#either that or it's been so long since I started Liam's route that I forgot what the beginning was like

[sunshineneedsaplacetokeephernsfw]

After starting William's route, it's clear that it was meant to be the one you start with

[ownworldresident]

Side by Side. Chapter 13: Honesty

King Liam x Rayne (MC): With new additions to their family, Rayne and  Liam re-evaluate their relationship dynamic.

Disclaimer: Most  characters are the property of Pixelberry studios. I am just borrowing them and will return them when I am done.

MASTERLIST

Side by Side Masterlist

Coming to you after a long hiatus from this series. I felt super angsty over the weekend so finally got back into it. Enjoy!

Rayne was in the gardens. Her feet took her on familiar paved routes past hedgerows and roses as her mind fought itself and she sat contemplatively in the background.

Do it now. Do it now. The voice that had sat within her for so long was getting louder, stoked by her friends. Until now she thought it had been quieted. After that dinner with Liam she had assumed that the voice was sated. Do it now. Evidently she was wrong and, really, she had already known that. Do it now.

It doesn’t matter. That was the other voice. It doesn’t matter, and too much is at risk. That voice had always been dominant, but in the background, whilst she went about her days. Too much is at risk. If she spoke to him, completely honestly, it could change a lot, and she liked where she was. Liked where they were, where they could spend time with each other and with the twins uninhibited. It doesn’t matter. Keep it safe, don’t do anything, stay safe. Too much is at risk.

There were three days until the trial, and Rayne had foolishly assumed that the time between her attacking Madeleine and watching the woman tried and sentenced would be relatively calm. Of course her friends would descend. They cared too much not to, but they were wrong. Clair and Drake, and Olivia and Leo, were wrong, because what Rayne and Liam had right now was better than it ever had been, and she could not threaten that.

Abruptly Rayne reached the gazebo and stood staring at it. She loved this gazebo, it had a few claims on her. The grapefruit coloured climbing roses starting to wrap around the closest two posts had been Liam’s birthday present to her a few months ago. He had surprised her with them, she had mentioned how much she loved the varietal back on the engagement tour, almost a year beforehand, and Liam had remembered. Now she leant before the two first blooms on one bush and inhaled the sweet scent, standing a few moments later with a smile and a sigh. She could never deserve him, never deserve such kindness after how she had treated him. Harbouring resentment from how she had been treated was not a pass to keep hurting him and she was so glad that the woman oppressing them was gone. The bloom had only come out a couple of days ago, she and Leo and Evie and Liam had found them and taken a couple back to their suite. A constant reminder of how thoughtful and generous this man of hers was, even when she sidelined his love.

When she turned back to the palace it was with a determined eye.

Do it now.

Too much is at risk.

 ---

The courtroom was full. Rarely did every member of the council come to a trial, or even every meeting, but this case was exceptional, and worthy of making the effort, and finding the extra chairs.

They filled both sides and the back of the room. At the front, taking centre stage, was Liam. Several feet to his left were Rayne, Leo and Regina. Several feet to his right were Drake, Clair, Olivia, and Maxwell. Liam turned to his friends, who nodded and smiled encouragingly, with Clair narrowing her eyes and glancing at Rayne. Intending to have done so anyway, Liam followed her gaze, and settled his on Rayne’s brown eyes, shining, smiling. He felt his confidence bolstered by the intensity of her gaze, of her belief in him. Smiling back, he nodded briefly to Regina and Leo as well, then turned to the court.

“Attention please,” the room’s relaxed conversational din quieted, not even a whisper, and the change and attention he commanded still sent a chill through him. After all this time, especially now, he was reminded starkly of his position by moments like this, where he sometimes forgot its weight when he was with his family. He smiled, “thank you.” In order to keep this formal, he had not placed Rayne as close as he would like, not yet. The focus needed to be on the trial, and not on their relationship. He nodded to the guards at the back of the room.

“Bring her in.”

 ---

Liam was in his office. It wasn’t where he would rather be, but things piled up during absence. He sighed, leaning forward on his elbow, fingers threading through his hair as he wrote. Terrible for long term focus to sit this way but the work seemed so dull and menial and repetitive when there was such a priority elsewhere for him. Logistics for the trial, applications for event permits, requests for an audience, even press conferences... The more time he spent with his young family, the less significant these tasks seemed. Less important, when his family was there now, and needed him more.

A message came through on his mobile and he stared at it for a moment. Confusion and surprise were gradually supplanted by relief and a smile and he stood and moved around his desk. There was no longer a meeting today and he was glad of it, because he had a more important job to do. Turning back, he placed his pen down and organised the papers he had been writing. There were still a few tabs open on his laptop, he remembered as he closed it, from when he had been searching for a short trip away with Rayne so long ago. Back before these most recent events had happened and the complicated life he had had had been known.

Now there was something else to do, that he should have done a long time ago, but which still set his heart pounding. It was easy enough objectively but would be nowhere near easy in practise. Confident in spite of this, Liam walked out through the quiet halls and towards the back entrance to the palace. He didn’t need to ask his friend if the same two people who had come to him had gone to Rayne. Drake was their closest mutual friend and her friend, Clair, was unlikely to hold back from speaking to her, either.

There was a smile still on Liam’s face as he reached the hall leading onto the gardens. Clair had insisted on looking after the twins herself, eager for time alone with her godchildren, and Rayne had taken the opportunity to go walking while the weather was still fine. Standing at the entrance he folded his arms and breathed the fresh air, leaning on the huge doorway and watching Rayne at the gazebo. He could only just see it from here, watching her kneeling before the rose he’d had planted for her, and she kneeled there for at least a minute before standing and turning back to the palace. She wouldn’t see him from here, and didn’t usually use the main back entrance, so Liam snaked around the corner to meet her as she headed towards the entrance to the royal wing. It was a relatively unassuming entrance, preferable to her ever since she had taken up residence there.

“Good morning.” Liam said softly, crinkling his eyes as he smiled at her and receiving the same in return as she turned from her path to face him.

“Good morning my love.” Rayne altered her route and came towards him. There was that same bare sincerity in her gaze that he felt, and he met her with outstretched arms, holding her against his chest as she hugged him tightly. They stayed that way for a long time, and he could feel and hear her breathing as she would him. When he let her go, he kissed her forehead, and squeezed her hands.

“We should talk.” She nodded even as he spoke and leant up to kiss him.

“Yes.” Liam smiled wider even as he felt his chest tighten and saw her lip quiver. Before either could comment he led her back towards the palace entrance by her hand.

 ---

With a bored, unimpressed smile, Madeleine came into the crowded room and glanced around at the attendees with distaste. There were members of the press in the crowd, and her smile did not change as their flashbulbs went off. They photographed Liam as well, and Rayne, and even Drake and Clair for some reason. Drake kept his focus on Liam, who looked down at the disgraced former queen.

“Countess Madeleine of Fydelia.” the woman recoiled at the use of her former title. A reminder that she wasn’t a queen anymore. Drake smirked, then frowned as he felt thin fingers thread through his own. Turning his head he saw that Olivia looked, not at him, but at Madeleine with that characteristic contempt for those she did not consider worthy. It was chilling. Drake squeezed her hand and smiled, then turned back to the trial. Liam continued, “you stand accused of fraud, treason, and high treason. You have threatened the livelihoods of Lady Rayne, Crown Prince Leo, and Princess Evelyn, and you have endangered my life as well. You understand the severity of this, of course.”

“Of course.” Madeleine said, and from the outside it would seem to be understanding and cooperation but Drake, like Liam, Olivia, Leo, and Maxwell, had known her long enough. Madeleine was seething, “If I had committed these crimes, that would be very severe, particularly as Queen,” she looked around at the court and council and press assembled, “you are fortunate, then, that I was not responsible.”

---

Rayne allowed Liam to lead her through the palace to one of the parlours on the ground floor that overlooked the maze. Her heart beat fast and her breathing was quick and not just from the speed of their walk. Liam paused a few feet into the room and let go of her hand before standing tall and turning to her. She closed the door and stepped up to him and smiled nervously. No more barriers. Do it now, too much is at risk.

“I ne-”

“-Ray-” she paused as did Liam after he spoke over her. It broke the tension a little, and she smiled and moved further into the room towards the large window. It was starting to rain now, she was glad she had come in when she did. Turning back she smirked as he chuckled and shook his head, then came over quickly, “Rayne...” arms tight around her waist Liam lifted and spun her, and with her laugh left every bit of nervous energy.

“I love you so much,” Rayne leant up when he set her down to kiss him, then took a deep breath, “we should talk, though.”

“Yes, we should. Come.” He walked her over to the couch and sat beside her. After a moment of fiddling with her hand against the space between them, Liam sighed, “I guess this has been a long time coming.”

“But now is the right time,” Rayne wasn’t sure exactly what Liam was going to tell her, or ask her, but regardless she needed to hear it, “I’ll go first, is that okay?” she said it before she could decide otherwise and watched him nod.

“Of course,” Liam’s voice was gentle, “take your time.”

“Thanks,” she took a deep breath, “I’m scared.” Liam looked surprised for a moment, then blinked and nodded for her to continue, “I know that you’ve been bringing your work home to let me help because you want to show me what I can do. I know that.” It hadn’t been difficult to discern that it wasn’t for her safety like he had made it appear, but for the chance to have her contribute to the running of the kingdom. He wanted her to run it with him still, she was sure, “I don’t mind love, I want to help, but truly I already knew that I was capable of that, of – of governance...” Rayne looked away, that was stating it overtly, and she didn’t want him to take it as her admission to being ready for anything like what she had already been doing for weeks...

“I’m glad,” Liam’s voice was light, and she turned back to him frowning, “you are incredibly intelligent Rayne, enough to know what you are capable of.” He lifted a hand to caress her cheek, then stood and stepped away, “I know you aren’t finished but let me interrupt for a moment,” Liam reached the window with his hands before his back and turned for confirmation. Though her hands shook Rayne nodded from the couch, “thank you. We are completely honest here love. I am not going to withhold anything and so I am sorry if this hurts to hear.”

 ---

Liam narrowed his gaze and watched Madeleine closely. Every eye was on him, some friendly, some less so, most scrutinising. They had brought her here for this charge and though it was not unheard of to oppose the charge despite their truth, it was surprising that she would do so when she could – would – be so openly disproven.

“Is this your plea, then?” he said carefully, still projecting his voice. Out the corner of his eye Liam saw Rayne looking to him encouragingly and it bolstered his confidence. Of course Madeleine would try to undermine him here, it was her nature to do so.

“This is the truth, Liam. Perhaps if you dedicated more time to your wife and less time to your mistress you would know when I spoke the truth.” The corner of Madeleine’s mouth curved into a cold smile and Liam breathed deep as he considered an answer. The ride he had been on in the last few days emotionally had been draining and the defences he usually had and should have for people like this woman. Resisting the urge to look to Rayne, Liam took a moment to clear his throat and reorder the notes before him where he sat.

“I will consider it your plea, then.” Liam ran over his options and decided to proceed, rather than enable her further, “we have a few testimonies to hear. Madeleine if you could take a seat, Councillor Glaugh could you please come to the front.” There were several councillors who had been present the day Madeleine had attempted to force through the custody form who were willing to make a statement. He would hear three of them, and then they would start questioning.

 ---

Carefully he watched Rayne for her reaction. She was sitting very still, but her face had paled, and her hands were shaking. This was why they kept their secrets. To avoid this, but avoiding it wasn’t healthy.

“Go ahead.” She whispered, not looking at him but at a vase on the table beside him. Liam sighed.

“I want to marry you.” He said, then waited. And waited. And waited and it seemed as if the room had stood still before finally, mercifully, Rayne nodded. Liam stood tall and nodded to himself, “Rayne all I ever wanted was you. However I could. Having you with me in this life is truly a gift and I am thankful for it with every breath I take,” he moved over to her again and met her gaze. Rayne’s lip quivered and she bit on it, but there were still tears in her eyes. Every time he thought of her as his wife his heart beat fast is if in its own anticipation, but she was in front of him this time and heard him and he could only hope that she couldn’t hear it, “I am telling you this so that you know it, not because I want to sway you.”

“I know.” Rayne lifted her hand and ran it across his cheek, and he had to smile at the contact, “thank you for telling me, and I...” she stood now and hugged herself and looked away from him, “I’m scared because I know what I can do and how much I want to help and I know that you want more...” she looked down at the rug and Liam resisted the urge to object, or to wipe the tears off her cheeks. After a moment in which he held his breath, Rayne turned back, “I don’t think I can do both. That is what I am afraid of. But I know that I can, but I don’t think...” she shook her head and frowned, frustrated, “it’s the same goddamn roundabout I’ve been in for weeks. Months even. I know that I can help, but I don’t think I can do it all, but I know that I can, but I already told you I couldn’t... and then I ignored that because I knew you weren’t going to ask me, and I could pretend it was okay and I did. I pretended everything was okay just like you did with Madeleine even though it wasn’t.”

It was as if a dam had broken and Rayne couldn’t stop. Liam watched her patiently, listening and trying to absorb what she said as still she hugged herself and looked frustrated. Rayne knew she was capable of being queen, but she decided despite that that she couldn’t. And everything he had said to assure her that it was okay had only contributed to crippling her, to supporting her belief that she wasn’t good enough.

“I left it, and you didn’t ask, and it was comfortable, I was safe. But they,” she laughed, “our friends didn’t believe that, did they?” she looked at him again and he smiled as he saw her arms relaxing.

“They have a habit of being right. I suppose we should be grateful to them.” He sighed, wondering how the hell they could make it up to Drake and Leo and the others for being so relentlessly stubborn.

 ---

At Olivia’s request, they had included a live polygraph at this stage in the trial. Madeleine was back at the centre of the room, and there was a technician on the other side of the table she sat at, fixing everything in place. After a few moments the man turned and nodded to Liam.

“Countess Madeleine.” Liam stood tall and looked hard at the ex-queen, who met the gaze unflinching, “you know how this works.”

“You are not the only one who has met a Nevrakis, Liam.” She scowled, and Rayne watched her glare at Olivia, who promptly flipped her off. Liam continued.

“Let’s begin then. Did you attempt to pass a custody form through the council on October the 26th?” the crowd watched Madeleine, but Rayne kept her gaze on Liam. The day they had finally released everything to each other had left them a little tense. Their relationship had never been stronger, but the shift in what they knew had taken some time to adjust to. They hadn’t shared a bed that night. They had taken time to themselves.

“Yes.” Madeleine said, and they watched the polygraph start recording.

“Did you intend to remove Rayne’s right to see them?”

“Yes.” Rayne met her gaze and felt her clenched fists shaking, turning when Leo put a hand on her arm.

‘Are you okay?’ he mouthed, concerned. Rayne nodded, and Leo squeezed her arm before releasing. No, she wasn’t okay, she wanted to hit that woman again. A lot harder this time.

“Did you force me to sign that form?” the room collectively held their breath and Madeleine smirked at Liam.

“No.” they waited as the machine whirled, then the technician turned to Liam and nodded.

“What...” she heard Leo say, suddenly feeling faint.

“Who was responsible?” the polygraph would only confirm answers to yes or no questions, but it didn’t mean Liam had to stick to those.

“Why, the young royal’s grandmother, of course.” Madeleine glanced up at Rayne as the focus was suddenly on Regina. A sinking feeling came over her as her stomach knotted itself.

“I did no such thing.” Regina said firmly, and up close Rayne and Leo saw how taken aback she was, “think again, Countess.”

“Oh that won’t be necessary Queen Mother,” Madeleine said, “I refer to their blood grandmother.” She looked back to Liam, who’s expression was stoic. Rayne’s breathing was shaky and a moment later she heard Leo swear and he squeezed her hand.

“Was Genevieve O’Mara involved in my poisoning?” he said steadily. The room was eerily silent again as they waited with bated breath for the answer. In her heart, Rayne already knew it.

“Yes.” The machine whirled, time slowed down and sound drowned out as the technician turned to Liam.

He nodded.

Every eye in the room fell on Rayne. No. Regardless of how little she thought of Genevieve, her mother wouldn’t descend to this.

She met Liam’s gaze and he seemed miles away. All she could hear was her own breathing and heartbeat and all she could see was his face. Please. No.

Tag List: @leelee10898 @umccall71 @indiacater @speedyoperarascalparty @brightpinkpeppercorn @riseandshinelittleblossom @bella-ca @custaroonie @furiousherringoperatortoad @missevabean @thequeenofcronuts @hopefulmoonobject @kuladekiwi @mfackenthal @iplaydrake @lodberg @annekebbphotography @carabeth @wannabeanimator @explorer-of-gems @be-still-my-aching-heart  @lauradowning29

(If you would like to be added or removed from the tag list please let me know!)