#applewood express to assassination station

[likethetailofacomet]

Big Shoes to Fill

...Applewood is really getting away from me. I promise this was supposed to include Claire’s birthday surprise, but then other things happened, and those things were important, so the birthday surprise will just have to wait. Sorry, Drake, stay patient. BIG THANKS to @ooo-barff-ooo for her help with this chapter. I defer to her always for advice on the beautiful relationship between Drake and Bastien. 

tags: @ooo-barff-ooo @sleepwalkingelite @zaffrenotes @mind-reader1 @brightpinkpeppercorn @endlessly-searching-for-you @agent-bossypants @andy-loves-corgis @nekkidmolerat @gardeningourmet @notoriouscs @endlesstaylormckenzie @jovialyouthmusic @akrenich @endlesshero1122 @cordoniantrash @the-whiskeywife @the-everlasting-dream @natalievgoodehenry @drakewalkerrosenberg

Drake felt his vision fade from the outside in as everything in the room in front of him was replaced by violent red. The wooshing in his ears that had been constant since he’d walked in on Alex with his hands on Claire had become deafening, and he barely heard a word that Liam or Bastien were saying. He didn’t need his vision to see the photos, the headlines- those were stamped indelibly to his memory, and his nostrils flared and his top lip curled as he clenched his good fist. He tried to clench both but felt the stitches pulling, felt the bandage constricting his movement, and he settled on slamming it into the wall regardless of the pain and the inevitable need for yet another bandage as he’d surely damaged it further. All eyes snapped to him as he pulled his wrapped hand back out of the plaster wall, leaving a hole behind like the one in his heart, knowing that he couldn’t protect her anymore. Now that it was out, now that this article was on every newsstand and doorstep and computer screen across the country, no one could keep her safe from the ridicule or the threats or the hatred. He would kill Alex. That he was sure of. That was the one thing that he could do, and he hoped it would be enough not only for her, but enough for him. He felt their eyes on him but he didn’t care, just dropped his forehead against the wall above the hole he’d punched.

“Drake,” Claire’s voice reached his ears and he rolled his forehead against the wall to look down at her. She gave a concerned look when his eyes met hers, and he worried that he’d frightened her with the anger that he was sure was still in his eyes. He tried to soften his features for her, but found it impossible. He was livid. He was crazed. There was nothing that anyone could say to calm him. The only thing there was to do was to find Alex and kill him. Find whoever he was working with, and make sure that they were punished. “Drake,” she said again, this time lightly touching his right arm, just above his bandage. He looked down to where her fingers were and saw that he was bleeding through his wrappings which were frayed and torn from crashing through the wall. He flicked his eyes back to hers and felt instant regret for letting his rage get the better of him and not focusing first on her. Another reason to kill Alex, he thought.

He turned to her and tentatively reached for her with his good hand. “Claire, I-“ he started to speak but his throat was tight with the steely grip of his anger.

“It’s okay, Drake. It’s okay,” she muttered to him, reaching up and stroking his face. “As long as we’re alive it’s okay.” She pressed her small body to his wide chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. He could feel her tears soaking his shirt as her muttered “it’s okay” turned into a sob and she broke. His broken hand throbbed and he was distantly aware of the drops of blood seeping through the bandage and falling on the pristine marble floor, and he looked down at it- red, like his vision and his temper and his rage. He held her as she shook and his anger grew with each one of her tears. He would kill Alex. This he was sure of. He brought his eyes to the woman in his arms and told himself that she was right, that it only mattered that they were here, with each other. He rubbed her back and kissed her head and tried to comfort her, but in his mind he couldn't let go of how he felt; of the desperate need he felt to do something, to ensure her safety, like a cornered animal.

Bastien cleared his throat. “We need to discuss the measures that need to be taken to...mitigate the damage.”

Drake locked eyes with Liam over Claire's head, saw how tired and frustrated his brother was, and the fire in his heart roared a little more as he added Liam's stress to the growing list of Alex's offenses. “We'll need to make a statement,” Liam said, pinching the bridge of his nose. He dropped his hand and looked at Claire, still pressed against Drake's chest, but no longer crying. “I'll speak,” he said softly, “You don't have to, Claire, I'll take care of it.” Drake knew Liam hated making public statements, but he knew he'd never leave Claire to dig herself out of this hole. He was going to make such a great king, so selfless, so dedicated to doing what's right.

She let out a breath of relief. “Thank you, Liam,” she whispered.

He nodded and turned back to Bastien, all business despite how Drake knew he was feeling. “And what about our plans to return to the Palace?”

“We'll have to delay our travel until tomorrow while the security team at the Palace runs their checks. I'll also have a team in place to check the Beaumont Estate and Drake's cabin,” the older man gave Drake a look of assurance and Drake felt immense appreciation for him.

“Thank you, Bastien,” he said, voice heavy with sincerity.

“Yes, thank you, Bastien,” echoed Liam. “Please let me know when the security reports come in.” He turned to Drake and Claire. “I should go prepare my statement...” he put a hand on each of their shoulders. “I'm truly sorry that this is happening. I will do everything in my power to keep the two of you safe, to...to try to undo some of this...you don't deserve it, neither of you.” He dropped his hands, sadness clear and present in his crystal blue eyes. He turned back to Bastien as if he'd remembered something important. “Bastien, please also increase security for Lady Kiara. If...” he swallowed. “They already know she's likely to be my choice...I want to make sure she isn't harmed...” Bastien nodded and Liam sighed once more before leaving the room, heading to his study to prepare to meet the press.

Claire pulled away from Drake and looked up at him through eyes that were raw and red from tears and terror and exhaustion. He smoothed her hair and dipped his head to kiss her quickly, her lips drawn to his magnetically, with urgency. His eyes fell to the chain that hung around her neck, the little silver heart charm that he'd given her laying against the skin of her chest, visible above the neckline of her sweater. He brought his fingers up to run over the engraved lettering. Wherever you are, so am I.

Bastien cleared his throat again in that practiced and tactful way that he interrupted whatever was happening to say what needed to be said or do what needed to be done. “Drake,” he said, and Drake turned to face him, keeping Claire to his side with one arm still around her. Bastien's gray eyes flicked down to Drake's hand and up again, and Drake thought he saw something there but he wasn't sure what. “We need to take care of that hand.”

“Just call Mi-” Drake started to protest, waving his good hand at Bastien.

“This is a little more than what Micah can handle, Drake. You'll need a cast, you'll need your stitches redone...”

Drake shook his head. “It's fine, Bas, just-”

“Drake,” Claire cut him off this time, surprising him. “Listen to Bastien, please.” She turned to Bastien, who gave her a grateful look. “Can I come?” she asked the captain of the King's Guard, and Drake wished for the answer to be both yes and no.  

Bastien simply shook his head, keeping his eyes steadily on Claire. “I'm afraid it's too risky to have you leaving the premises right now, Claire.” Drake knew that Bastien was right. If anyone caught a glimpse of her they'd know who she was- the story had run on every platform and Cordonian's were hungry for news and gossip, especially regarding the Royal Family or any of the Nobility. “I'll accompany you to the hospital, Drake, the sooner the better,” he urged.

Drake exhaled slowly through his nose as he rubbed her arm. “Fine,” he resigned, looking down at Claire again. “Let's get this over with, then.”

“And I'll be right here when you get back, okay?”

Drake nodded, feeling his throat tighten. “Yeah, Berkley...okay.” He kissed her nose and she gave him a little smile that he knew she worked really hard for. He sighed and followed Bastien out of the room.

Drake looked out the window at the trees whipping by while Bastien drove, his gray eyes periodically  flicking over to the man he considered a son. He knew that Drake was in pain and that it wasn't his hand that was the biggest problem, and he found himself wishing that he could do something for him, wishing that he wasn't in the situation that he was in...wishing that Jackson was still alive and could be here for Drake in the ways that Bastien tried to be. He was about to break the silence when Drake did it for him, his voice gravelly and still directed at the window.

“I'm gonna kill him, Bas,” he said quietly, but with absolute conviction.

Bastien cringed. He never wanted Drake to have to be that, to do that. “I know,” he said, looking straight ahead.

Drake turned his head. “I love her.”

“I know you do.”

“I won't let anything happen to her again, Bas. I swear it.”

Bastien looked over and was met with Jackson's deep brown eyes. He was met with the way that Jackson loved Drake's mother, with the way that Jackson cared about things and swore on things and loved fiercely and fully. “I know you won't, Drake... and I'll do my best to make sure nothing happens to her either...or you.”

“I know you will.”

When they pulled up to the hospital Bastien handed Drake a baseball cap and a pair of sunglasses, as well as a sweatshirt that he'd pulled from the back seat. “You're known to the public,” he said, and Drake just nodded, donning the items Bastien handed him. He removed his suit jacket and tie so as not to look so formal walking into the emergency room. He'd called ahead, of course, and made arrangements for Drake to be taken directly to the doctor that was on call specifically for anything that the Royal Family might need. They entered the hospital through a back entrance, and within twenty minutes Drake had been seen, X-rayed, and was being set in a cast. Bastien waited in the hallway outside the casting room. He could hear the bubbly voice of the nurse asking Drake questions to make small talk, could hear Drake's responses. The almost toneless quality to his voice as he answered with as few words as possible turned his stomach. He looked down at his hands, at how weathered they were, how many little nicks and cuts, how many broken bones, how many punches he's thrown. He didn't want that for Drake. He picked his head up as Drake came out into the hallway, a gray cast covering his right hand, going up to mid wrist. The first of many if he stays on this path, he thought to himself.

“Can we get back now?” he asked.

Bastien stood and placed a hand on Drake's shoulder. “Not yet, son.” He rarely used the word, not wanting to step into Jackson's shoes too often- he was his best friend and he was an amazing father, and Bastien wasn't trying to replace him. He knew he could never. “We need to talk.”

“Bas, I really just-”

“I know, Drake. But I have some things I need to say. Let's take a drive.” With that he headed for the elevator that was still blocked off for their use, and Drake followed. They rode it down in silence, and Bastien led him to the car. They drove a short while, still not saying anything, until Bastien pulled the car off to an overlook by a lake. Drake blinked twice before recognizing where they were. It was the lake by his cabin, only they were on the far side of it. He squinted hard and could just make out the outline of his home in the distance. Bastien got out of the car and sat on the hood, looking out over the lake. Drake slowly exited the car and walked around to join him.

“Drake,” he started as Drake sat beside him. “The way that you feel right now... about Alex...it won't be there forever. You know that, right?” he looked over, and Drake recognized what he'd seen in his eyes before: it was regret.

“Bastien, if you're trying to talk me out of-”

“I'm not trying to tell you how to handle this, Drake. I just,” he sighed. “I want you to make the right decisions. I want you to think about what matters. What matters to you, Drake? The most, I mean. What's the most important thing?”

“Keeping Claire safe,” he answered without hesitation. “Making sure Alex can't hurt her anymore.”

Bastien nodded. “I thought she might factor into your answer.”

“Factor in?” Drake shook his head thinking that Bastien must not have understood. “She is my answer, Bas. She's more than a factor.”

“No, Drake, you said keeping her safe. You said keeping Alex from her.” He turned to lock eyes with him. “You said killing Alex. You didn't say Claire. You didn't say loving her.”

Drake shook his head again, this time more fervently as he stood from the hood of the car, blocking Bastien's view of the cabin. “Why do you think I feel this way, Bas? It's because I love her! Who do you think this is for if not for her?!”

Bastien stood too, brushing his pants off. “I just want you to remember that, Drake. I want you remember that this isn't about your anger. This isn't about revenge. I want you to remember that it's for Claire...if I know that you're thinking about Claire...then I know you'll never be in this position again.” he paused as those words sunk in with Drake before continuing softly, “Do you think she sees you as a killer, Drake? Do you think that's what she wants for you? I know it's not. I know it's not because when you love someone, you don't want them to ever have to betray who they are. And who you are, Drake Walker, is a good man, down to your boots. Good men still have to do hard things. But the best ones don't let those things consume them. They keep their eyes on the reason.” He spun Drake around and pointed to the cabin in the distance. “That's your future. You and Claire. Your father built that cabin to fill it with love, Drake. So fill it.” Bastien saw the way his words were working inside Drake's mind as he looked across the lake. He knew he'd probably still kill Alex, and he didn't fault him for that at all, but he'd have faulted himself for not sharing the lesson it had taken him so long to learn.

[zaffrenotes]

Top Gun playing in the background, and I'm gonna try and connect these crazy, apple-killing seven devils that @likethetailofacomet has scattered in Learning to Love Again...

[likethetailofacomet]

Sunday Six 12/16/18 - Interlude: Cordonia

“Ladies and gentleman of the press, thank you for joining us this afternoon.” Liam stood behind the podium, hands resting lightly on the ledge- not leaning too much weight on it, not showing any signs of unsteadiness, despite the hammering of his heart. His eyes remained focused even as his thoughts raced, weaving fear and anger with sadness and anxiety. The clicking of the cameras and the hum from the lights and the din of the microphone droned on in his brain, as he relied on his memory, having read the speech on a loop for the past two hours. Best foot forward, no matter how you feel. All eyes on him, the men and women in the room settled into their seats and ended their chatter. “As you all know, there was an article that was posted about Lady Claire Berkeley this morning. The topic of the article was quite accusatory and scandalous in nature.” A few chuckles throughout the room made him want to cringe but he couldn’t so he didn’t. All eyes, remember. “That article was inaccurate.” A murmur of shock and disbelief was quickly silenced as he continued. “Lady Berkley was savagely attacked in her room. A,” he swallowed, hating the next word. “Lapse, in security,” breech, he thought, heart beating wildly with thoughts of things escalating. “Allowed for an attacker to enter the estate. Drake Walker,” and the mention of the commoner’s name in connection to Lady Berkley made them all sit straighter and shove their recorders and microphones closer. “Drake Walker came to Lady Berkley’s aid that night, and that is the unfortunate truth behind the photographs that were printed this morning.” A dizzying relief as he came to the end of his speech, replaced with the uncertainty of the questions they might ask. Though while it seemed the press could viciously question Claire and the other suitors, they wouldn’t dare question their future king on camera. There were few questions at all, most of which were about the investigation into the lapse. Breech, he thought again, as he answered that it was still ongoing and he was awaiting further report. Kiara watched the press conference from her room at Applewood, sitting on the edge of the bed, nervously watching Liam. He’s struggling, she noted. She doubted many watching would notice the subtle things she’d observed over the many years she’d known him. She knew that knowing him like that, so intimately, so intricately, was what was setting her apart from the other women, in his mind. She smiled to herself, thinking that again; she was set apart from the other women. Her heart raced with satisfaction. A knock at the door startled her. She took a deep breath before going to the door, opening it just wide enough to see who it was. A fairly familiar set of friendly eyes looked back at her through the thin crack, and she opened it wider. “Hello... it’s, Micah, right?” She asked, offering him a polite smile. Always the diplomat’s daughter. “Yes, Lady Kiara, that’s my name. I’m here to act as your new personal guard.” He smiled. “I have some... updates for you regarding security from here on out.”

tagging: @sleepwalkingelite @brightpinkpeppercorn @endlessly-searching-for-you @mind-reader1 @ooo-barff-ooo @zaffrenotes @agent-bossypants @andy-loves @drakewalkerrosenberg @nekkidmolerat @gardeningourmet @jovialyouthmusic @akrenich @cordoniantrash @endlesshero1122 @indiacater @the-whiskeywife @natalievgoodehenry @the-everlasting-dream @notoriouscs @endlesstaylormckenzie 

[likethetailofacomet]

Apologies

OKAY KIDS. Drake and Claire are back in business and the Applewood Express to assassination station is back on track. I promise some nice times ahead for this crew...but the morning after the Alex incident simply isn’t one of those times. 

WARNINGS: mentions of drug use and abuse/ violence 

tagging: @ooo-barff-ooo @sleepwalkingelite @brightpinkpeppercorn @endlessly-searching-for-you @mind-reader1 @zaffrenotes @agent-bossypants @andy-loves-corgis @drakewalkerrosenberg @gardeningourmet @nekkidmolerat @notoriouscs @endlesstaylormckenzie @jovialyouthmusic @akrenich @natalievgoodehenry @the-everlasting-dream @the-whiskeywife @indiacater @cordoniantrash @endlesshero1122

Claire lay awake against Drake's chest, his strong arms wrapped loosely around her as he still slept, his eyes barely closed, mouth open just a bit. Her eyes fell from his face down his arms to his hands. His left was resting on her hip, his right, packed tightly in a white bandage- white speckled with red, as blood stains blossomed near the knuckle area, he'd need a new one when he woke up- draped across her lap, her knees pulled up and over his legs. She stared at his broken hand, her right arm around his body, tucked behind his back, her left hand settled near his waist. She softly ran her fingertips under the hem of his shirt, finding the warm skin of his waist, near his hip. Her eyes were glued to the bandages, fixated on the fact that he'd gotten hurt protecting her, defending her...because of her. Because of her, Alex had pointed a gun at Drake. The bandage on his hand was bad enough and it was nothing compared to what could have happened last night. She shivered, despite the warmth his body provided her.

She'd been so stupid to think that Alex was truly done haunting her life. She should have known better that even if she'd never seen him again; even if he hadn't come to Cordonia and started making every moment into a nightmare, that she'd always carry the scars he'd given her. She had done well in moving on, in healing. But scars were scars because even after they'd healed, they still left a mark. Alex had been a manipulator. He'd found her at her lowest point, after she'd lost her mother, after the loss had broken her relationship with her sister. She'd been alone, and down- too easy a target for someone like Alex to pass up. He'd built her up just enough for him to teach her how he liked to be built up. And then he showed her what happened when she fell short. He showed her the extent of his temper, and what buttons made words turn to hands. But then he'd shown her how he'd castigate himself, how he'd grovel, and cry and beg. He'd hook her back in; hook her on the idea that he might be redeemable, if only she could help him. But then he'd shown her how much fun it could be, to dive down the rabbit hole herself, into the madness; to get on the ride and let it take you where it did- whether that was happiness or depression, sex or fighting or yelling and laughing, wherever you were going, you were going there fast. He'd taught her how to make the worst choices she'd ever made, and if Dan hadn't caught on and pulled her out of it by literally yanking her ponytail away from the line she was about to do...well...she shivered thinking about what it would be like to have become a slave to those drugs, those motel room parties, those stock room bumps- and to the man who'd carefully and meticulously put them in front of her. He'd hit her. He'd belittled her. He'd made her believe that her worth was measured by his satisfaction. He'd almost derailed her life. Those were things that stick with you. So when he got arrested and went away, he was gone from her day to day- but she should have never let herself believe that she'd ever really be free of him.

She hadn't kept any of this from Drake. She'd wanted to be completely up front with him about her past, especially the parts that included Alex, since now those parts included him as well. They'd been sitting on the back porch of the cabin, a blanket wrapped around them both as the setting sun turned the sky deep purple shades and reflected off of the lake about a hundred yards away. It was coming up on the second week that she'd been staying with him, and they'd slowly been sharing pieces of themselves with each other. She was nervous to share this fairly large piece, afraid of what he might think of her after it was out. He'd tightened his hold around her, not saying anything as she pressed her back into his chest. She felt him exhale against her hair, his breath on her skin, and just as she was about to say something to fill the silence, he cleared his throat and spoke. “Berkley... I'm just so glad you got away from that monster... from that world...that you, that you're here. That you're still here for me to hold.” She turned in his arms and looked up into his eyes. They were soft leather, they were coffee with cream. They were looking at her with such sincerity she felt her heart flip and bounce. She'd told him about her scariest demons- about exactly how treacherous they were, and he'd only held her closer. She kissed him without a word, and it was slow and it was gentle and it was nothing like a single kiss Alex had ever forced down her throat.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt him move beneath her, waking up. She unwound herself from him sitting back on her knees as he blinked open his eyes, his arm unwinding from her as she moved away from him. “Good morning,” he said lazily, eyes still not completely opened. His voice sounded like a Sunday morning, like rain on the windows and pancakes in the kitchen and an afternoon in bed. His voice sounded like kind of life that she wanted, and it both lifted her to new heights and made her ache for putting him through what had happened last night. He opened his eyes, and when he did, when they fell on her face, they filled with concern. His lips turned down into a frown as he shifted against the pillows and drew his left hand up to her cheek, brushing it gently with the tips of his fingers. “Christ, Claire...” his voice broke a little on her name as he inspected the bruising on her cheek and jaw. His eyes flicked down to her wrist, to the purple fingerprints stamped there. His eyes came back up to her face. “Are you...does it hurt?”

Claire shrugged and made a face, twitching her lips to the side. “Just a little,” she responded. She'd had worse from Alex, but he didn't need to hear that. “How's your hand?” and she couldn't help the way her own voice cracked.

“It's fine,” he said, never taking his focus from her face.

“Drake, I'm so-”

He brought the fingers from the side of her face to rest gently on her lips. “Don't.” He removed his fingers, replacing them with his lips, careful not to kiss her too hard, not to press too hard against her bruises. “Don't you say you're sorry.”

She nodded. “Okay,” she said. She still felt it, she just wouldn't say it. She reached for his injured hand. He gave it over to her, placing it in both of hers. She closed her fingers loosely around it, careful not to squeeze too tightly. “Let's get this taken care of?”

“Bastien said to stay put until he-” A short and authoritative knock at the door interrupted him. “Until he got here in the morning.” he finished, nodding in the direction of the door. He swung his feet from the bed and Claire followed behind him, pulling a sweater on over her tank top. Drake opened the door slowly, making sure that it was Bastien and no one else.

“Drake, Lady Claire,” Bastien’s tone was ever professional, aside from the few times she’d seen him break character to show Drake affection, like last night.

Drake opened the door a little wider. “Good morning, Bas,” he said.

Bastien’s eyes scanned the damage before him and Claire could tell by the look that passed between the two men that he was hurting for Drake- that he wished that this wasn’t happening, and that if it had to happen, he wished it would happen to anyone else than the man who’d become like a son to him. “There will be a lot of questions this morning, but first,” he turned to face Claire directly. “Liam has asked that the suitors be briefed on last night’s events.”

Claire nodded. “Alright,” she said. “Now?” She inquired of the sharply dressed man she’d come to think of as synonymous with the word security.

“Yes, the others are gathering in the study and I’ve been asked to escort you, Lady Claire.”

“Please just call me Claire, Bastien.” She gave him a small smile, which he returned. Claire looked up at Drake and her smile widened- just for him, just because she knew he was on edge and needed to see her smile. “Okay, I’ll see you in a little bit.” She took his left hand in hers and he rested his bandage on her hip.

“Yeah, see you in a bit,” he dipped his head down to kiss her lightly on her bruised cheek, wishing his kisses could erase the purple markings there. He watched as Bastien lead her out the door and down the hall. He knew he could trust Bastien, but he still didn’t like being separated from her right now- they’d only been separated for a moment last night and look what had happened…He shook his head and cleared his thoughts. He looked down at the bandage on his hand and started to unwind it. It needed to be cleaned and re-wrapped and he needed a distraction anyway. He carefully removed the gauze, tugging it slowly from where it was stuck to the wire sutures and the blood that had dried on his torn skin. He gingerly flexed his hand, watching the stitches move, watching the way the swelling made his knuckles look. Drake would have beaten his whole hand to a pulp against Alex’s face if he hadn’t pulled a gun on him. These little cuts and fractures were nothing compared to what he was ready to endure to protect Claire and punish Alex. He disposed of the used gauze and pulled his phone from his pocket to dial Micah. He’d done a good job of the bandages last night, and Drake knew he wouldn’t mind helping him out again this morning. Drake liked Micah- he was Bastien’s protégé, always had a sharp eye, always respectful and kind; always had a smile and a wave for Drake when he was pulling his truck into or out of the palace garage. He answered on the first ring and said he’d be right up.

The briefing had been short and to the point. Claire wished that she hadn’t been the last to join the other ladies, their eyes going wide and filling with fear and pity when they saw her face. But she held her head high and sat next to Hana. Her friend took her hand and squeezed it, not showing pity but solidarity, and Claire squeezed back a thank you. Bastien had done most of the talking, describing the breach in security in as little detail as necessary. He opened the briefing up to any questions that the ladies might have, knowing that they’d be scared. Most of the questions had to do with their own personal safety, but Claire heard Kiara’s voice chiming in about keeping Liam safe being the priority. She sat there quietly, holding Hana’s hand, wanting to be anywhere else than here, rehashing one of the worst nights in her life. When Bastien announced that they were free to return to their rooms, Claire could not stand fast enough. She headed for the door and was half way down the hall when she heard the click of stilettos on the marble floor behind her.

“Claire, can I have a word?” Olivia’s voice called towards Claire’s back.

Claire turned to face the redhead, and waited for her to catch up. They hadn’t spoken since Lythikos, when Olivia had been awful to Drake, had been uncaring to Claire, and had invited Lord Pyke to the ball simply to hurt Drake. Claire arched an eyebrow. “Duchess Olivia.” She said, trying not to release all the venom on her tongue at once.

“Drop the Duchess crap, Claire. I…” she sighed, closed her eyes and recomposed herself. “I wanted to…apologize…for what happened in-“

“Apologize? Drake doesn’t want to hear your-“

“No, Claire, not to Drake. To you. I…I know he doesn’t want to hear it from me.” Claire thought she saw something flash across Olivia’s face. Regret? Hurt? Shame? Things Claire had previously thought were beneath the Duchess’ emotional range. “I’ve hurt him too many times…apologized too many times. My apologies…I’ve ruined them, in his eyes. They don’t mean anything from me.” Sadness? Heartache? “Olivia sighed, and Claire swallowed some of the venom as the redhead continued. “I made mistakes with him, and now I have to live with them. I spent a lot of time trying to…to hurt him, Claire, because he’d hurt me. He hadn’t loved me like I wanted him to-me, the Duchess who gets what she wants whenever she wants. Well he was the one thing I couldn’t have and it made me furious. I…I was blinded by my anger and I thought if I could just hurt him like he’d hurt me…at least he’d understand what I was feeling.” She sighed and Claire could tell that this was taking a toll on her. Olivia didn’t seem like the type of woman to make apologies or seek forgiveness. “But I didn’t know about the baby. I didn’t know about the threats Lord Pyke made to Drake…” She softened her gaze a bit. “And then you came along and…and, well I could see that you were right for him. You were right for him in ways that I could never be, and…for that I wanted to apologize to you, Claire, for hurting the one that you…that you love. And I…I wanted to thank you…for…for loving him the way he deserves. The way I never could.”

Claire was stunned. “Olivia…it’s…”

Olivia held up one hand and stopped her right there. “You don’t need to say anything. Just…” she looked over her shoulder to where the rest of the ladies had started filing out of the study. “Just take care of him. And take care of yourself.” She stepped closer and dropped her voice to a whisper. “We don’t know who we can trust.” She pulled away and locked eyes with Claire, and the look there was impossible to miss: Drake. Liam. Hana. Max. Bastien. Olivia. That was the list. That was the long and short of it.

“Olivia,” Claire said, still holding the woman’s gaze. “Thank you.”

Olivia nodded and without another word, turned left and headed to her room. Claire continued on back to Drake’s room, thinking about what Olivia had just said. She still cared for Drake, even if she knew she’d more than blown her chance at holding his heart. She still respected him. She respected Claire. Maybe she wasn’t as bristly as she seemed to be. Maybe she just needed to be shown how to love, and having had no teacher, she’d tried and failed to figure it out herself. Claire didn’t take pity on her, because she knew the Scarlet Duchess would hate that. Instead she found herself considering the woman an ally, a resource- someone that she could trust in this world where everywhere you turned another devil was waiting around the corner.

Claire opened the door to Drake’s room and he was there in a second, holding her to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and they both breathed a little more easily. Claire noticed the new wrapping on his injured hand. “Glad you took care of that,” she said.

“Yeah, Micah came and helped me out. He’s a good kid.”

“The guy that works in the garage, right?”

“Yeah. He’s gonna be the next Bastien it seems. Only 22 and already head and shoulders better than the rest of the security team.”

Claire pulled away to smile up at him. “Well Bastien’s a great role model,” she said, knowing full and well that he was also Drake’s role model.

Before Claire could even mention her interaction with Olivia, there was another knock on the door. Drake kissed her again, and she thought she felt something else in the kiss- something like “we don’t know who’s knocking, we can’t know who’s knocking, and I need to kiss you before I open that door.” She felt his lips leave hers and they took her breath with them as he went to the door. He opened it to reveal Liam, standing alone. “Li, come in,” he said, eyebrows flying upwards, clearly not expecting to see Liam.

“Thank you,” Liam said, entering the room. His clear blue eyes roved Claire’s face and she could see his heart aching in them. He’d been told, of course, what had happened, but he hadn’t seen her yet. He let out a breath and reached for her, and she closed the distance to let him hug her. “I am so sorry that this happened to you, Claire. I’m sorry that he was able to get passed my security. I’m sorry that he hurt you again.” Drake closed the door and crossed back to where Liam and Claire stood. Liam released her and turned to his brother. “Drake,” he was using every ounce of his training to keep his voice even. “I-“

“Liam, it’s not your fault.” Drake assured him, keeping his brown eyes steadily on his best friend.

Liam nodded. “I’m just so glad that you’re both alright. And I’m sorry that you’re dealing with this today of all days.”

Drake gave him a look but it was too late. “Why? What is today?” Claire asked.

Liam looked from Drake to Claire, and despite the fear and tension that had contorted his face just seconds before, a small smile and a flash of mischief crossed his features. “Drake? You didn’t tell her?” he chuckled at the uncomfortable look on Drake’s face. “It’s his birthday,” he answered Claire.

“Drake Walker! It’s your birthday? Happy birthday!” she beamed, rising on her toes to plant a sweet kiss to his cheek.

The annoyed look on his face vanished with her kiss and Liam smirked at how easily Claire could change Drake’s mood. “Yeah…it…it is.” He said, trying to grumble but being utterly unable to for the happiness that was coursing through him at having someone like her to care that it was his birthday.

“Well…you haven’t given me much time, but…” she narrowed her eyes and Liam laughed while Drake groaned. “But give me a few hours and I’ll have an idea.” She winked at him, immediately wincing as her bruised cheek came back down post wink. Drake caught the wince and she saw his good hand ball into a fist, mad all over again that she’d been hurt. She gave him a small smile- barely there, just a twitch of her lips and a softening of her eyes, and she saw him relax his fist.

Just then, another knock startled all three of them. Drake and Liam locked eyes before Drake crossed to the door, Claire at his heels, and Liam close behind them both. It was Bastien, and for once the look on his face was not professional or put together or sharp- it was rattled. He was holding several of today’s papers and magazines, and the photos and headlines caught Claire’s eye, freezing the blood in her veins. “Your majesty,” Bastien said, “You’ll want to see this…”

On the page was a black and white photo of Alex with his hands on her, his mouth on her, his lips on her. You couldn’t tell from the angle of the photo that she was struggling against him. You couldn’t tell that he was forcing himself on her. You couldn’t tell anything apart from the fact that there was a man in her room, and he was kissing her. There was a second photo, this one of Claire with Drake’s arms around her, with his lips pressed to the top of her head lovingly. Both photos seemed to have been taken from outside the window in her room, and she suddenly remembered the way Alex had dragged her closer to the bed- at the time she’d thought he was trying to force her onto it…to force her to…but now it was clear it wasn’t about the bed at all. It was a set up. He was working with the photographer. Her mind raced to the eagle eyed reporter that had targeted her the day before. She blinked and refocused her eyes on the paper in Bastien’s hands, the headline reading “Lady Berkley: Royal Floosy- What the Prince Doesn’t Know About The American Slut and What it Means for the Future of the Social Season”

“I’m sorry,” Bastien said, and Claire wasn’t sure which one of them he was addressing.

[zaffrenotes]

Hey D!! 1/14/25 for the end of the year thingamajig ☺️

1 favorite fic you wrote this year

It’s a toss up between The Sweetest Christmas Gift and Stand to the Right, trying to find a balance between sadness, humor, and hope, because they were both challenging to write in their own way. 

Thanksgiving Melee for the complete and utter crack that it was 😂

14 a fic you didn’t expect to write

Answered previously but tl;dr - everything! 

25 a fic you read this year you would recommend everyone read

OH MAN GET READY. Pardon while I start creeping everyone’s Master Lists…

@likethetailofacomet - MASTER LIST

Cross Space and Time for one of the Endless Summer endings we all deserved to have, with a crossover from Hero - y’all get the luxury of binging this masterpiece instead of screaming internally (sometimes externally) several days in a row at your laptop while that ASSHAT VAANU ducks everything up.

The End Is Here - Zombie Endless Summer AU. more screaming. and crying. and anxiety. heyyy it’s just like being in the zombie wasteland minus being covered in blood and guts and dirt!

Crazy Train Applewood Express Assassination Station Learning to Love Again for ALL the Drake feels, complete with #DrakeRage #DrakeLove and heebie jeebies from Alex, the creeeeeepiest muthaforker around

@ooo-barff-ooo - MASTER LIST

Girl Crush - what started it all. Endless Summer AU with a twist

Endless Winter - read this current series AFTER Girl Crush

JUST KIDS - TRR College AU with Drake Walker x Joanna Malone I love them I love them I love them

Moments Beyond (TRR) with adult Drake x Joanna, especially Apples and Trees and other things

Time Well Spent - word of warning, you gon’ CRY.

@drakewalkerwhipped - AUTUMN FRIGGIN BLUES. It’ll gut you, make your blood boil, and you’ll want to pull your hair out. BUT YOU WILL LOVE IT AND ASK FOR MORE PAIN. 

@blackcatkita - The Consequences of Secrets Part One starts here - this is most likely the fic that brought me to tumblr once Book 3 ended and I was desperate to keep the story alive. I went in search of fanfic online, and Jen’s series had me HOOKED as soon as I started reading. 

@katurrade - Secrets and Sins, a modern, non-canon take on TRR where Liam is a mob king of New York. Also If Only You Knew, another non-canon TRR AU currently driving me crazy because Liam and MC/Reader can’t just TELL EACH OTHER HOW THEY FEEL (luv ya Kaytee!) but umm…Liam and Drake. BrOTP COPS. ‘nuff said.

@brightpinkpeppercorn - Twenty Questions for some sexy NSFW time with Jake McKenzie, and Happier mini-series for Jake x MC

@mind-reader1 Queen of Hearts series. MC loves Drake but she’s got to marry Liam. What happens now?

@sleepwalkingelite See You In Another Life series - I’m guilty of falling behind this gem but I have 40+ pages printed out (front and back!) to catch up over the holiday. A little role reversal with Drake and Liam, and MC has to roll with the punches of being at court. 

@thecordoniandiaries - Better With You series (in progress) - an AU where Liam’s still mostly Liam and he meets MC while looking after his niece and nephew

@europeanguy - Gotta Gogh - TRR x Perfect Match AU, where Nadia is in Cordonia and encounters younger versions of the TRR gang. 

I probably have more but uhh…holy crap this list is long, haha. I LIKE TO READ OKAY. 

[likethetailofacomet]

Donna!!!! 💙💙💙💙

First and foremost, THANK YOU SO MUCH for being on this journey from the beginning!! It’s been crazy, but I’ve been so glad to have you along for the ride! Every comment/threat/all the ideas that you let me bounce off of you were all so appreciated!!

Okay now to address your comments:

DRAKE IS AWAKE!! And I didn’t even have to kill Liam. I still cannot believe you made that offer. You are the president of the Liam fan club, writer of the only Liam I care about. AND YET YOU OFFERED HIM UP! Welcome to the mallow side, we’ve got s’mores.

Liam/Leo/Drake Brother-ship is just like super important to me so I’m glad you enjoyed the dynamic between the three of them. There will be lots more of it, as all three are on the council!!

Drake was so down to join the council without anyone’s opinion, but that doesn’t mean he’s not still interested in Bastien’s I put- and like always Dad Bas knows what he needs to hear, and it’s the truth. He’s a good man, the perfect man for the job, and ON THE RIGHT PATH 🙌🏻

Dan and Liv. Yeah everyone’s caught up on that huh? 😏

The Applewood Murder Express has pulled out of Assassination Station for the last time 🚂 thanks for sticking with it all the way!! 💙💙💙

Love, Again

A/N: (flourish) With this chapter I do hereby proclaim the official end to “Learning to Love Again”! (cease)  It has been a long, bumpy, unexpected ride, and I want to thank each and every one of you that read, commented, liked, reblogged, yelled at me, threatened me, suggested songs, gave me input, helped me dig out of a plot hole, or messaged me to chat about this series and Drake and Claire. I enjoyed playing with these characters and bending the rules a bit so that they could have the chance at love that I felt like they deserved. I loved giving them backstories and motives. I answered some questions here, but left a few things still hanging in the balance- those things will come back into play very soon in the planned follow up called The Broken Bits…I left a few things broken, and I need to fix them. ;) 

Pairing: Drake x Claire (featuring: Liam, Olivia, Dan, Leo, and Bastien) 

Word Count: 5,116 

Tunes: Learning to Love Again, Mat Kearney AND Latch (acoustic), Sam Smith

“There was damage to the subscapular artery, which is why the procedure took as long as it did. You had lost quite a lot of blood by the time you arrived, Mr. Walker,” Claire’s fingers tightened around Drake’s as the doctor explained the extent of his injuries, recalling the scene in the ballroom and the pool of blood she’d seen him lying in. He squeezed back, as tightly as he could, reassuring her that it was alright as the doctor continued. “And once we got that under control we were able to repair the artery. We did have to open the bicep to access the entire affected area, which was unexpected, and does prolong the necessary monitoring period.” Drake flicked his eyes to his left arm. The medication was starting to fade and he could feel the sharp, deep, pain starting to return in his arm and back, his shoulder feeling heavy and unstable. “The blood loss and damaged artery had put a decent amount of stress on your heart, so we made the call to finish the arterial repair and close up. We will still have to go back in to repair the shoulder joint and scapula, but we needed to wait so as not to place too much stress on your body.”

The full weight of how close he’d come to death seemed finally to settle in and he swallowed a hard, dry lump in his throat, nodding at the doctor. He tilted his head to the side to look at Claire, who was still gazing intently at the doctor who had saved Drake’s life, listening as he went on about medications, the anticipated second surgery and therapy that would follow. His eyes fell to the bandages that covered her throat and wrist, and he was reminded of how close he’d come to losing her. As that chilling fact settled in his chest, right next to his own brush with mortality, he felt a strangled breath escape him, felt his lungs burn as his ribs contracted and expanded with his quick breathing. His sudden alarm drew Claire’s attention immediately, her free hand joining the other one, both grasping Drake’s as his eyes found hers, and she saw the fear inside them.  

Keep reading

[zaffrenotes]

Drake Walker, how do I keep falling in love with you just a little bit more with every chapter of this insane train ride? (because my girl's a word wizard, that's how)

His voice sounded like Sunday morning, like rain on the windows and pancakes in the kitchen and an afternoon in bed. ----- are you kidding me with this?! I know it's not Drake, but this gif is all I can see

I'm glad Olivia owned up to her behavior. She's learning to love. full stop. poor girl just doesn't know how to.

My thoughts on Alex and the photo setup and that motherforking headline....

UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGH 🤬

*I still fully intend to print out all the chapters/Sunday six previews for clues, I just have to buy more toner 😆 great time for my printer to run low!

Apologies

OKAY KIDS. Drake and Claire are back in business and the Applewood Express to assassination station is back on track. I promise some nice times ahead for this crew…but the morning after the Alex incident simply isn’t one of those times. 

WARNINGS: mentions of drug use and abuse/ violence 

tagging: @ooo-barff-ooo @sleepwalkingelite @brightpinkpeppercorn @endlessly-searching-for-you @mind-reader1 @zaffrenotes @agent-bossypants @andy-loves-corgis @drakewalkerrosenberg @gardeningourmet @nekkidmolerat @notoriouscs @endlesstaylormckenzie @jovialyouthmusic @akrenich @natalievgoodehenry @the-everlasting-dream @the-whiskeywife @indiacater @cordoniantrash @endlesshero1122

Claire lay awake against Drake’s chest, his strong arms wrapped loosely around her as he still slept, his eyes barely closed, mouth open just a bit. Her eyes fell from his face down his arms to his hands. His left was resting on her hip, his right, packed tightly in a white bandage- white speckled with red, as blood stains blossomed near the knuckle area, he’d need a new one when he woke up- draped across her lap, her knees pulled up and over his legs. She stared at his broken hand, her right arm around his body, tucked behind his back, her left hand settled near his waist. She softly ran her fingertips under the hem of his shirt, finding the warm skin of his waist, near his hip. Her eyes were glued to the bandages, fixated on the fact that he’d gotten hurt protecting her, defending her…because of her. Because of her, Alex had pointed a gun at Drake. The bandage on his hand was bad enough and it was nothing compared to what could have happened last night. She shivered, despite the warmth his body provided her.

Keep reading

[likethetailofacomet]

Claire appreciates the intention behind your non hug. Drake’s got it covered pretty well I’d say.

Olivia knows Drake well. She knew how to hurt him but she also knows how to show him that she cares: by caring for those that he loves. The mallow’s heart is won by winning the hearts that he holds close.

The DrakeRage is definitely being stoked right now. He’s livid already and then the article shows up. Oh boy. I too am excited for Drake vs Asshat round 2. #FinalCountdown

They feel the danger FOR SURE and are not willing to waste a single chance for another kiss, another moment in each other’s arms, another second of the other’s smile.

Believe it. Assassins. Assassins everywhere.

Thanks for reading 🖤🖤

Apologies

OKAY KIDS. Drake and Claire are back in business and the Applewood Express to assassination station is back on track. I promise some nice times ahead for this crew…but the morning after the Alex incident simply isn’t one of those times. 

WARNINGS: mentions of drug use and abuse/ violence 

tagging: @ooo-barff-ooo @sleepwalkingelite @brightpinkpeppercorn @endlessly-searching-for-you @mind-reader1 @zaffrenotes @agent-bossypants @andy-loves-corgis @drakewalkerrosenberg @gardeningourmet @nekkidmolerat @notoriouscs @endlesstaylormckenzie @jovialyouthmusic @akrenich @natalievgoodehenry @the-everlasting-dream @the-whiskeywife @indiacater @cordoniantrash @endlesshero1122

Claire lay awake against Drake’s chest, his strong arms wrapped loosely around her as he still slept, his eyes barely closed, mouth open just a bit. Her eyes fell from his face down his arms to his hands. His left was resting on her hip, his right, packed tightly in a white bandage- white speckled with red, as blood stains blossomed near the knuckle area, he’d need a new one when he woke up- draped across her lap, her knees pulled up and over his legs. She stared at his broken hand, her right arm around his body, tucked behind his back, her left hand settled near his waist. She softly ran her fingertips under the hem of his shirt, finding the warm skin of his waist, near his hip. Her eyes were glued to the bandages, fixated on the fact that he’d gotten hurt protecting her, defending her…because of her. Because of her, Alex had pointed a gun at Drake. The bandage on his hand was bad enough and it was nothing compared to what could have happened last night. She shivered, despite the warmth his body provided her.

Keep reading

[likethetailofacomet]

Omg

Detective Donna on the case!!

Top Gun playing in the background, and I’m gonna try and connect these crazy, apple-killing seven devils that @likethetailofacomet has scattered in Learning to Love Again…

[likethetailofacomet]

Sunday Six 12/16/18 - Interlude: Cordonia

“Ladies and gentleman of the press, thank you for joining us this afternoon.” Liam stood behind the podium, hands resting lightly on the ledge- not leaning too much weight on it, not showing any signs of unsteadiness, despite the hammering of his heart. His eyes remained focused even as his thoughts raced, weaving fear and anger with sadness and anxiety. The clicking of the cameras and the hum from the lights and the din of the microphone droned on in his brain, as he relied on his memory, having read the speech on a loop for the past two hours. Best foot forward, no matter how you feel. All eyes on him, the men and women in the room settled into their seats and ended their chatter. “As you all know, there was an article that was posted about Lady Claire Berkeley this morning. The topic of the article was quite accusatory and scandalous in nature.” A few chuckles throughout the room made him want to cringe but he couldn’t so he didn’t. All eyes, remember. “That article was inaccurate.” A murmur of shock and disbelief was quickly silenced as he continued. “Lady Berkley was savagely attacked in her room. A,” he swallowed, hating the next word. “Lapse, in security,” breech, he thought, heart beating wildly with thoughts of things escalating. “Allowed for an attacker to enter the estate. Drake Walker,” and the mention of the commoner’s name in connection to Lady Berkley made them all sit straighter and shove their recorders and microphones closer. “Drake Walker came to Lady Berkley’s aid that night, and that is the unfortunate truth behind the photographs that were printed this morning.” A dizzying relief as he came to the end of his speech, replaced with the uncertainty of the questions they might ask. Though while it seemed the press could viciously question Claire and the other suitors, they wouldn’t dare question their future king on camera. There were few questions at all, most of which were about the investigation into the lapse. Breech, he thought again, as he answered that it was still ongoing and he was awaiting further report. Kiara watched the press conference from her room at Applewood, sitting on the edge of the bed, nervously watching Liam. He’s struggling, she noted. She doubted many watching would notice the subtle things she’d observed over the many years she’d known him. She knew that knowing him like that, so intimately, so intricately, was what was setting her apart from the other women, in his mind. She smiled to herself, thinking that again; she was set apart from the other women. Her heart raced with satisfaction. A knock at the door startled her. She took a deep breath before going to the door, opening it just wide enough to see who it was. A fairly familiar set of friendly eyes looked back at her through the thin crack, and she opened it wider. “Hello… it’s, Micah, right?” She asked, offering him a polite smile. Always the diplomat’s daughter. “Yes, Lady Kiara, that’s my name. I’m here to act as your new personal guard.” He smiled. “I have some… updates for you regarding security from here on out.”

tagging: @sleepwalkingelite @brightpinkpeppercorn @endlessly-searching-for-you @mind-reader1 @ooo-barff-ooo @zaffrenotes @agent-bossypants @andy-loves @drakewalkerrosenberg @nekkidmolerat @gardeningourmet @jovialyouthmusic @akrenich @cordoniantrash @endlesshero1122 @indiacater @the-whiskeywife @natalievgoodehenry @the-everlasting-dream @notoriouscs @endlesstaylormckenzie