#idgaf how long it takes for a fic to update that is none of my business tbh

[princekirijo]

Bro have you seen that p5 chat fic got updated yesterday????? I'm asking cuz I remember reading it after you made a rec list but holy shit it only took two years for a new chapter

Yeah I did see that actually earlier on, I'm subscribed to the author so I get an email whenever they post. I'm excited to read the update, haven't gotten round to it yet :]

[theanxiouscupcake]

2/7!!! SERIOUSLY WHY DO I NEED THIS SO BAD

Oh boy, this took a while, I’m so sorry. Tough times, if I’m being honest with you. 

The prompt mash-up of - Royal AU + Florist AU - from this list.

And also it took a lot of debating, choosing who was to be royal and who was to be the florist. Jess seemed right for the princess and also the florist, but Nick seemed not at all right for a florist. (Don’t @ me about male stereotypes, I promise it was simply because it didn’t seem very in-character for him, lol.)

So here it is!!! (I wrote this in a haze so there’re bound to be loopholes. Forgive me.)

[ This is really fuckin’ long and my fever addled brain cannot be bothered to cut it down lol (would be a slow burn fic if written, so you can imagine), and if this pops unwanted on your dashboard and if you want to skip this, press the ‘J’ key. I’m not able to, for some Tumblr-y reason, insert a cut here. ]

Title: Lilies

Nicholas II is set to get engaged to Caroline (an American, not a royal), daughter of his mother’s bestfriend. He doesn’t want to get married but Caroline does.

Nick has always been private, and the state he’s from is quite small, so he’s not particularly “famous”. Everyone knows the Royal Miller family because of Walt’s flamboyancy, though.   

In an effort to get him more involved with the wedding, Bonnie gets Nick to take up responsibility for at least one aspect

N: *eye roll* Like I actually have a say. Do what you want, Ma.B: Of course you have a say! It’s your wedding!!N: How about we change the bride?B: Nicky! N: *mutters* I was just… joking…B: *glares at him* N: Fine. I’ll be more “involved”. What do you have for me?B: *completely relaxed now, excited even* I still haven’t decided on… the flowers?N: *sighs* How about… I don’t know… Lilies? B: Are you sure? I was thinking roses would be- *cue turtle face* Alright, fine. Lilies. You’re in charge of the flowers for this wedding, then. N: What? Ma, come one, why don’t you just-B: Nick, you need to be more involved. I’m asking you take care of just the flowers for the wedding or would you rather handle the guests and-N: No! Fine. Flowers. Flower only. 

He does a little research online and finds Jess’s flower store, which recently gained popularity in lilies - procuring fresh ones as well as in floral arrangements; he books an appointment online.

Jess and Cece conversation about the exciting prospect of having a royal as Jess’s client; Spencer is uninterested; Cece clearly doesn’t like him and think Jess is too good for hi

Nick and Caroline meet at a restaurant - breakfast date - sort of updating each other on the wedding stuff. It’s very clear that Caroline is very interested in this marriage and Nick really isn’t.

After the “date”, He shows up at Jess’s store - Here, he bumps into her outside as she’s carrying multiple bouquets of lilies with Spencer trailing behind her, hands in his pocket. The lilies fall and Jess is really angry because they were for a “client” and she yells at Nick (who is at the moment, looking at Jess like “omg so beautiful”) and both of them have a yelling match eventually till Jess huffs and muttering that she’s late, hurries inside.

Jess changes out of her stained clothes and hurries to the office where she’s shook at seeing Nick; but still doesn’t really apologize or anything. 

J: *shrugging* Prince or not, it was your fault. 

Nick is amused by her “IDGAF who you are” attitude and is purposely cheeky as hell with her. She tries to ask him what sort of bouquets/lilies/arrangements he needs so she can pre-order and she realizes that he literally has no idea what he’s doing.

J: You don’t know what you’re doing, do you?N: *sigh* No. I mean… they’re flowers, I thought I was just supposed to pick but Ma made me in charge of The Flowers and Everything to do with it.J: Why don’t you ask your fiancee to help?[ Don’t have the entire convo in my head, but it’s clear Nick is trying to get her to offer to help him ] N: *turtle face* She wants me to be more… involved. I need to do this myself.J: Well, alright then. Just FYI, you’re terrible at it :)N: I’m aware. If I could just…. *sigh* I don’t know…J: Alright, fine. I’ll help you out with this, you’re welcome.N: Great. I will pay you double. I’ll see you at Orange Blossom Cafe tomorrow at 8 am and we’ll drive to the wedding location.

Next day, Nick and Jess drive down to the venue location - a lakeside open place, perfect for summers.

Jess is clearly entranced and while Jess walks around in awe, Nick watches her in, you know, awe. Struck by her eyes, the contrast with the lake, her yellow sundress against the green grass and such. - “This is just an objective observation,” he tells himself. 

On their way back, she brings up Nick’s disinterest (displayed by how he doesn’t have an opinion about things about the wedding, or doesn’t have any idea as to what is hapening.) 

He is like it’s none of your business and starts to get mad -

J: Well, if your Royal Majesty thinks it’s a private issue, just say so. There’s no need to yell. N: That’s not even the right title! And it’s not an issue. I’m marrying my childhood…friend. J: *laughs, unable to help herself* You’re marrying your friend? N: *purses his lips and drives quietly, clearly disturbed*

They part ways; Caroline comes to Jess’s office to have a look at the plans - they small talk - Caroline’s nice. A little worried and nervous; she might actually have some feelings for Nick - Caroline seems happy that Nick came up with this stuff though it’s actually Jess and Jess feels a little bad, even feels a little guilty for lying. That’s who Jess is. 

Jess later talks to Cece how messed up it is because Nick only thinks she’s a friend while Caroline actually might feel otherwise (Remember that so far, Nick is just a royal/client that Jess speculates about with friends. Dare I say, gossip? Not mean spirited though. She wonders how difficult it must all be, the obligations and stuff like that)

Bonnie decides to organise a small engagement party - a second one - for the benefit of Caroline’s American friends. Since it’s an impromptu decision, Jess is called in for a great pay for the floral arrangements (+ invitation to the engagement) and she works late nights for three nights in a row. 

With Nick overseeing it of course, and also because he’s being courteous. Over prep nights, they become friends; also interactions  between Jess and Caroline, Nick and Spencer. 

Over these nights, they get closer and they talk about things - Nick wants to be an author, Jess’s mother wanted her to be a teacher but this just appealed to her more; her father had a green thumb. 

They talk about exes, Nick’s friendship with Caroline, Jess’s relationship with Spencer. 

(In their heads: Jess can see that Nick doesn’t care for Caroline that way and wants to tell him that he deserves love but zips it. Nick feels Jess deserves better than Spencer)

Night before the Engagement 2.0, Jess finishes early so Nick offers to drop her back home. He waits in the driveway till she disappears into the house and drives away. When Jess enters the house, she realizes Spencer’s been cheating on her. 

Cece forces Jess to go to the party and is also Jess’s +1 because she needs to get her mind off Spencer. (Cece meets Schmidt here). Jess looks hella pretty (Like in Season 1′s Wedding episode) but Nick notices that something’s really off with her and eventually finds her crying in the toilet. 

Conversation in the photobooth - flipped Wedding - Engagement party ends with Jess dancing the chicken dance to Groovy Kind of Love. Reluctant Nick joins as Cece drags Schmidt in, who peer pressures Nick. Caroline on the sidelines, watching quietly.

Next day, like in the show, he and Cece help her get her things back (Nick even plays the “I’m a royal” card). Cece notices the seemingly soft corner Nick seems to have for Jess.

Cece and Jess talk about it like in Cece Crashes but Jess is like “He’s getting married Ceec” and Cece brings up the conversation about Nick’s platonic feelings for Caroline. Jess is dismissive. 

Couple of days later, they’re driving to the wedding location again (for whatever reasons. Maybe another recee type of thing?) and parallels to Cece Crashes. Ends with Jess just fleeing home after he buys her red roses. She is spiralling now, y’all. 

Confused Nick shows up at her (and Cece’s door), demands an explanation - enter a lame ass excuse - She goes to the bathroom to collect herself and they head out again but she’s weirdly on edge, battling this in her head. When they reach the wedding location, she’s able to calm down because they were where he was going to get married. Cece’s wrong.

More stolen moments as he watches her quietly do her job, instructing different people what needs to be done. Nick is feeling things and that makes him very confused and even dazed.

Work done. On their way back, of course the car breaks down. Nick calls Schmidt to pick them up - They’re silent and Nick feels like he would burst with all the thoughts in his head, so:

N: Why lilies? J: What do you- Oh. I… They were my dad’s favourite. He used to buy them for my mom when she was mad, or sad or just to celebrate. She liked wearing them in her hair. Reminds me of…  happier times. *tears up a little, waves her hands but the tears come anway*  A-And the colours that they come in, it’s amazing. That’s one of the reasons why I think any place can be made to look great in just lilies because of the variety.N: That’s… sweet. *Quietly hands her a handkerchief - obviously has his monogram in gold hueuhe*J: I’ll give it to you, fresh and clean. I promise. *sniffles* (She never would)

They stare at each other until Nick clears his throat.

J: What about you, why lillies?”N: “Honestly? Because they’re the first thing they came to mind.” *pauses* *looks at her* I’m glad. I’m glad you’re around. 

Cue an almost kiss and Nick’s phone rings - a worried Caroline. Explains the situtauon and mild tension when she realizes he’s with Jess. “Are you okay? Why do you sound so out of breath?” “No I-I’m fine. Caroline, can I call you in a while?” “Sure, Nick. Of course.”

They won’t make eye contact. Furiously debating in their heads if they should talk about it. Schmidt’s timely arrival.

Schmidt drives them back. Jess dozes off in the back and Nick keeps looking at her in the rearview mirror. Schmidt: Thin ice, buddy, thin ice. Nick shushes him but decides not to talk about it, thinking of the kiss, but outwardly is completely dismissive.

At Cece-Jess’s apartment - awkward goodbye - doesn’t go unnoticed by Schmidt

Jess tells Cece about the almost kiss and nearly cries because she can’t do that. The whole “cheating thing”. Begs Cece and Winston (also a childhood friend) to just come with her everywhere and be the buffer. 

Enter Ryan Geaxinue, a cousin of Nick’s who has arrived for the wedding. ;) - Jess doesn’t have feelings for him per se, but they do have a one night stand. Nick is damn pissed when he finds out. [ A week before the wedding ]

They argue a lot about it, starts with passive aggressive comments and ends in a huge argument -  How it ends:

N: Jess, come on, I can’t be the only one feeling this way! J: Nick, you’re getting married. Married.N: I don’t love her, Jess.J: *scoffs* What and you love me?N: *is stunned and quiet*J: *bitter laugh* Let’s not get carried away, Nicholas. *shakes her head and leaves*

Cue angst. Lot of it.

Nick and Bonnie have a HUGE argument, Walt intervenes but that only pisses Nick off even more and he storms off. Caroline and Nick are on lunch date and she tries to coax it out of him - “…Nick, we’re friends. You can talk to me.” - but he is tightlipped and denies anything is wrong. 

Jess is sad too. Two days of running into each other awkardly while she’s workingts to avoid a run-in with Nick. He knows he should just stop visiting but he loves pain and wants to see her. 

Third day, she can’t take it and decides to just go to the venue really early to make plans and delegate later. Unfortunately, as she’s wrapping up he arrives - he wanted some peace. 

She starts to leave but he calls out to her, and she reluctantly joins him by the lake 

N: Hey Jess, what if I wasn’t getting married…J: What? *startled*N: You kept saying that I was getting marrieed… When I said I can’t be… the only one…J: Nick….N: Jess, please. What if I wasn’t getting married?J: But you are….N: That doesn’t answer my question.J: You are getting married. My answer doesn’t matter. You’re getting married in four days. Next week this time, you’ll be on your honeymoon. It doesn’t matter. N: What a mess… Why is everything so complicated…J: Not really, Nick. Caroline deserves love. You deserve love. N: *mutters* It’s not that simple….J: It is. When it comes to love, it is simple. N: Jess…J: Here are the final plans. *hands over papers*. I’ll have Rose contact you and she will take care of the rest. I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to be around each other. Goodbye, Nick. *kisses his cheek and stands up.* Nick watches her leave and is sad. 

Nick goes home where Walt is waiting for him. Talks to him about love and stuff + parts of ‘don’t think about it’ monologue. Nick is worried about Bonnie though, but Walt says that he’ll make sure she comes around - “I owe you that much, son.” [ The amends that Walt and Nick never really made properly on the show ]

Nick talks to Caroline and they break off their engagement. Caroline is sad, but she gives it up gracefully. Caroline has a condition - “Only if I can still go to our honeymoon trip, by myself.” Nick says that they both deserve love and Caroline laughs “Wow you’re in love with her aren’t you” - Glimpse of their friendship.

Next morning, he shows up at Jess’s door and tells her that he’s called off the engagement. 

Lot of fluff. LOT OF IT. So much fluff. 

Some drama with Bonnie but everything’s okay in the end. 

They get married two years later. Caroline’s found somebody too, and everyone’s happy. 

Notes [ Important to the story’s finer details but not key. If I included these arcs as well, this post wouldn’t never end lmao ]:

Winston and Jess are also childhood friends. He’s Jess’s partner at the florist store. Business-wise. Owner of a security firm. Meets Aly, in charge of the royal family’s security.

Bonnie isn’t a fan of Jess, especially when she starts suspecting Nick’s feelings, but Walt loves Jess.

Jess encourages Nick to write and Nick starts to write The Pepperwood Chronicles. Caroline happens to read it once and when she reads aboiut Jessica Night, that’s when she realizes his feelings for her. A substory plot would be her internal conflict and unsurety after this. 

Oh boy that’s long. Not gonna lie, this fic escalated so much in my head and boy was it a lot of work. I have half a mind to actually write this, lmao. This would be a 2-part, really fucking long slow burn fic :3 

Feel free to ask me questions!! I might have missed a lot of things because I didn’t re-read it, so whatever you think I might have missed out on, do ask!!