m going to be pretty busy. But I also plan on getting back to my roots. I have a few requests that still need fulfilled and will be posting new parts for all of my series very soon.

What’s your favourite thing about working on this crossover?

Definitely working with all these amazing people! I’ve made so many new friends and it’s so much fun when we all share ideas and brainstorm. We’re an awesome team and we’re producing something great. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together.

[mollyannice]

If I was able to write a pregnancy story for choices And in n the beginning ass who your Royal Romance/Royal Heir MC ended up together. The reason is so that the MC in this pregnancy story can drag the TRR/TRH MC and LI through out (in good jest). The MC moves to Cordonia to open a bakery and she moved from Dildo Newfoundland. She is a great baker but terrible luck in the dating scene. This MC has never been able to get anyone to date them because of terrible incident back in Dildo. But this is her fresh start she is going to date she is going to run the greatest bakery in Cordonia. She finds out she is somehow pregnant. Her and a small rag tag group goes in search through out Cordonia for how she ended up pregnant, all while dealing with her pregnancy and her bakery and her new found love life and such. The search ends on how she got pregnant when she gives birth because it makes no sense and a 12 Diamond scene showing how at the very end.

Now I’m going to explain how she got pregnant. She picked up a newspaper and read about Cordonia’s royal family and groaned about the whole situation a groan so deep it travelled into the afterlife and was heard by both Kenna Rys and Kenna saw the state of her poor kingdom and in a rage decided to be reborn to kick these party central royals in the ass because no, she did not die so they could all be running around having parties centered around apples all the time.

[msjr0119]

When you should be writing but instead decided to have a marathon watching Witches of East End... I haven’t seen it in ageeesss... and three of the actors are my faceclaims for my series The Greatest Show 🥰

Drake Walker and Amber Smith- Beaumont (Daniel Di Tomasso and Jenna Dewan) 🥰🔥💕

@pedudley @kacie-0156

[shewillreadyou]

Meet my MC

Because I just wrapped my TRR Becoming Series; I thought it would be fun to introduce you, formally to my MC.

Meet -> Queen Karis

Full Name: Karis Rose Vasquez-Rhys

Nicknames: Angel, Love, My queen, Kar, Karbear (she hates that one)

Face Claim: Keri Hilson

Age/Birthday: 22/ May 4th

Relationship Status: Married, Liam (Adonis) Rhys

Love Interest: Liam and Liam and Liam

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Education: Howard University

Occupation: Queen of Cordonia, but she will become an attorney if it kills her.

Family: She is an only child. Her parents and Grandparents are deceased.

Favorite Season: Summer

Favorite Color: Yellow

Food: Italian.

Best Friend: Misti Moore

Interest: Reading, Travel, Cooking, Fashion.

Favorite Movie/TV Show: Coming to America, Law and Order and Jane the virgin.

Personality Traits: Self sufficient, sensitive, Intelligent, stubborn, loyal, affectionate, sensuous, calm, driven, ambitious.

Random Facts: Karis has a large collection of shoes and designer handbags. She speaks fluent french. She’s a sorority girl. She grew up in a dysfunctional home and it pushes her to want better. She has trust issues. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from College and was her High Schools valedictorian. She is slightly insecure. Despite being told she is beautiful by men and women regularly, her self esteem is not the greatest. Liam is the only man Karis has ever had sex with. Karis has a soft spot for old people and Drake.

Tagging: @pixie88​​ @txemrn​​ @khoicesbyk​​ @lucy-268​​ @khoicesbyk​​ @choicesfannatalie​​​ @kimmiedoo5​​​ @secretaryunpaid​​​ @hopelessromanticmonie​​ @lem-20​​​ @maurine07​​​ @romewritingshop​​​ @texaskitten30​​​ @glaimtruelovealways​@secretwolfdreamertree​​​ @mom2000aggie​​​ @bebepac​​​ @ao719​​​ @bbrandy2002​​​ @shanzay44​​​ @wingedhairstylemusicweasel​​​ @sfb123​​​ @queenjilian​​​ @dcbbw​​​ @shannonsaid​​​@romereadingshop​​​ @hopefulmoonobject​​​ @missdreamsalot​​​ @blackkingliamstan​​​ @burnsoslow​​​ @zaffrenotes​​​ @choiceslady​​​ @tayroleplays​​​  @cooljustanotherrookiesportskid​​​ @omgjasminesimone​​​ @janezillow​​​ @utterlyinevitable​​​ @justanotherrookie​​​  @openheartthot​​​ @rookie-ramsey​​​ @aussieez​​​ @fanjessfic​​​ @starrystarrytrouble​​​ @jamespotterthefirst​​​ @the-pale-goddess  @kat-tia801​​​ @kingliam2019​​​ @mskaneko​​​ @blackcatkita​​​ @bay-lee​ @bobasheebaby​​​ @darley1101​​​ @queenrileyrose​​ @twinkleallnight​

[the-writerly-night-owl]

The Significance of a Garden

Desire and Decorum/Ernest x MC 

Summary: Ernest Sinclaire realizes that his happiest moments happened in a garden. 

Authors Note: For day 5 of the choices March Challenge. Tomorrow is TE and I think you’ll be happy with that. Then TRR on the eighth. Enjoy! 

Tag list: @flyawayboo  @cosigottahavefaith  @am-i-invisible777@countrymusicandncis-blog @fluffy-cat-whisper @melodyofgraves @symonde @paisleylovergirl  @mariamulroney @queen-among-writers

Ernest Sinclaire had a long day as he entered Ledford Park. He wanted to find Clara and the children and sit down for a hot meal. Perhaps Clara would join him in his study tonight, he thought, with a smile. They could catch up after all.  

“Where’s Mrs. Sinclaire?” he asked his butler. The man told him that she and the children were outside around the back playing. Ernest furrowed his brow hoping to hear that Vincent was at least learning his sums.

Ernest headed toward the back of the house the garden in full view. The scent of difference fragrances and the sight of the flowers just made him smile. He could remember helping his grandmother sometimes outside. The memory of meeting Clara for the first time came back to him.

“Tolerable,” he said his gaze lingering a little longer than necessary. She had mentioned that she was the person he nearly ran over in Grover. The feeling of intrigue washed over him as they started to walk across the gardens at Edgewater. The way she flirted was surprising to say the least, he had no idea what to say most of the time. He was right to admit that he didn’t know what to make of her. Ernest thought that she would have been a woman trying to climb the social ladder. Or interested in him for his money. Instead she seemed very genuine as she reached out wanting to hold his hand. He was almost willing to let her but stopped himself before they could take it too far.

His eyes snapped up and out of the thought. Looking back they had come a long way from ever calling her tolerable. He treasured that moment where they had locked eyes for the first time. While it wasn’t the greatest meeting it was the start of their love story.

Ernest heard shrieks of laughter not too far away and picked up the pace. It had been a tiring day and he just wanted to hug and kiss his family. He could remember kissing for the first time like it was yesterday.

Finally, Ernest caught up to his wife and children. The sun was shining high in the sky and children played in the back yard of Ledford Park. Four-year-old Vincent Sinclaire chased after his mother as Clara pretended to be slow on purpose. Ernie running in the opposite direction not sure what to do really. Clara put a hand on her swelling stomach as she stopped taking in a breath. She was due to give birth next month and she ran like it was no big deal.  

“Alright children,” said Clara going to scoop up her youngest son. “It’s almost time for your father to come back and we want you to be presentable.”

She took Vincent’s hand and turned only to find him standing. Clara looked breath taking in the midafternoon light. Her bonnet loose around her neck, dark hair flowing in the breeze, and the white dress hanging off her body perfectly. She had a toddler in her arms, a child hugging her legs, and a swelling figure. It was the perfect sight, everything he could ever want right in front of him. Clara’s eyes sparkled as her free hand reached out for his.

“You’re back too early,” she said teasingly pouting slightly. “Supper will be ready soon.”

“Good evening father,” said Vincent happily. “We had so much fun today, mother played with us. I learned how to…”

“Well why don’t you tell me at dinner,” said Ernest, his eyes flicking to Clara who looked pleased with herself.

“You need your nap,” said Clara reminding him and Vincent nodded.

It was quiet as Ernest picked him up. It was hard to believe that he was this old already. He could remember Clara telling him that she was with child for the first time. Right here in this very garden next to the flower beds.

The sun was starting to set as Ernest Sinclaire held his wife close to him. Her head resting on his shoulder holding hands as the sun was starting to set. The garden in full bloom around them but he could only stare at her.

“Ernest,” she said softly taking his hands and intertwined them with her own. “I have something very important to tell you, very very important. I’m not sure if I should tell you right now though.”

“Clara,” he said a little alarmed. “What’s wrong?”

She smiled mysteriously taking one of his hands and used hers to touch her. His palm moving from her arm to the area just above her stomach. “I saw the doctor this afternoon while you were out and… I’m having a child Ernest. We’re going to be parents.”

His body froze unable to believe it. His palm pressed against the fabric covering her swelling baby bump. To have a baby so soon? His heart swelled with pride. A baby! Concern grew in him remembering how Roselyn died but reminded himself that Clara was stronger much stronger. The logical part of him wanted a son but a daughter made his heart sing.

Clara’s eyes grew wide as Ernest lifted her up and twirled her around. Lips met lips unable to help it excitement coursed through him unable to think of anything else. She was going to have his baby and that was the best part of his life.  

“Ernest are you okay?” asked Clara rubbing his shoulder softly. “You just randomly stopped.”

Confused he realized that his feet did in fact stop moving. Vincent was pulling at his jacket trying to keep him alert. Ernest shook his head looking around the garden area. He could think of simpler times with his mother and grandmother come back to him. Marie and Lydia Sinclaire’s faces popped up in his mind that Ernest could just smile to himself.

“Yes, I’m fine,” he said putting Vincent down. “Although there is something I want to show you.”

“Okay,” he said brightly.

Ernest lead the small family to the bench not that much of a walk away. Taking in the scent he sat down and motioned for Vincent to listen.

“You know it was right here where your mother told me she was having you,” said Ernest seriously. “I remember it being one of the happiest days of my life. I knew that you were going to be born and I couldn’t wait.”

“Really?” asked Vincent almost shyly, his brown eyes wide.

“Really and I stopped because I remembered that moment and how happy I was. Vincent, I want you to remember that I love you no matter what. Even if you don’t think I do, I will and the same for all your siblings, understand.”

“Understood,” he said a bit mesmerized as he looked around at the flower beds. “Can we get food now?”

“Of course,” he said picking him up and kissed his head. 

Finally heading inside Ledford together. Clara stood close to him as his hand brushed against her stomach softly. He could feel the baby’s kick at the touch. Garden’s were important to him, it was where everything fell into place for him. Ernest could only hope that more was to follow. His hand slipped into Clara’s perfectly with Vincent running ahead. There really was something significant about a garden.

[greensconnor]

TRR or ILB for the mc thing? (or both LOL)

i WILL do both but seriously ty all so much for these asks i had a rough day and this has calmed me down significantly shskshs

trr/trh mc: maya abernathy

how tall are they?

maya is really tall! she’s 5′11″ which is about an inch shorter than i imagine her husband to be but he’s a king so what does he have to worry about?

how do they tend to dress?

maya has always had a very classy style, even before she was queen of cordonia. she loves bright colours and floral patterns, and really adores light and breezy things. she does miss the functionality of jeans now that she’s a royal, but she makes do with some very classy pantsuits even though pixelberry are cowards and won’t give them to me.

do they like how they look?

yes! maya’s grandma always made sure that she got her self-worth from her actions and the way she treated people as opposed to how she looks, and maya is really proud of herself and doesn’t really care all that much about what other people think of her!

are they an only child or do they have any siblings?

maya’s an only child! i hate to think that her parents or family just don’t care enough to come to her wedding, so my headcanon for her is that her parents died in a car crash when she was young, and so she was cared for by her only surviving relative, her grandmother, until her death in maya’s first year of college. since she doesn’t have any living family that’s why no one was there like seriously what the fuck pixelberry

are they a morning person or night owl?

morning person! maya’s friends always joked that she had the soul of an 80 year old woman but she really does go to bed pretty early all the time and she likes to wake up to the sun! she loves sunshine and she loves hearing birds singing in the morning, which is her favourite part about being at duchy valtoria!

are they a cat person or a dog person?

maya’s a dog person! she likes cats, and she loved the last cat her grandmother had very much, but she’s always liked dogs a lot more by sheer virtue of being an outdoorsy kid who loves to be playing and getting muddy in the back yard, which was much easier to do with a dog than a cat.

got any favourite foods?

LOVES rogan josh and barbecue. anything spicy or smokey your home girl got it covered, but her favourite dessert is cheesecake!

how about favourite drinks?

maya loves traditional lemonade! she had a lemon tree in her back garden growing up, and her grandma taught her how to make lemonade from the fresh lemons. she also grew up drinking tea with her gran, but she isn’t really one for caffeine in general and much prefers hot chocolate since she has a sweet tooth.

what are their favourite movies/tv shows?

maya LOVES period dramas. laps that shit up. stans the jennifer ehle and colin firth pride and prejudice adaptation, could rewatch anna karenina time and time again and actually really liked the great gatsby movie, plus she tends to like shakespeare movies with kenneth branagh, or recordings of stage productions from the globe theatre which she has yet to visit, but as queen of cordonia she wants to see her favourite play (othello) put on there!

do they have any hidden talents?

maya is a really good singer! it’s only been busted out at karaoke, but she’s also an excellent mathematician and can do really complex equations in her head, which scares... pretty much all of her friends.

do they believe in love at first sight?

maya is a romantic at heart, and her grandma used to tell her stories about how she and her husband fell in love at first sight, so she’d like to believe it was true! it’s part of the reason that she decided to go to cordonia in the first place, because of the connection she felt with the then-prince.

who is their love interest?

,,,, hajime which is a renamed prince liam i know i’m sorry we don’t deserve rights that’s true but you don’t understand. the association with the name ‘liam’ is my gay cousin who came out after both me and his older brother came out, left to sweden and now lives in berlin djing gay leather clubs, doing drag and posting on his Very Public Facebook Page asking for recommendations for the best gay bdsm clubs in berlin so i really can’t unmarry that image and i had to change his name i just had to i couldn’t do it. anyway maya and hajime are very happy together

what are they afraid of?

maya isn’t afraid of water or the ocean, but she is afraid of sharks and jellyfish. she prefers to swim in fresh water or pools, but there was a period where she was terrified of crocodiles and alligators as well despite not living anywhere near crocodiles or alligators.

what are their guilty pleasures?

carrie underwood singalongs and those 80′s aerobics videos.... maxwell bought her a pair of legwarmers for her birthday because of it and she cherishes them

what was their dream job as a kid? is it still their dream?

maya wanted to be a vet when she was little, but when she got older she realized she was too squeamish for it ahskshs. it’s not really her dream anymore, but she’s happy with where she is in life!

have they ever broken a bone?

no, she was a very careful child!

have they ever been in trouble with the law?

not really no! she’s been involved in a few marches/protests that met skirmishes with law enforcement, but she’s never been arrested or charged with anything, except for like. the trouble in cordonia i guess.

+ three other random facts about them! 

it is my greatest heacanon that maya used the money she inherited from her grandma to get through college with a degree in communications, and before she was waitress-ing she’d been working pretty long-term for a business in PR but her boss was paying her unfair wages and refused to negotiate so she just quit and was looking for another job, so having justin/anton assigned as her PR ‘team’ was a grievous insult to her ahskshs. another fact is before the royal heir i already decided that maya and hajime have three kids: hollis (after maya’s dad), charlainne “charlie” (after her mum) and oliver, in that order, and the third fact is that her favourite colour is green!

ilb mc: leon vance

how tall are they?

leon is 6′5″ which makes him the tallest of the ilb gang, even taller than parker who is still so in awe that someone managed to be bigger than him

how do they tend to dress?

leon is a frat boy jock with the countenance of a golden retriever. he has an extensive snapback collection, but for the most part his outfit is pretty easy just jeans, t-shirts, sneakers, lots of hoodies, some shorts and those big low-cut singlets etc etc

do they like how they look?

yeah lmao... the one downside is that sometimes people think he’s straight which he’s not about but like. self-confidence is sexy and i don’t fear god so none of my ocs do too. if someone talks shit about him leon will just beat them up ahskshsjsls

are they an only child or do they have any siblings?

leon has elliot ofc, and i hc that his dad re-married and has two young daughters with his second wife, but leon doesn’t know them because he and his dad have virtually no relationship at all.

are they a morning person or night owl?

night owl! leon thinks the stillness of the night is really calming and he’s pretty energetic, but he’s also an early riser. he prefers nights but he also doesn’t sleep in very often since he likes to go for a run before the sun comes up while it’s still nice and cool, plus he usually gets to watch the sun rise on the way back!

are they a cat person or a dog person?

dog.... big, big fluffy dogs. it’s not really surprising when he’s basically just three golden retrievers and one kinda angry chihuahua in a human-shaped trenchcoat but tom gets a lot of no-context pictures of dogs all hours of the night.

got any favourite foods?

leon loves cajun wedges. he thinks there’s an art to making them and he’ll stand by that, but he’s also a bit of a pizza snob and he splurges on wood-fired pizza for him and elliot on uber eats nights whenever he can, although he can’t really do that in pine springs.

how about favourite drinks?

leon vance is the MASTER of keg stands and he’s learned to love shitty bears, but he tends to like dark lagers the best, and besides that he’s a big fan of peach drinks from the chinese grocer down the road from his apartment near campus.

what are their favourite movies/tv shows?

leon loooooves animated movies and elliot is a bit old for him to use as an excuse to go see them, but his favourites are mulan, brave and the quest for camelot which is pretty obscure but garrett was his first love... in terms of tv shows he really likes comedies and watches a lot of comedy specials on netflix too but he’ll also watch pretty much anything with steven yeun in it because he has.... a crush

do they have any hidden talents?

not many people get it initially but leon can actually draw really well! most people think he’s just kind of a meatheaded jock, but his degree is in software engineering and he wants to get into making video games, which is something he decided to do because he loved playing games so much with elliot and he wanted to make something for his brother! he cleans up on rhythm games, and he also plays the piano and the guitar and can sing! he’s very talented!

do they believe in love at first sight?

not really? he wants to believe in romantic things like that, and he definitely believes in attraction at first sight, but he’s a little cynical about the idea of being able to love somebody just from a glance.

who is their love interest?

tom! he & tom are really happy together and one of their favourite things to do is make pancakes on sunday mornings for elliot, and then tom will read his book while sitting on leon’s back while he does pushups. domestic co-existence ahskshs.

what are they afraid of?

leon has always been too bold for his own good, but he’s really not a fan of thunder or lightning and he gets really freaked out during storms.

what are their guilty pleasures?

loves playing roblox with the lads, also he was a gay kid growing up in the 2000′s, a bitch read homestuck and warrior cats and given the opportunity he WILL conduct full-scale discourses about it. yes this is me projecting. no i do not have the decency to be ashamed about it anyway stan vriska

what was their dream job as a kid? is it still their dream? 

initially, leon wanted to be an astronaut, but only so he could meet aliens. as he grew up he realized he didn’t really want to get involved in that field, especially since with his sports career he kind of looked like he had a set path anyway.

have they ever broken a bone?

he’s broken his nose a couple of times and his toe twice, but other than that he’s been very careful because he kind of needs his bones in order to like... do sport.... which is what his scholarship is for.

have they ever been in trouble with the law?

his frat has had noise control turn up a couple of times and once he got picked up for speeding home with medication for elliot’s cough because he was worried but other than that he’s squeaky clean aside from antagonizing chief kelly in pine springs ahsklshsjsh

+ three other random facts about them!

he’s quarterback on his university’s team and looking at prospects of an nfl draft, but he’s also a competitive swimmer and has competed in the junior olympics where he has a silver and a gold medal individually and a gold team medal. second fact is that he’d most like to travel to australia because he likes the accents, and the third is that his favourite animals are bears so he felt personally attacked by the bear lake monster attacking him and his friends

ask me about my choices mcs!

[ladynonsense]

A Royal Disgrace (TRR/PM Crossover) Part 7

Catch up on my masterlist

Sorry for the long wait! We’re nearing the end, and I’ll try not to drag this out too much longer :)

Pairings: Damien x Liam, Liam x Riley, Drake x Riley, Damien x m!Kai

Rating: PG-13 (violence, language)

Summary: Damien’s not sure why Liam invited him to this ball, Kai visits the police station to share intel, and Riley has a rough night.

Tag List: 

@hustacks @hopefulmoonobject @brightpinkpeppercorn @perriewinklenerdie @pixieferry @nazariobae @zaffrenotes @ritachacha @h3llostrang3r @choiceslife @blackcoffee85 @wannabemc2 @sleepwalkingelite @debramcg1106 @furiousherringoperatortoad @bobasheebaby @sawyeroakleyscowboyhat @hopefulmoonobject

Words: 1900

Diplomats milled about, swarming Liam as politely as possible, everyone wanting a piece of the handsome young king on his first visit to the U.S. since his coronation.

Damien perched at a standing cocktail table in the corner, frowning.

What am I doing here?

A small, perfectly manicured hand appeared on his shoulder. “What’s a grumpy P.I. like you doing in a place like this?”

He turned to face Riley, a genuine smile on his face for the first time since he’d arrived. “I was just asking myself the same thing. How’s your night going?”

Riley shrugged, sighing. “Not the greatest, to be honest.” She gestured towards the general direction of Liam, his fiancée Madeleine on his arm, pointedly not turning to look. She grabbed Damien’s drink and took a swig.

“Can I ask you something?” He pushed his glass towards her, gently encouraging her to keep it.

“Sure, why not?”

“Do you want to marry him?”

She stared at him for a long moment, mouth agape. Damien gave her an apologetic smile, but let the question continue hanging in the air.

“Of course I want to marry him,” she answered finally. “He’s...he’s Liam.”

They both looked across the room at Liam. He caught their gaze and gave a small wave and smile. “Liam is great,” Damien agreed, “but it’s not just Liam. It’s…” he gestured towards the crowded ballroom, “...It’s all of this. Fancy balls, press conferences, living in a palace, every aspect of your life judged and scrutinized on a national, if not global, stage. Are you sure you want all of that?”

Her expression turned cold, her arms crossed over her chest. “I don’t understand why you’re asking me this.”

He laid a hand gently over hers. “Because I care about your feelings, Riley. Liam’s too. You’re good people, and I just hope…” He noticed Drake approaching from behind Riley’s back. She turned to see him before looking back to Damien.

“Hope what?”

“Hope you figure out who you want to be with.”

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

Kai left the police station charged with adrenaline. He pulled out his phone to text Damien.

K: Your buddy at the station is HOT. Why didn’t you tell me?

D: He’s straight. And married.

K: That doesn’t make him any less fun to look at.

D: So did you talk to him about the investigation or just look at him?

Kai rolled his eyes at his phone before hitting the call button. He didn’t feel like typing out a full report on his phone, and it would be nice to hear Damien’s voice, anyway.

It rang several times before going to voicemail. He hung up just as another text came through.

D: Can’t talk. Sorry.

K: OK they have Drake’s statement from this afternoon and everything Bastien had on Stathos. Hot Stuff seemed excited. Call me l8r for deets?

D: ok

He sighed as he tucked his phone into his pocket and hopped on a bus for home. It was always fun when Damien enlisted him as his assistant and he’d get to play detective for a while. But it was a lot more fun when it meant working with him, rather than going out and doing the dirty work while he did...whatever he was doing.

Going to fancy balls. Having a secret affair with real-life royalty. Investigating high-profile murders. None of this made sense, not for Damien, at least not for his Damien.

Kai caught his own reflection in the bus window and frowned. He’d never been one to lack self-confidence, but it hurt that Damien had friend-zoned him for nearly four years and then jumped into bed with a guy who resembled him but...better. A little more handsome, a little older, a lot richer. Ten thousand dollar suits, bodyguards outside the door, elaborate galas...was that what Damien really wanted?

Did he even know him at all?

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

Damien tucked his phone away, smiling. “The police are thrilled with your intel, Drake. With any luck you’ll have blown this thing wide open for them.”

Drake nodded, taking a small sip of whiskey. “I just want to see whoever’s responsible behind bars. Stathos and whoever’s paying him...I just need this to end.” He shot a pained look at Riley.

“Me too,” she said softly, squeezing his free hand in hers.

Damien coughed awkwardly. “I’m gonna go get some fresh air.” He headed for a large, quiet courtyard off of the ballroom, the night too chilly for anyone else to be out there.

He was staring blankly into a fountain, contemplating his next move, when he heard familiar footsteps behind him. He stood perfectly still, waiting for him to say something, not knowing how to act around him here.

“You came.”

Finally Damien turned to face Liam, trying not to show how his body reacted to the sight of him, so close. How the corners of his mouth pushed upwards against his will, his heart raced, his breath became shallow and… “Yeah. You invited me.” He sat on the edge of the fountain, gazing up at Liam, all dressed up in god knows what...sashes and medals and long, formal coat tails. Damien was suddenly very aware of how underdressed he was, even in his best suit.

Liam’s gaze, fixed firmly on him, didn’t seem to mind. “I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you personally earlier.”

“It’s OK. Riley’s kept me company.”

“Ah, excellent. Well…” Liam’s regal bearing faltered for a moment, his eyes suddenly not meeting Damien’s, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his jacket. He recomposed himself quickly and Damien frowned, wishing the playful and passionate man he knew would break through the carefully controlled facade.

Not here. It was too much to ask for him to be himself in a place like this. It might look like a party, but Liam was very much on the job. Damien cleared his throat. “Well?”

“Well…I suppose I should leave you to your investigation.”

“There’s nothing to investigate here, Liam.” Damien took a small step closer to him, almost too close, but not quite a scandal. Or maybe it was...were there rules about how closely you could approach a king? He was so far outside his element he had no idea how to behave. He stared down Liam anyway. “Kai’s doing the investigating and I’m just...here.”

“Then why did you come?”

He didn’t answer, just held his gaze, licking his lips absent-mindedly.

Liam stared right back, barely breathing. “Follow me.”

Damien followed him along the wall of the building to a small, dark alcove just off the courtyard. In the dim light he could only see Liam’s outline, leaning against the wall. He reached for him and took his hand. “Is this OK,” he whispered.

Liam lifted his hand to his lips, kissing it softly.

Damien chuckled. “Such a gentleman.”

“I never feel like a gentleman around you.” Liam pulled him closer, and now he could see his dark eyes shining in the night, fixed on his.

“Is that a good thing?”

“Probably not.”

They stood staring at one another in the dark, close enough to listen to each other’s breath, no other sound but the white noise of the city, seeming so far away. Liam started to lean in, but Damien turned his head, listening. He held a finger to his lips, straining to hear a voice in the distance.

“Not here. The security, the bystanders, your daughter is here, for fuck’s sake…”

Liam gawked at Damien in disbelief. Damien stared at him in wide-eyed panic, hoping his face was communicating what he needed it to. Don’t move. Don’t speak.

The voice grew closer as it continued. “Maybe as she’s headed back to the hotel later...I have to get out of here before I get recognized by security. I know, sir. Your Grace. Of course...wait...is that…?”

Another voice cut through the night, much louder, and much too close. “Liam? Are you out here?”

Damien was running before he had time to think, crossing the courtyard in a few seconds that felt like an eternity.

There’s no way. I’ll be too late.

His body crashed into hers as he tackled her gracelessly to the ground, hissing an apology in her ear as she fell hard on the ground, gasping for breath underneath him, eyes wide with horror.

No gunshot.

He looked up and saw Liam, righteous in his fury, kneeling on the back of a man in all black, pointing the man’s own gun at the back of his head. Damien gasped. “Liam!”

“Stathos,” he responded bitterly, digging his knee deeper into the man’s back, causing him to cry out in pain. Liam’s guards were already pouring out into the courtyard, two of them efficiently disarming and cuffing Stathos while another two whisked Liam away into the night without a word.

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

“Riley!” Drake was suddenly in front of her face, kneeling over her. He offered her his arm and helped her to sit up, shaking off the daze. Her head hurt like hell and she gasped desperately for breath, but none came. Drake fussed over her, gazing into her eyes. “Breathe. You’re OK. Jesus, what happened?”

“I’m so sorry, Riley,” Damien sputtered, backing away to give her some space. “I was trying to protect you from him. God, if Liam hadn’t gotten to him first...I’m an idiot.”

She finally caught her breath, a small sob the first sound that escaped her lips. “Thank you,” she wheezed. “Just knocked...the wind…”

“Shhh.” Drake stroked her hair, pressing his forehead to hers. “Just breathe.” She collapsed into sobs in his arms, all her fear and pain and shock and relief coming out in a mess of tears that soaked his shirt.

When she’d just about worn herself out, Drake and Damien helped her to her feet. She frowned at her dirtied ball gown, knowing it would cost her more to dry clean it than she had ever even spent on a dress before going to Cordonia. She wouldn’t have to worry about these things if she became queen.

At what point did “when” become “if”?

She shook the thought of her mind, Drake already speaking to her. “...back to the hotel…”

“Absolutely not.” Damien cut him off abruptly. “Before Liam took him down, hitting her on the way back to her hotel room is exactly what Stathos was planning. We can’t be sure no one else is coming for her.”

“Oh god,” Riley moaned, burying her face in Drake’s chest once more. “I can’t live like this.”

“Come back to my place,” Damien offered. “I can sleep on the couch. You can’t go where anyone is expecting you.”

Drake eyed him skeptically. “I don’t know…”

“You’re welcome too, of course. Everyone just needs to lay low until we’re sure everyone involved is in custody.”

“Liam…” Riley cut in, not really knowing what she wanted to say.

“He’s well taken care of,” Damien assured her. “Whisked off by some guards that can keep him safer than I can. But I’ll do what I can for you, if you’ll let me.”

She nodded resolutely, her head starting to clear. “I trust you.”

“Then let’s get the hell out of here.”

[choicesfanatic86]

TTS:  Part 46 (Liam x MC)

DISCLAIMER:  All characters belong to Pixelberry Studios, except characters unique to my story.  Those belong to me. ;)

PAIRINGS:  Riley (MC) x OC, Riley (MC) x Liam, Liam x Riley (MC) x OC, Olivia x Drake, Bertrand x Savannah, Maxwell x OC

SUMMARY: The group celebrates Maxwell and Andy’s engagement.  

If you are new to the series and would like to catch up by reading previous parts, please check out my master fan fiction listing.  CATCH UP HERE

Permanent Tag List:  @umccall71 @drakelover78 @jamielea81 @bobasheebaby @speedyoperarascalparty @hopefulmoonobject @theroyalweisme @gardeningourmet @jlouise88 @hamulau @traeumerinwitzhelden @blackcatkita @mrs-simmy @kaitycole @alwaysthebestchoice @mfackenthal @trr-duchessofvaltoria @pbchoicesobsessed @alepowell @greyeyedsmile14

Tag List for TTS Only:  @herladyshipxx   @devineinterventions2  @captainkingliam  @cocomaxley @queencatherynerhys  @boneandfur @spetstoof @grapefrults @pessimystic-fangirl @dralenamax @mspaigemoore @jayjay879 @hhiggs @penguininapinktuxedo @topsyturvy-dream @diamond-dreamland @pnhanga @ladynonsense @mrsdrakewalkerblog @crookedslimecreatorpasta @liamxs-world @flowerpowell @bruteforcebears @withice @jared2612 @darley1101 @sleeplessescapades @katurrade @leelee10898 @craftytacotrashdream @eileendannie @bella-ca

7/8/18 - Part 46! It’s almost 6,000 words, so it will be a long read!  So I’m really bad at keeping to a schedule. :(  I have so much written, but sometimes just don’t have the time to sit down and edit and clean up/add to the part, and then it gets pushed to the back burner.  I’m so sorry! I love writing and I feel so bad keeping you guys in suspense. I hope you enjoy this part! I’m still working on my other pieces, and will post when I have a chance to sit and edit what I already have written. :)

Thanks for all the feedback.  I LOVE IT. :)

Part 46 -  4 Weeks

LIAM The drive back to the palace had been a long and lonely one.  Liam’s thoughts consumed him.  He hadn’t meant to feel so envious of Maxwell and Andy, but he couldn’t help but see green when they shared the news of their engagement.  It wasn’t that he wasn’t happy for them, because he was, exceptionally so.  He had always been a bleeding heart for true love, and their love story was a perfect example of true love at its finest.  However, they were living out the dream he had hoped that he and Riley would be sharing, and the mere thought of it all absolutely gutted him.  Instead of planning for a grand wedding and preparing for their little one together, they were living separately and teeter-tottering on the edge of friendship.  If Maxwell and Andy were living out his dream life . . . he and Riley were living out his greatest nightmare.  

Liam had been so optimistic over the last couple of weeks.  He had anticipated that things would be difficult at first, but the news of Maxwell and Andy’s engagement had blindsided him.  He knew he needed to be supportive and share in their joy, and normally, he could easily put on the façade of the faithful and loyal friend, but today . . . no.  Today he wanted to linger in his misery, go back to his palace, have a glass of scotch, and pull himself together.  He still had hope.  Not all was lost.  He knew better than to give up before the war, as Bertrand had so eloquently put it.  But there was still a tiny part of him that couldn’t help but wonder if he and Riley would ever get back to the point in their relationship where she would even remotely consider marrying him.  

He had anticipated the afternoon going much differently.  With Bastien’s help, he had arranged for a few of his staff members to set a picnic up in a park near to the Beaumont Estate.  It was an idea, after much thought and careful planning, that came across as something typical for a first date.  If his plan was to court her and have a traditional relationship, a picnic in the park was the ideal way to kick off the start of their newfound courtship.  He hoped that it would be enough to show Riley how dedicated he was to making their relationship work, and how he was willing to fight for her until she was ready to be his again.  Of course, after everything that had happened in the car ride over and the subsequent news of the engagement, Liam didn’t feel it was appropriate to commence with his plan, at least not at that time.  As soon as he had left the Beaumont Estate, he had requested that Bastien bring the contents of the picnic back to the palace.  That had been a difficult and embarrassing call to make.  He could almost hear the pity in Bastien’s voice when he explained about Maxwell and Andy’s engagement.  

When he arrived back at the palace, Bastien met him at the front steps, ready for any sort of damage control.  Liam had been on edge over the last couple of weeks, and Bastien had done his best to serve as a buffer for him when he found himself on the edge of being a bit too short with a foreign diplomat or even his own staff members.  Today, Liam wanted nothing more to be left alone.  As much as he understood Bastien’s concern, he didn’t want to engage in any idle chit-chat.  All he wanted to do was head right to his study, sink into his desk chair and drown himself in a bottle of scotch.  He felt it was the least he deserved after the day he had.

He hadn’t been settled into the office space for more than twenty minutes when he heard a quiet knock on the door.  

“It’s open,” he called out.

“Got a minute?” Drake asked as he pulled open the door slightly.  “Don’t want to break your concentration or anything,” he said, noticing that Liam looked to be mulling something over.

Liam shook his head, motioning for him to come inside.  “Come in,” he murmured, gazing at the corner of the room.  Apart from the simple acknowledgement to Drake’s present, Liam couldn’t bring himself to tear away from the muddle of thoughts in his head.  He kept playing the day over and over again, wondering what would have happened if things had gone differently.

Drake took a few steps forward, pulling the door closed behind him.  He sat in front of Liam’s desk, slouching back into the chair.  “You totally owe me,” he exclaimed running his hands through his hair.  “Another couple of days and the nursery should be good to go,” he explained.  “Did you get the rocking chair out of storage?  Or did you change your mind again and are just gonna order one to match the rest of the furniture?”

Liam didn’t answer; he was too busy trying to piece the puzzle of his afternoon together.  He tried desperately to think about how differently things could have gone had he just left the whole situation about Regina out . . . or perhaps had he told her immediately about the picnic plans, things would have fared much better.  

Drake continued, “That’s all that’s left furniture-wise.  Everything else is pretty much covered.  Decorations are next, I guess,” he sighed.  “Not really my forte,” he chuckled.  “I talked to Savannah a bit about it, but she thought Andy would be better at knowing what Riley would want.  You know girl talk and all that crap,” he added in with a snort.  “Women enjoy that sort of shit.  Shopping and picking out themes,” he shook his head.  He realized that Liam didn’t appear to be listening.  He was tapping his finger absent-mindedly on his desk as his gaze remained firmly planted on the corner of the room.  Drake’s eyes shifted to the open scotch bottle on Liam’s desk and the half drunk glass.

“Hey . . . you listening to me?” He said loudly, snapping Liam from his gaze.

“Sorry,” He frowned.  “I’m a bit distracted this evening,” he sighed.  “My apologies, Drake.  It wasn’t intentional,” he assured his friend.

“That’s never a good sign,” he exhaled, motioning to the bottle of liquor.  “Second glass?  Third? He looked at Liam knowingly.  

Liam shook his head.  “Only the first,” he sighed.  Whenever things had gone back with Riley, Liam had a habit of taking up into his study and drinking his sorrows away.  This was becoming too much of a regular occurrence.  Tonight though, as much as he wanted to drown his sorrows with his bottle of scotch, he just couldn’t bring himself to drink all of it.  He was contemplating getting out the palace for a quick ride.  

“I take it the afternoon didn’t go according to plan,” he said softly.  “With Lawson, I mean.”

He shook his head in disappointment, picking up the glass of scotch.  “She got sick on the way to the estate . . . we couldn’t go on the picnic that I had planned,” he sighed.  “She suggested we try again tomorrow,” he said, lifting the glass to his lips for a small sip.

“Well, hey.  At least the plan didn’t get totally shot down.  It sounds promising that she wants to see you tomorrow,” he said encouragingly.

“It is,” Liam nodded in agreement, but he still looked a bit let down and disappointed.

Drake studied him carefully.  “Then why do you look as if you’re about to go to a funeral?  It’s freaking depressing, man.”

“Maxwell and Andy are engaged,” he clasped his hands together, placing them on his desk.  “It must have happened as soon as they got back to the estate.”

“Engaged?” Drake asked, pausing for a moment before furrowing his eyebrows.  “Great,” he sighed, slouching deeper into the seat.  “Now Olivia is going to be on my ass to get married,” he sighed dramatically.  “He had to show me up . . . bet he got her some damn big ass rock, too,” he huffed.  “They’ve only known each other a few months,” Drake fumed.

Liam’s face dropped a bit.  “Riley and I had only known each other a day before she gave up her entire life for me,” he murmured.  “I was ready to ask her to be my wife after only a few short months,” he added.

“Yeah, but that’s different.  Everyone knew you guys were meant to be together.  How much does Maxwell really know about being a husband?  He can barely take care of himself,” Drake said thoughtfully.

“They’re happy, Drake.  Be happy for them,” Liam scolded.  He fully appreciated the irony of the situation.  He had run away from the Beaumont Estate because of his own jealous and envy, and here he was reminding Drake that it was a happy occasion.

“Ah hell, man.  That’s not what I meant.  I mean . . . I’m happy for them . . .and I’ll be happy for you and Lawson when the time comes,” he added.  “It’s just,” he grabbed the bottle of scotch taking a swing from the bottle.  “You know how Olivia gets on about things,” he sighed.

“Yes, I do,” he nodded in agreement.  “And you’re quite right, I’d imagine that the swiftness of the engagement will certainly ruffle her feathers a bit, and I’m sure she’ll bemoan the fact that you haven’t asked her to be your wife, but I have no doubt you’ll masterfully calm her down as you always do,” Liam chuckled lightly.

Drake snorted.  “Yeah . . . right,” he sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.  He noticed that Liam was still seemed fairly detached, not as excited as he would have expected him to be.  “You don’t seem to happy about the news yourself, Liam.  You upset?”

Liam nodded slowly.  “I’m not so much upset as I am disappointed.  I feel as if I’m watching the life that I had always wanted slip out of my grasp,” he said morosely.  “Maxwell and Andy are going to be quite happy together.  I just had hoped that Riley and I would be happily married before they reached this momentous occasion,” he explained.

“You’re jealous,” Drake reasoned, rubbing the scruff on his chin with his fingers.  “Well, I’ll be damned.  Liam Rys finally allowing himself to put his feelings first for once,” Drake mused.

“Of course I’m jealous,” he looked as Drake as if that should have been his first inkling about the entire situation.  “Months ago, I thought my future was all planned out.  Riley and I would be married, she would be Queen . . . the life I had wanted two years ago would finally come to pass.  As happy as I am for them, I can’t help but wish for what they have . . . she’s having my child, Drake . . . and I can’t help but think that my plan will fail and my child will be born illegitimate,” he sighed.

“You seemed so confident before she came back.  What changed?”

“I guess the reality of the situation set in, and I realize that it’s not going to be as simple as I had imagined.  Why does she have to be so stubborn?” He said, pulling his hands off of the desk and placing them on his head in frustration.  

“Because she’s Lawson, and that’s something you love about her.  If she wasn’t stubborn or persistent, she wouldn’t have lasted a single day at court,” Drake said wistfully.  “Remember how pissed Olivia was when she called her a petulant child?” Drake chuckled.  “Lawson’s fire is what drew you to her in the first place, Liam.  You can’t damn her for it now because you’re on the receiving end of it.”

Liam thought about Drake’s words carefully.  He made a lot of sense.  Her passion and stubbornness were qualities that had attracted him to her.  Of course, it was an endearing quality when the ferocity wasn’t directed in his direction.  

“I should have stuck around, celebrated with them.  They must think I’m such an awful friend,” Liam murmured.  “I was just taken by surprised.  Perhaps had I been forewarned about the engagement, I would have prepared myself better,” he tried to reason.  “I knew he wanted to marry her, I just thought that with Bertrand involved it would be at least a year or two off.  Maxwell hadn’t even told me he planned to propose when I saw him that morning,” he explained.  

“Well, maybe he didn’t want to rain on your parade with your surprise for Riley,” Drake shrugged.

“Or maybe I’ve been an awful friend and Maxwell felt as if he couldn’t tell me something as important as his engagement,” he sighed.

“I don’t think that’s it, Liam,” Drake shook his head.

“I am absolutely awful, Drake.  For wishing my own happiness above my friends?  That’s terribly selfish,” he said in disgust.

“It’s not selfish . . . I get where you’re coming from.  It’s hard to watch as other people have the life you always wanted,” he said thoughtfully.  “You just wanted to be able to share in the same happy moment with Riley.”

“Exactly,” Liam murmured.  “And with each passing day that goes by, the possibility of someone becoming alerted to her pregnancy and it becoming common knowledge grows substantially.  We’ve been fortunate so far.  She’s not showing,” he reasoned.  “Soon, she won’t be able to hide the pregnancy.  Or the fact that the baby was born out of wedlock.  There will be no hiding the fact that the child is illegitimate,” he said sadly.

“For what it’s worth, I’m fairly certain that Riley hadn’t even thought about the implication of having a child out of wedlock,” he shrugged.  “I mean, us commoners don’t have to worry about that sort of thing,” he reasoned.  “I’m sure the only thing that came to her mind was custody agreements and child support,” he offered.

“That may be so, but now that she knows about the pressing nature of the child’s status, I had hoped it would open her mind up a bit about getting married,” he frowned.   “I don’t want my child to be illegitimate, Drake.  I don’t want him to be an outcast from court all because he doesn’t have the proper lineage . . . because a simple piece of paper doesn’t join his mother and father together in the bonds of marriage,” he sighed.  “I want her to be my wife,” he said, placing the glass of scotch down firmly on his desk.

Just as Drake was about to respond to Liam’s impassioned statement, Liam’s phone chimed next to him on the desk.  He picked up, the anger on his face dissolved and was replaced with a light smile.  

“From Riley,” he murmured  as he clicked into it.

“Bertrand showed her the office,” he smiled.  “She loved it.  She took a picture of herself in the chair in front of the mural,” he flashed the phone to Drake, showing him the photo.

Drake snorted.  “Your mood changed drastically,” he sighed, rubbing his hand across his neck.  “I’m glad she liked it,” he offered.

Liam nodded.  “I feel a bit better now,” he sighed, running a hand through his hair.  “I had hoped to be there with her when she saw it, but . . . well . . . fate had other plans,” he shrugged.

“Why aren’t you there?” Drake asked.

“She doesn’t want me there,” he said simply.

“Did she say that?”

“Not in so many words,” Liam shook his head.  “But I could tell it was a bit uncomfortable between us after the engagement news.  Then I couldn’t stick around because I thought it was going to be too difficult,” he rambled.  “I just figured she’d rather I give her space.”

“If she didn’t say that, then you don’t know that she doesn’t want you there.  God, you talk about her being stubborn.  You’re just as bad,” Drake groaned.  “What do you want, Liam?”

“I want Riley to be my wife.  I want to be there for my child not as a part-time father, but every day,” he said without any sort of hesitation.  

“Then what are you doing here, man?” Drake asked him pointedly.  “You should tell her that.”

Liam looked up at Drake in confusion.  “What?”

“You heard me.  Go there.  Lay it all out on the table.  Tell her about whatever you were going to tell her.  What did you say you were going to do?  Woo her?  Well then go woo the hell out of her, Liam.  A wise girl once told me that I was doing a disservice to myself if I didn’t admit my feelings for Olivia . . . she was right.  So I’m going to tell you the same thing.  If you don’t pick yourself up, stop throwing yourself a pity party and fight for her, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice,” he said confidently.

Lia closed his eyes taking in Drake’s words.  “You’re right.  I gotta get out of her,” he stood up from his desk, grabbing the keys to the SUV.

“You good to drive?” Drake asked.

“I only had a few sips, I’ll be fine,” he assured him.  “I have to go and woo my girl,” he smiled as he dashed out of his study.

RILEY Riley couldn’t believe she was sitting at her own desk in her own ergonomically suited chair behind her very own, top of the line iMac computer.   She also couldn’t believe that she had her very own office . . . an office, if she daresay, that looked a whole lot more amazing than her office space back in New York.  Of course, she hadn’t spent a lot of time decorating her office back in New York.  Alicia had always suggested that they needed to make the space a bit more personable so that they could start holding consults in the office on a more regular basis, but Riley just never had the time.  She was always too busy running around doing events or shopping for décor ideas.  She did more of her work at home, and it was honestly a bit of an inconvenience for her.  The apartment didn’t have a lot of space, and back then, she and Andy would be fighting over who got the couch in the living room because Riley would want to sketch and Andy would want to work on her thesis.  Having her own space here to sketch and brainstorm ideas was exciting.  This surprise definitely made what started out as a pretty terrible day turn into something phenomenal.  

“Knock, knock.  First Cordonian client for Ms. Riley Lawson,” Andy chuckled, as she opened her office door.

Riley squealed as Andy walked into the room.  “He’s crazy,” Riley exclaimed.  “Absolutely batty,” she laughed.

“Who?  Liam?” Andy asked, taking in the room.  “Man . . . I knew he was crazy about you, but this . . . this is way too over the top . . . even for him,” she said, sliding her hand across the top of the sleek gray desk.  “This looks like it cost a fortune,” she murmured.

“Right?” Riley said, her eyes roaming around the room.  “You didn’t know?” She asked.

“No clue,” Andy said.  “Looks like Maxwell was keeping all sorts of secrets,” she chuckled as she walked over to one of the shelves.  “He certainly spared no expense,” she said.  “And Bertrand . . . I can’t believe that he did this willingly.”

“Me too,” Riley agreed.  “I mean, I was okay with working outside and in my room, you know?  They’re already doing so much for me.  And now I’m taking up one more room in their house?”

“Of their ginormous house,” Andy corrected.  “They can spare the space,” she assured her.  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this room before,” she said, looking around in awe.  “Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever been to this side of the manor before.  Goes to show you just how big this place actually is,” she laughed.  

“Did you check out the mural?” She pointed to the back of the room.  “I think it’s by that artist that did a show at that SoHo gallery a year ago . . . remember when we went to Mark’s play.  God, what was his name  . . . I can’t think of his name off hand,” Riley sighed.

“A little bit of home to keep you company?” Andy asked.

“I think so,” she nodded.  “He thought of absolutely everything, didn’t he?”

Andy nodded, strolling over to see the computer workstation.  “Is this the new model?” She exclaimed, mouth gaping open.  “I thought they were sold out of these.”

“I did, too!  Apparently he must have some pull somewhere,” she reasoned.  “He even got me some of the latest and greatest design software,” she exclaimed.  “One of the programs alone had to have cost him at least six-hundred dollars.  I was toying with the idea of buying it back in New York . . .then I come here and it’s all loaded onto this brand-spanking new computer,” Riley pointed to one of the icons on the screen.  “I’ve been messing around with it a little, and it’s just so freaking amazing, I wish I had just bit the bullet and bought it back home.  It would have made Alicia’s life a whole lot easier while I’m gone,” she explained.  She let out a deep breath.  “I’m overwhelmed.”

“Liam definitely doesn’t play around, does he?”

“I just don’t get why he did all of this,” she looked to Andy in confusion.  “I mean, this is amazing, and I’m so grateful, but he was never really keen about my work before and now . . . all of this,” she motioned around her.  “He knows I’m eventually going to go back to New York . . . so why go through all the trouble?“

“Maybe he’s trying to show you that you can have the best of both worlds,” Andy theorized.

Riley shot her a worried look.  “Andy . . .”

“Hey, I’m just playing devil’s advocate here.  I mean, obviously he wants you to continue working . . . or at least have it be accessible if you need it to be,” she reasoned looking around the room.  “And he seemed to have bought you all these nifty little gizmos and gadgets to make telecommunicating a breeze . . .” she trailed off.

“He was just so dead set on me leaving everything behind for him.  Now . . . now I don’t know what to think,” she shrugged.  

“How about just enjoying it and living in the moment?  Not everything has to be analyzed, Ri.”

“I should text him,” Riley said quietly, looking up at Andy for approval.  “You think?  That would be okay right?”

“Of course,” Andy nodded enthusiastically.  “I think that he’d greatly appreciate you texting him that you like it.”

She raised her phone activating the camera and took a picture of herself smiling brightly in front of her new desk.  She typed out a quick message of thanks followed by a string of emojis and attached the photo she took.  “There,” she smiled, releasing a breath.  “I’m still a bit floored that he went through all of this trouble,” she murmured.  “My office back in New York doesn’t even look this cool,” she chuckled.  “I mean, I certainly don’t have as many high-tech gadgets.  Don’t laugh, but I didn’t even know how to work the new wireless printer . . . I’m so used to our big bulky Xerox machine.”

Andy nodded.  “I know, it’s really unreal,” she murmured, gazing around her office space.  “He really loves you,” she said, turning to face Riley.  “You see that right?”

Riley paused, licking her lips in anxiety.  “I know,” she nodded.  “And I love him.”

“Then when are you going to put the poor guy out his misery?”

“What do you mean?” Riley asked.

“When are you going to just suck it up and let him back into your heart?  Marry the guy  . . . like yesterday.”

Riley looked away, remaining quiet.

“You want to let him in . . . don’t you?  And I don’t just mean for the baby’s sake.”

“Of course I do, but every time I do, my heart gets broken.  And it hurts like hell, Andy.  This time it’s not must my heart that’s up for grabs.  The baby’s heart is involved, too.  If we can’t make things work out as a couple, then that’s one thing . . . but say we get married and we’re both miserable?  How is that fair to the baby?”

“All these what ifs are giving me a headache,” Andy rolled her eyes.  “Just live a little, Riley.  So don’t talk marriage . . . talk about dating . . . talk about a future . . . just talk to him,” she encouraged.

Savannah peeked into the office, knocking on the door lightly.  Riley was thankful for the interruption.  Things were getting a bit too tense, and between the nausea this morning, the Regina reveal, and Andy’s engagement news, she had quite a day.  Being lectured on why she should be with Liam again was not something she wanted to get into right now.  Not when things had taken a turn for the better.  She wanted to ride the high of her excitement until tomorrow morning.

“Sorry, I didn’t meant to interrupt,” she smiled, a light blush creeping onto her cheeks.  “I just was going to see if you were ready for dinner.  I made lasagna tonight, and from Maxwell’s frequent request for seconds, I think it’s fairly good,” she chuckled.  “One of my better dishes, at least,” she smiled lightly.

“Most definitely,” Andy nodded as she walked over toward the door.  “Coming Ri?”

The idea of red sauce made Riley’s stomach turn.  The richer the food sounded, the more her stomach quaked in distress.  She definitely did not need a repeat of this morning’s nausea and subsequent upheaval of her stomach’s contents.  “No, I’m okay,��� she waved them off.  “When the morning sickness passes, I will definitely have to take you up on that offer, Savannah,” she said apologetically.  “Plus I really should get a shower and some rest.  The plane ride was awful, the car ride was pretty bad, too.  It’ll be nice to just relax and zone out for a while,” she explained.

The two women nodded in understanding.  Savannah departed the room first, but Andy left with a lingering gaze that told her everything she seemed to want to say.  Suck it up.  She sighed, shutting everything down in her office before taking the long trek back to the main portion of the manor.

It was an hour later before she had finally settled into her bedroom.  She had taken a shower, brushed her teeth, and felt like a whole new person.  The nausea had settled for now, and she was eternally grateful that it seemed she would have an uneventful night.  She popped an anti-nausea pill just in case to ward off any nausea that decided to make its presence known later in the evening.  She had packed a couple of DVDs into her carry-on, one of which was her favorite TV series back before it ended its run – Monk.  She didn’t know what it was about the series, but it had her stitches every time she watched it, especially the earlier episodes.  She popped the disc into the DVD player and allowed the first disc of season one to play through.

She was a couple of episodes in when she heard shuffling out in the hallway.  She assumed it was Andy or Maxwell wanting to check in on her since she hadn’t eaten dinner.  A light knocking followed the footsteps before short whispers.  “Come in,” she called out as she paused the episode of Monk that she had been watching.

“Are you decent?” Bertrand called out from behind the door.

She snorted, shaking her head.  Of course it would be Bertrand to ask that sort of question.  “Yes,” she responded as she sat upright on the couch.  “What’s up?” Riley asked when he opened her door widely.

“You have a visitor,” he said tersely.  “I’ve already briefed him on the rules of the house.  Your door is to remain open at all times, and there is no overnight privileges,” he said sternly.  

Riley looked at him in confusion.  What on earth was he talking about?  Had he too much champagne?  “What are you talking about?” Riley asked, staring back at him blankly.  

“Well, since you are still stubborn and have no intent of getting married, I have to set these sorts of boundaries when gentleman callers come requesting to visit with you to prevent well . . . that . . .” he motioned to her stomach, “from happening again,” he said with a bit of flush on his cheeks.  He frowned, causing deep wrinkles to form on his forehead.  “Please don’t make me explain what both of us know I’m referring to,” he sighed.    

She eyed him curiously.  “I have a gentleman caller?”

Bertrand nodded with an exasperated look on his face.  “Yes,” he groaned.  “I feel as if I’ll have aged ten years before this child is born,” he muttered, motioning for her guest to step forward.

“Good evening,” Liam murmured, popping his head out from around the corner.  “I apologize for the intrusion, but I just couldn’t bring myself to leave things where we left off,” he explained.  He was balancing two large packages in his hands as he tried to sidestep around Bertrand to enter the room.  “I’m actually a bit surprised Bertrand even allowed me in at all.  He’s not kidding about the rules, by the way,” he shot a worried look in Bertrand’s direction.  “I was actually expecting to be required to sign some sort of written contract at the end of it,” he sent Bertrand an amused smiled.

Bertrand snorted.  “There’s an idea,” he glared at the two of them.  

Riley’s lips lifted into a smile.  “Wouldn’t that be something?” she chuckled, motioning for him to come further into her room.  “The Duke of Ramsford requiring the King of Cordonia to sign a written contract in order to visit his home . . . that’s one for the record books,” she mused.  

Bertrand narrowed his eyes at her as he shook his head.  “Yes, yes, have a good laugh at my expense.  Had I been a bit firmer the last time you were here, none of us would find ourselves in such a predicament,” he fumed.  “Now then, remember the rules I’ve set forth, and no funny business,” he said pointedly, wagging his finger in between both of them.  “Door open at all times,” he opened the door wider.  “And I’ll be checking up on both of you,” he said sternly.

Riley looked at Liam unable to hold back the fit of laughter that had been threatening to come out since Bertrand had started off on his ridiculous tirade.

“I’m so sorry about him,” she rolled her eyes.   “I’m not sure what he expects to happen,” she said rather loudly hoping that her voice would echo down the hall.  “I’m already pregnant.”

“He’s just protective,” Liam shook his head, “Don’t worry about it.  Now then,” he cleared his throat.  “I’m under strict instructions from Bertrand that I can only stay for a couple of hours, and considering that if I would like repeat privileges to spend time with you here, I’ll have to make sure that I follow all of his guidelines . . . as ridiculous as they may be,” he explained.

“There’s more than just the two he told me?” Riley arched her eyebrows in surprise.

“I lost count after eight,” he murmured, a small smile playing across his lips.  “I wasn’t kidding about the written contract, at least I’d be able to refer back to it should I ever be in doubt about possibly violating one of his rules,” he laughed.

“God, I feel like a teenager again,” she snorted.  “Anyway . . . forget about him,” she waved her hand at the door.  “What brings you by tonight?  I wasn’t expecting to see you until tomorrow at the palace,” she explained.

“Yes, well.” He murmured licking his lips.  “I came here with a proposition,” he began.

“A proposition?” She asked, suddenly very curious about what was in the bags that he had with him.

“Yes.  I’d like to be given the opportunity to woo you, Riley Lawson.  For four weeks, I would like to court you and show you that we are meant to be together,” he said passionately.

“Liam – “ she went to interrupt him.

“Wait, let me finish.  I know that we’ve been through this countless times before.  I know that it might seem as if we are falling into the same pattern, but this time will be different.  I know there are dozens of reasons why you believe that a relationship between us won’t work . . . why marrying me is a mistake.  Well, there’s only one reason why it will – we love each other.  Even though you think that’s not enough, it’s everything.  It’s the only thing that matters.”

Riley looked at him for a long time.  The man in front of her looked desperate and tired.  He was fighting a hard battle, and she knew that it killed him to go through all of this, especially when he didn’t know what the outcome would be.  It was killing her, too . . . being in this perpetual state of what if and maybes.  But deep down, she knew she had been doing the right thing for herself and for their child.  She knew that jumping head first into the whirlwind of Liam’s love and life would only lead her into a hurricane of emotions.

“Four weeks . . . you and me, Riley.  What do you say?”