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angelasscribbles · 2 years ago

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Savage Love Chapter 17: Oh, Father

Series: Savage Love

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Riley x Liam, Riley x Drake

Rating: R

Warnings: Mature themes

Word Count: 3,590

My other stuff: Master List.

Liam ushered me into the small, private sitting room located in the wing that housed the royal family and I regarded the man I had been summoned for with annoyance, “What are you doing here?”

He opened his arms wide as if for a hug and asked, “Is that anyway to talk to your father?”

“Yes!” I snapped at him, “Didn’t they send an agent to brief you?”

He sighed, dropping his arms, “They did. Don’t worry, none of us are going to blow your cover. I just wanted to see my daughter, is that so bad?”

“That depends.” I narrowed my eyes, “Why are you really here?”

“To see you! That’s the truth. Because I haven’t seen you in over two years, Riley! I don’t know where you might go off to after this assignment is over. Are you ever planning to come visit? Are you ever going to come home?” He sounded actually hurt.

I felt most of the annoyance leave me as guilt flooded in instead. “I’m sorry. I should visit more. I promise, after this is over, I’ll take some time out and come visit.”

“I would be more than happy to escort you home, Riley. I would love to meet your family.” Liam spoke up.

My father’s face positively lit up at that suggestion, “Oh, we would love to have you, Your Majesty!”

“We’ll see.” I said, and that was the closest I’d come to a commitment of any sort, outside of professional ones, in years.

That’s not a no and I’m going to take it as encouragement.” Liam smiled happily at me.

I shook my head as I clamped down on the grin that threatened to give away how adorable I found his persistence. Instead, I asked, “Liam, could you give us a little privacy, please?”

“Of course!” He embraced me and kissed my cheek, then turned and shook my fathers’ hand before exiting the room.

My father watched him leave, then turned to me with that look. The one that always meant he knew something I didn’t want him to know.

“What?” I ask warily.

“I was just thinking….” He glanced toward the door Liam had just exited through then back at me, “this assignment might be just what you need to remind you of what’s important.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…this job could be your out.”

“I don’t want an out,” I informed him, “but even if I did, I don’t know what you mean.”

“I mean….” He paused for dramatic effect, “you could actually marry the prince, assure your future, cement relations between Monterisso and Cordonia-“

I cut him off, “I am not interested in Leo in that way, nor he in me.”

“I wasn’t talking about Leo. You know, a prince is a prince, he doesn’t have to be king. A king’s younger brother is still a pretty good-“

“Father! Stop! Are you really trying to pimp me out right now?”

He shook his head, “I’d never ask you to marry against your will, but I know what I saw just now, kitten. That young man is completely smitten with you, and you are at least interested in him.”

I rolled my eyes, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He shoved his hands in his pockets and with all the confidence in the world said, “Come on, now. Have I ever been wrong about you liking a boy?”

He was really irritating me. “Ok, first of all, Liam’s not a boy, he’s a grown man and when have you ever been right about who I liked?”

“Um…always.”

“Like when?” I demanded.

“That boy in junior high that you couldn’t stand? Kevin?”

“Because he annoyed the crap out of me, he pulled my hair, and he was obnoxious and-“

“And who was your first kiss?”

I sighed, crossing my arms, “Kevin.”

“Yes, and at that outrageously expensive prep school you begged to go to, the boy you swore was just your best friend?”

“David?”

“Yes, David! And who did you lose your virginity to?”

“DAD! Oh my god! Why? Just…just no!” I shook my head emphatically; this conversation was not happening!

“But it was David, wasn’t it?” He asked smugly.

“Fuck!” He wasn’t going to stop so I might as well admit it to get him to move on because I so did not want to be having this conversation with him, “Yes. But-“

“And your first year of college, the boy you said was pretentious and a snob? What was his name? Harold?”

I sighed in annoyance, “You know damn good and well that was Prince Harry, father.”

“Right. And who took you to the end of the year Freshman mixer?”

“Harry.”

“Uh huh.” He was just gloating at this point, “And junior year, the boy you competed with for captain of the debate team? The one you said thought he knew everything, and you couldn’t stand to breath the same air as him?”

“Daniel.” I said in defeat.

“Yes, Daniel. How could I forget? He went on our family vacations with us for two years.”

I threw my hands up in the air in exasperation, “What’s your point?”

“My point, kitten, is that I’m your father and I know you. Deny it all you want, you like him.” He rocked back on his heels in satisfaction, as if he’d just proven something.

“Oh my God! I like him, ok? Is that you want to hear?”

“Yes!” He crowed gleefully, “Was that so hard?”

“You don’t understand. It’s complicated.”

“Uncomplicate it for me.”

“Ugh! I like him, ok? But I also like someone else and-“

“Oohhhh! Who’s the other-“ He sounded far too happy about it.

“It doesn’t matter, ok? Because there is no future with either one of them!”

“Why not?”

“Why not?” I rolled my eyes again, harder this time, “Did you forget what I do for a living?”

“But…” His face crumpled into a confused frown, “You don’t have to do that! You have plenty of money, you don’t have to work at all if you don’t want to!”

I sighed, he was never going to understand, “I don’t do it for the money, father, it’s about more than-“

“I know you wanted to feel fulfilled or whatever. I never tried to stop you from pursuing your dreams, but….”

“But what?”

“But I thought you’d have whatever it is out of your system by now-“

“Whatever it is? You know what I do is important, I help protect the world from-“

“Yes. Important and dangerous! You do understand that governing is also important, right? And much less likely to get you killed!”

I had a scathing retort on the tip of my tongue, but it died there, my fury abating as I registered the falter in his voice. He was afraid for me. And while the ‘please quit your job, I’m scared for you’ bullshit was a big reason I had stopped dating, it struck an entirely different chord coming from my father.

I couldn’t be mad at him for it. I did put myself in harm’s way on the daily and I did go for months at a time without checking in. I suddenly felt like a terrible daughter.

“Ok, I’m sorry,” I said, taking him by the arm, “come on, we can spend the morning together and have lunch. Then I have to get ready for a work related dinner. How long are you staying?”

“I’m just passing through on my way to Auvernal. I would love to spend the morning with you.”

There was a knock on the door and Liam stuck his head back in, “I’m so sorry, I don’t want to disturb you, but I was wondering if I could talk the two of you into lunch later.”

“Oh, I don’t think-“ I started to turn him down, but my father interrupted me.

“Splendid! We would love to! Right, kitten?” He beamed at me, “In fact, Riley was just about to show me around a little. We would love for you to join us for that too!”

I narrowed my eyes at him, I knew exactly what he was trying to do. But Liam looked so hopeful as his eyes found mine that I didn’t have the heart to say no.

Fortunately for me, Liam and my father hit it off like a house on fire, relieving me of the pressure of trying to find topics of conversation with my father that weren’t fraught with family drama. Unfortunately for me, my father decided to regale Liam with tales from my childhood. By lunchtime I think Liam knew every embarrassing thing I’d ever done between the ages for four and seventeen.

“No, she did not!” Liam was looking at me in astonished amusement as my father recounted the time I jumped from the roof in an attempt to test out the angel wings I’d gotten for Christmas.

“She did! The only thing that saved her was her brother’s good sense to drag a mattress out into the yard for her to land on.”

“It was false advertising. The picture on the package showed the girl wearing them flying.” I said by way of explanation.

“Well, if anyone could have made them actually work, I have no doubt it would be you.” Liam said with such undisguised adoration that my head snapped up to see if my father had caught it. Judging by the gloating expression his face, he had. I sighed and stabbed my salad harder than was absolutely necessary.

I love my father, I do, but I’ll admit that I was relieved when he finally left. I slumped against the palace door after it closed behind him. “That was exhausting!”

“I’m sorry, I could see that was difficult for you. Do you mind if I ask why?”

“That obvious, huh?” I asked.

Liam cocked his head to one side as he watched me, “Yes. I found him delightful. I hope it doesn’t bother you that he told me stories about your childhood. I can assure you that I found all of them as charming and intriguing as you.”

“He just wants different things for me than what I want for myself.” I replied vaguely.

“What do you want for yourself?” He asked it like he really wanted to know the answer.

“What?” I was stunned by the question. I shouldn’t have been, it was such a Liam thing to do, ask me something deep and personal about myself and actually be interested in the answer. I wasn’t used to it though. Men never asked me what I wanted. They were generally only interested in what they wanted.

“What do you want, out of life?”

“I…don’t know.” I answered honestly. “To be happy, I guess.”

“And what makes you happy, Riley?”

I stared at him as I blew out a breath of frustration. This shouldn’t be a hard question. I finally settled on, “Helping people makes me happy.”

“Is that why you became an agent?”

“Partly.”

“What’s the other part?”

“I think a part of me just wanted out from under my family. What better way to do that than pretend to be someone else and disappear for months at a time?” I was joking, but not really.

“Do you think you could be happy doing anything else? As long as it was helping people and kept you out from under your family?”

I sat with that question for a while. “I think so. I do want to make a difference in the world. A real one. And I value my independence. I love my family, my parents mean well, but they do tend to want to micromanage my life. If I hadn’t left home, I have no doubt I’d have been pressured into a marriage of their arranging years ago, I’d currently be spending my days attending tea parties and whatever charities my mother picked out for me to represent. I’d probably have two kids by now.” I shuddered at the thought.

“You don’t want kids?”

“I might want kids, but I want them if and when I want them, not when someone else prescribes them for me. I mean, look at Leo. Has anyone asked him if he’s ready for marriage and fatherhood? No. But he has to do it because it’s expected.”

“I get that.” Liam nodded thoughtfully, “You know they want me to pick a wife at next year’s social season.”

“So soon?” I asked in surprise.

“Oh yes. Just in case, my father said, because I’m the spare. What if something were to happen to Leo or he isn’t able to have children? A million things could occur that would thrust me into his shoes, blah, blah, blah. I mean, that’s ridiculous, right?”

I’d never heard him sound so vulnerable, outside of the day we discussed his mother’s death. I asked, “Are you worried about that? Does the thought of taking over for Leo scare you?”

“A little.” He confessed, “But mostly I hate the idea of anything bad happening to Leo and it bothers me to think that people are making contingency plans for it.”

“Of course that bothers you.” I said, taking his hand, “You’re a good person and you love your brother.” I didn’t add that it was also necessary considering that leaders of any variety were always at risk of assassination attempts and coups. I didn’t have to. He knew it as well as I did. Better, all things considered.

“It is what it is.” He said with a sigh, “Meanwhile, you chose an even higher risk occupation.”

I responded with, “At least this one comes with training in hand to hand combat and an arsenal of weapons.”

“I have an armory full of weapons and an entire military at my command.”

I had to laugh at that, “That’s true.”

“Have you ever thought about what you’d do if you weren’t an agent?” He asked.

“Changing the subject?” I countered.

“Maybe. But have you?”

“Not really.”

“Never? At all?”

“Ok, maybe I’ve considered opening a bookstore.”

“A bookstore?” His mouth fell open.

“What? I like to read!”

“It just seems so….sedate.”

“Unlike me?”

“Unlike you.” He agreed.

“What about you? What would you be if you weren’t a prince?”

“I’d be a writer, and I’d go around to bookstores doing readings and autographing books. Then I’d meet a beautiful and smart bookstore owner and decide to settle down in her town so I could pursue her.”

“That sounds like….not a real answer.” I pushed him gently on the shoulder.

“Oh, it is, I assure you!” He pulled me closer to him, “She’d see how charming and sincere I was, and we’d fall in love and get married.”

“I can see you’ve thought about this a lot.”

“Oh, absolutely! That’s been my dream for a very long time.” He wrapped his arms me and drew me into a kiss.

I melted into his embrace for a moment, then pushed him away, “Come on, we have a meeting to get to.”

“Right.” He sighed as I pulled away.

If he thought I was pushing him away so I could avoid discussion about anything emotional, he was right. But we did have a meeting to get to and I did have a dinner party to prepare for. Leo, Drake, Max, Jason and Jared were likely already there, they all tended to run early, and Liam and I would be barely on time.

The room we were in was right down the hall from the room where the meeting was taking place, so we walked together. I didn’t resist when he slipped his hand into mine. But I wasn’t going to walk through the door for a business meeting holding his hand, so when we arrived at the door, I gave him an apologetic smile and pulled my hand away.

“Talk to me about Lorelai Lee.” I snapped into professional mode the moment we were through the door of the conference room.

Jared grabbed a dossier off the table in front of him and tossed it to me as he spoke, “Lorelai seems clean. She’s barely left Shanghai in years and we can find no contact with any known or suspected Via Imperii members.”

“So, she’s either not a member after all or she left.” I mused.

“Or at least went inactive.” Drake agreed.

“That, or she’s deep cover, waiting to be activated.” Jared shrugged.

I considered all the possibilities, “Either way, I think it’s safe to clear Hana Lee as a suspect.”

“Are you sure about that?” Drake asked me.

I turned to give him a perplexed look, “Yes, I’m sure.”

“And it’s not just because you like her?”

The corners of my lips twitched up.

Drake’s brows pulled together at my reaction, “What?”

I looked at Jared and jerked my head in Drake’s direction, “Jared, tell him my nickname. The one the other agents came up with.”

Jared’s eyes darted between us. He smirked as he responded, “Agent Iceberg.”

“And why is that my nickname?”

“Because you’re cold as ice. Everyone knows you can cozy up to a suspect, even have, um, intimate relations with them, and turn around and slap cuffs on them without batting an eyelash. That’s fucking colder than cold, man. It’s glacial.”

I looked back at Drake, tipping my head to the side to give him a look, “Well?”

He bit back a smile as he held his hands up in front of him, “I stand corrected, ma’am. I apologize.”

“And?”

“And I should have known better.” He conceded, “Literally nothing gets in the way of you doing your job.”

Did I detect a note of bitterness in that last statement? I decided to ignore it. “Nope. And stop calling me ma’am.”

That put the grin back on his face. He didn’t respond to it, he just shook his head and turned back to Max, “So are you ready for this dinner party?”

“Yep!” Max answered him, “I’m a little nervous because my work for the crown usually consists of hacking.”

“You’ll be fine.” I told him, “Just pretend to be stuck up and pretentious and like you think you’re better than commoners.”

“So, channel my brother, got it.”

I snickered. I had only met Bertrand a few times, but that characterization seemed accurate.

I turned to Leo, “Once I find out where these dinner parties are being held, maybe Jared can find a way in as a staff member.”

Jared nodded, “Right. I’ll ask around about opportunities for making some extra money on the side.”

I directed my next question to Jason, “Any progress on finding connections to Hidar?”

“Yes, actually, several people on our suspect list have made trips there in the last year. Many of them at the same time.”

“Who?” I demanded.

“Emmeline Ebrim, all three Amaranth’s, Tariq Lambros, Cedric Vescovi, and your boy Neville VanCoeur.” Jason responded.

“Ok, so there’s a least a base there.” I conjected.

“Seems at least likely.” Jared replied.

“Ok, can you make sure I get a copy of those findings so I can look them over later?” I asked.

“I’ll bring a copy by your room tonight after you get back from the dinner party.” Drake offered.

Liam’s arms crossed over his chest, but he didn’t otherwise react to the thought of Drake in my bedroom late at night. I just nodded, “Thank you.”

I was fitted with a pendant containing a camera and Max and I both had a pocketful of bugs to plant.

“I’d still feel better if we could send a detachment of guards to follow you.” Drake said.

I shook my head, “Too risky, they could be spotted. Besides, it’s a dinner party. At best, it’s an interview to see if they trust me before issuing an official invitation to join them. I can’t risk anything jeopardizing my way in.”

Max glanced at his watch, “When is our car arriving?”

“Six.” I replied, “So I’ll go get dressed and meet you out front at six.”

“I’ll walk you back.” Liam offered.

My eyes went straight to Drake. His jaw tightened, but that was it. We held eye contact for a moment then he nodded curtly, “I’ll see later tonight, Brooks.” He strode over to clamp a hand down on Maxwell’s shoulder and leaned in to say something to him that I couldn’t hear.

Max and Drake were deep in conversation when Liam and I left the room.

“You know I can find my way back on my own.” I told him.

“I know.” He said, “I just like spending time with you.”

When we made it back to the panel outside my room, he pulled me around to face him, “Please, just be careful tonight. I couldn’t take it if anything happened to you.”

“I’ll be fine, Detroit. It’s a dinner party and I’m a highly trained agent.”

“I know. Just….” He trailed off as his fingers picked at a loose thread on my shirt.

“Hey,” I reached up and cupped his cheek, “I’ll be careful. Promise.”

“Ok, that’s all I’m asking. I’m not trying to stop you from being you. I hope you don’t think-“

“Liam.” I cut him off, “You’re fine. Thanks for helping me out with my dad today.”

“That was nothing, really.”

“It was something to me.”

His lips turned up as he shook his head softly.

“What?” I asked.

“I don’t think you understand.”

“Understand what?” I asked.

“That I’d do anything for you.” He said earnestly. Then he kissed me.

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blouisparadise · 3 years ago

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Upon request, here is a rec list of bottom Louis fics where Louis and Harry share clothes! If you enjoy our rec lists, please be sure to like this post and reblog it to help spread the word. Happy reading!

1) What's Yours Is Mine (What's Mine Is Ours) | Explicit | 2982 words

Prompt: Something about Louis always waiting until the last minute to pack his bag for tour so one time Harry does it for him and then they’re thousands of miles away by the time Louis figures out Harry hasn’t actually packed anything useful. Whether it’s because Harry is just genuinely useless at packing for other people or because he wants Louis to be forced to wear his clothes is up in the air. Also Louis refusing to wear Harry’s clothes out of pure spite until Harry makes it up to him.

2) That Ugly Ass Yellow Shirt | Explicit | 7501 words

Note: This fic is the first part in a series.

"This," says Louis, holding up a shirt from the box, "is the ugliest fucking shirt I've ever seen."

3) It's The Way You Love (I Gotta Give It Back To You) | Explicit | 8153 words

Stretching, Louis finally pulled the duvet aside and let his feet fall onto the plush rug at his feet. Louis lived for soft, comfortable, plush things. From the fairy lights and fake plants to his plush robe and thick socks, everything in Louis’ little one bedroom apartment was carefully catered to his whimsical and soft aesthetic.

4) Make A Run, Cause Some Rebellion | Explicit | 8824 words

As a general rule, kitten hybrids are small and disinterested in what other people want them to do, slightly evil and at least a little manipulative. Louis prides himself on being all of those things to varying degrees, but especially on being uninterested in what other people tell him to do. He’s still human goddammit, despite his pointy ears and penchant for curling up in the sun and taking naps.

He’s going about his daily business, knocking things over where he sees fit and leaving a trail of mess in his wake. As exasperated as it makes Liam he’s used to it by now, having shared a flat with Louis for almost three years now, and if Louis whines enough he’ll even clean up after him. It’s a great life, really.

With the exception of Liam’s stupid, broad shouldered, entirely too big mate, the one who always comes over to watch sports with him. Louis hates that guy. His hair is always greasy and he brings weird hipster beer with him when he comes that tastes like shit. And he won’t even let Louis have any of it, either. The only reason Louis even knows what it tastes like is because one time he stole a bottle from the fridge and fled to his room before Harry could catch him.

5) Rather This Than Live Without You | Explicit | 10715 words

Harry decides to give it all up. Louis refuses to be left behind.

6) You’re All I See In My Mind (I Think I See A Lifetime) | Explicit | 16312 words

PROMPT 560 - Kitten hybrid Louis gets kicked out of his house. With nowhere to go and a very cold and stormy weather outside, he ends up wandering into Harry’s shed to hide from the thunder and rain (he gets terrified by it). Harry hears crying from the shed so he goes to investigate.

7) These Roads We Stumble Down | Explicit | 18233 words

Harry picks up a hitchhiker in Oxford, and it’s a long ride to Glasgow.

8) Absolutely Smitten | Explicit | 20120 words | Sequel

Louis is walking his dog. Harry is walking his cat. Leashes get tangled, and feelings too.

9) Smaller Than Me | Explicit | 22935 words

Note: This fic is locked and can only be read by AO3 users.

Harry's just finished his first year of uni on his way to becoming Dr. Harry Styles, Neurosurgeon. He's young, he has endless potential, three amazing best mates, a new love and the world at his fingertips. The fact that his new boyfriend may or may not be a sex-worker, of course, throws a wrench into the works. But it's not true. Really.

Probably.

It most definitely might not be entirely true. And that's all Harry needs to know.

10) Force of Nature | Mature | 25672 words

Louis is a shy, young musician who doesn't want to go to Harvard.

Harry is a confident, second year athlete who likes to have a good time.

When their paths cross while their families are vacationing at the same lake resort, what begins as a summer of fun becomes a defining journey that might just change everything.

11) You Fit In My Poems (Like A Perfect Rhyme) | Explicit | 27598 words

Louis had a feeling it would take him a long, long time to get over the way his hand seemed to fit perfectly into Harry’s in the few seconds they held them together, like they were missing puzzle pieces that only worked when you put them in the same place at the same time, much like the way they had met that night a few days ago.

He smiled to himself as he let Harry guide him, thinking, maybe this is one of those moments books have talked about before.

12) Building Me Up (But Buttercup, You Lied) | Explicit | 31007 words

Harry’s mouth felt dry just saying those words. What he had with Louis was so much more than a simple ‘fuck buddies’ situation. It was slow kisses in the morning between soft sheets and shy smiles, it was holding hands in the afternoon while walking and eating ice cream. It was breakfast for dinner, laughing and licking honey from each other’s lips as they shared goals and even some secrets, it was happiness, it was glow.

To Harry, what he had with Louis meant everything. Until Louis decided it meant nothing.

13) What This World Is About | Explicit | 34472 words

An eighties American high school AU; there are first times, football games, and feelings.

Alternatively titled: the beginning.

14) Let Me Feel Your Heartbeat | Explicit | 34572 words

Harry is 98% sure Louis hates him. So he feels like his bewilderment is justified when the omega offers to help him through his rut.

15) Bluebird | Explicit | 39046 words

The 2,789 miles between New York and Los Angeles is a long way to go alone.

16) Thinking About The T-Shirt You Sleep In | Explicit | 52489 words

Harry's alpha fraternity donates to a local thrift shop (because of Liam's latent crush on a cute beta in his lecture). Louis' financial situation (and confusing omega instincts) lead him to make some interesting fashion purchases. Lots of pizza, feelings, and not-really-lying.

17) Quite On The Contrary | Explicit | 63818 words

Neighbors x High School AU where it all started with Harry moving next door to the Tomlinsons, a balcony break in, mixed feelings, a poorly thought-out initiation, several missing sweaters and a lot of non-platonic activities.

18) Flash Back To Me | Explicit | 73066 words | Sequel

It’s almost as if he’s putting on a show, as if he knows that he’s got Harry’s heart in a blender and wants to pulverize it just that tiny bit more. Wants to stoke the flames inside his groin, rev his engine a little harder.

He’d be lying if he said it wasn’t working, his eyes dark with lust and something else that he can’t quite put a finger on. A tiny inkling of an idea that’s worked its way through his veins since he first set his sights on Louis a mere hour ago.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

#bottom louis #top harry #larry #fic recs #blp fic recs #clothes sharing #blp

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emkay512 · 3 years ago

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Just For Tonight

What if it had been Liam’s idea to have house Beaumont sponsor Riley in his social season? And what was Liam’s night like after he dropped off Riley in the very first chapter?

A/N: I watch a lot of rom-coms and chick flicks and couldn’t stop thinking about Liam and came up with this 🙃 This exists in my OUAT universe, so I’m using those tags, I hope that’s ok and you enjoy!

Thank you at @sfb123 and @queenrileyrose for pre-reading and giving me that extra confident boost! I think I was marinating on this too long! Lol 😅

Warnings: Some language, but that’s about it.

Tags: @burnsoslow @bbrandy2002 @ao719 @kat-tia801 @sincerelyella @charlotteg234 @neotericthemis @queenrileyrose @kingliam2019 @iaminlovewithtrr @amandablink @iluaaa @jared2612 @sfb123 @twinkleallnight @tessa-liam @secretaryunpaid @ladyangel70 @gkittylove99 @texaskitten30 @shanzay44 @ofpixelsandscribbles

Word count: 1,676

Liam’s head was swimming. He and Riley just piled into a cab to escort her back to her apartment after their midnight rendezvous with the Statue of Liberty. That kiss she gave him on the ferry had him dizzy, he was losing his inner fight to remember his duty bound responsibilities and wanted to embrace her again, but he also didn’t want to lead Riley on.

As if Riley was reading his mind, she broke the silence and asked, “hey, Liam?” Liam focused his gaze on her in reply, “what if just for tonight, we indulge in ourselves a little?” Liam lifted his brow in confusion.

“How do you mean?”

Riley was feeling quiet vulnerable with her idea, but in keeping with her own suggestion, she explained, “I have a feeling about you. That you’re used to putting your priorities and desires dead last in life. I’m even a little afraid that you may come to regret this night with me because you will convince yourself you had over indulged by allowing a little personal pleasure in your life. I’m saying, don’t do that. And I won’t either. I’m not sorry for opening up to a prince I know I’ll never see again. So… so how about you do the same?” Riley felt her cheeks blush and she looked up at him to see his eyes soften, knowing he was moved and would agree.

“Ok.” Liam smiled genuinely, she was completely right, and now thanks to her, he wouldn’t allow himself to feel any shame for enjoying this night. “Ok, Ms. Riley Brooks, I’ll do the same. Just for tonight, I will feel no shame for enjoying myself, for letting my heart call the shots for once.”

“Good.” Riley almost felt her eyes well up with tears from both the most sincere happiness she was feeling mixed with sadness of the night ending. Just then, the cab slowed to a stop right in front of her stoop. “Well, this is me. Good night, Liam. Thank you for the unforgettable evening.”

“Riley,” was all he could whisper before they both leaned in, closed their eyes, and surrendered into their goodnight kiss. Liam had relaxed completely, and it was Riley that deepened the kiss. She had parted her lips for him and he allowed himself to touch his tongue to hers, reveling in her sweet taste. He took one hand to cup her cheek and his other hand around her waist, both hands pressing her body as close to his as possible.

At the sound of the cabbie clearing his throat, they parted, both a little out of breathe. With smiles on both their faces, they said at the same time, “well, good night.”

They awkwardly laughed, and Riley touched her hand to his 5 o’clock shadow and said, “I think you are amazing, and thank you again for tonight.” She offered him the sweetest smile and then moved to exit the cab.

Liam replied as she was making her move out, “goodnight, Ms. Riley, and just so you know, I will never regret this night.” It was the right thing to say, as he saw nothing but elation on her face as she gently shut the car door and turned to walk into her apartment.

After giving the cabbie the name of his hotel, Liam leaned back in the backseat of the cab with nothing but stars in his eyes. He couldn’t believe the night he just had, and he was too far gone in his euphoria that he wouldn’t allow himself to think back to the reality that awaits him. Just for tonight. Just like they had said. He would allow himself to close out this night on his love sick high.

Upon his arrival back to the suite he was sharing with his friends, Maxwell was the only one still up. Liam could swear that his good, cheery, friend, Maxwell Beaumont, operated on constant energizer bunny batteries and actually didn’t sleep.

“Well, well, well… couldn’t quiet pull off the next-morning-walk-of-shame, my prince?” Maxwell knew Liam hated the formalities among his friends so he knew right away that Maxwell was in a full ball-busting mood. But Liam didn’t care. And to his dismay, Maxwell noticed. “Whoa. What the hell is that dopey look on your face!? You did get laid??” Maxwell was sincerely perplexed because he knew that a one night quickie was unlike Liam, but he could think of no other explanation.

Liam chuckled and shrugged, knowing he was unable to shake the grin off his face. No, he didn’t get laid. But he did get kissed. Twice. By a woman he knew he wouldn’t shake from his thoughts, for probably the rest of his life. Just for tonight. He continued the mantra in his mind. He’d let his mind wander to the idea of seeing her again. “Calm down, Max. She just showed me a very lovely evening. She pulled off a trip to the Statue of Liberty. Just for me.” Maxwell was not missing the stars in Liam’s eyes and couldn’t resist in fucking with him a little more.

“Huh, so your tryst involved another lady? Ya know, Lady Liberty? Kinky.” Liam rolled his eyes, that’s not even creative or funny, he thought to himself. “Wait, so how in the hell did you pull that off? I know you get shit done, but a last minute late night boat ride in a foreign country to impress a girl? How did you do it?”

“I didn’t. It was all the other way around. She called in a favor to impress me, and as you can see, I was quiet taken.”

“Well damn, sister’s got some moves! I mean, look at you, I’ve never seen you so smitten!” Maxwell was still muttering some mockeries at Liam, something about Liam being a smitten kitten. But it was something else he said that stuck out to Liam. Sister. Maxwell had call her a sister. After a second, a wild idea popped into Liam’s mind.

“That’s it! That’s it, Maxwell you genius!” Maxwell blinked up at Liam, very unsure what part of his rambles got Liam so excited. “House Beaumont still needs a sponsor for the social season, right?”

“Uh, yeah. That’s right.” Maxwell was clearly not putting two and two together.

“Catch up, Beaumont! Her! Riley! What do you think? We could catch up with her in the morning and ask her to join the season under your house. Well?”

Maxwell was grinning from ear to ear. He thought it was such a good idea that he was disappointed he didn’t think of it. “You’re on. You and I can find her in the morning before your early flight back and if she says yes, I’ll bring her back here to get the guys caught up and she’ll fly back with us.”

“Genius! Ah, I could kiss you right now Maxwell! I’m gonna try to catch some sleep before the morning.” Liam said while pumping his fist in excitement and he half jogged into a separate room to fall asleep.

The next morning, Liam and Maxwell caught sight of Riley walking up to her bar. Maxwell still had a curious amount of energy in him and next thing Liam knew, he was jogging ahead to Riley with his hand in the air to get her attention. “Hey! Hey, Riley!” Liam kept his pace as Maxwell rushed ahead.

Riley whipped around to see Maxwell charging at her. “Oh, hey. It’s you. One of Liam’s friends, Maxwell, right?”

“Yep! Good memory! Anyway I’m glad I caught you. I’m here because I want to formally invite you to Cordonia to participate in all the festivities for Liam. Normally you wouldn’t be allowed to join, but I want to sponsor you!” Maxwell could see the shock and confusion on her face as he continued to explain. “I’m from a noble house, but I don’t have any sisters so we don’t have anyone in contention to marry the prince. Instead we get to pick any girl to sponsor, and I pick you!”

“Wh-why me?”

“I’m not doing it just for you.” Just then Liam caught up and strode into the scene.

“Good morning, Ms. Riley Brooks.” Liam used his most husky and calm voice possible. He knew he was about to be asking a lot out of her.

Riley instantly picked up Liam’s voice as he walked up and greeted her, “Liam? What are you doing here?”

Liam approached and grabbed her hand, bringing it up to his lips for a quick kiss. He met her eyes as he explained, “I’m here to do the same thing my good friend, Maxwell, is here doing. I want to convince you to come to Cordonia. Everything he said is true. You can participate as his sponsor.” Riley moved her eyes from Liam and looked just over his shoulder at Maxwell, she was trying to decide if he was someone she could trust and someone whose house she wanted to join. She saw a very promising and honest smile on his face, and she felt comfortable. She then looked back to Liam, who was still holding her hand.

“I… I don’t know.. that’s a big commitment..”

“Look,” Liam said quickly not wanting to lose his momentum. “I’ll level with you, Cordonia won’t be like New York, but there’s something about you. About us, that I trust. There’s something here Riley, why not give it a shot. Come on, I know you feel it too.”

She most certainly felt it too and she thought about last night and the opportunity that could be ahead of her, versus her current shitty bartending life in New York, and she came to her decision. “Ok,” she smiled and looked him in the eye, “I’m in.”

“Yes!” Maxwell shouted from behind them, “go pack your bags, this is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!”

Riley looked at Liam and said, “I guess we’re shooting for more than just for tonight, huh?”

Liam replied, “heh, yeah I guess you’re right.”

#choices trr #choices #king liam #liam x riley #the royal romance #trr #trr liam #liam x mc #trr Liam fic #trr fic #trr ouat

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deanmarywinchester · 4 years ago

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definitive ranking of Tortall love interests

oh boy. i loved the Tortall books as a kid and i am having a blast on my reread, but one thing that I almost uniformly dislike about them is their romance plots. it’s the rare Tortall love interest who isn’t creepy in some way, much older than the protagonist, or just plain boring. so to go along with my ranking, each dude will get a ranking on a Creep Scale (0-10, with 0 being a normal nice dude and 10 being a huge creep), and an Interest Index (10 being extremely charming and interesting and 0 being more boring than a rock). without further ado, the ranking:

8: liam ironarm: just, the Absolute bottom of the barrel. I can only assume he must have been extremely hot and an extremely good fighter for alanna to be even remotely interested in getting past his condescension and infantilization toward her. dude, she’s the lioness, not your “kitten.” ugh. Creep Scale: 9. Interest Index: 8 (he is the Shang Dragon)

7: numair salmalin: the duality of man: charming, intelligent, an unmatched mage, based on Jeff Goldblum, probably slept with the emperor of carthak--but also thought it was cool to date his teenage student when he was literally twice her age. gross! someone on this site once said “it wasn’t his fault, he’s a victim of tammy’s teacher kink” and i haven't stopped thinking about it since. Creep Scale: STRONG 10. Interest Index: also 10. duality of man indeed.

6: cleon of kennan: now, here’s the thing. there’s nothing WRONG with cleon. he’s nice, he’s a good knight, whatever. but from a narrative perspective, he’s just so extremely dull. on the other hand, I guess that makes him the perfect dude for kel to imprint on before she realizes romance isn't for her. Creep Scale: 0. Interest Index: 3.

5: jonathan of conte: hm. jonathan is so hard to rank because he’s a solid friend when he’s not having his WWRLaM-era breakdown, but honestly I don’t think he’s ever a good love interest. he can’t wrap his head around the fact that alanna is both alanna his girlfriend AND alan his comrade, and seems to treat her like two different people depending on whether she’s in battle or in his bed. Creep Scale: 5 for the WWRLaM-era breakdown and being a colonizer (er, excuse me, Voice). Interest Index: 9 for being a prince and a good friend

4: dale rowan: if you’re going to have a first fling, you could do a lot worse than dale. he’s funny, he’s charming, he’s upfront about the fact that this won’t be a serious relationship, but he's loyal as long as he’s with you. a solid dude and canonically good in bed. Creep Scale: 0. Interest Index: 7.

3: george cooper: a roguish thief character who’s still an almost weirdly honorable man? immediately imprints on “alan” and jon and vows to protect them? encourages alanna to be nothing less than herself? grows up to be a good dad? near perfection. 12-year-old me was smitten. Creep Scale: 3.5 for the age gap. Interest Index: 10.

2: nawat crow: pros: is literally a crow spirit. cons: is literally a crow spirit. pretty cool, pretty weird, and he definitely treats Aly right. top marks. Creep Scale: 1, but only because crows don’t know about things like human boundaries so it took him a hot sec to be normal. Interest Index: 9 (he’s a crow spirit!)

1: farmer cooper: [griffin mcelroy voice] now THERE’S a boy I can get into. himbo-passing by choice but funny, smart, and a great self-taught embroidery mage by nature, farmer cooper is hands down the best Tortall love interest. he respects beka, he braids her hair for her, he took her name when they married, he kissed her for the first time in a dungeon while they faced death--what more could you want? Creep Scale: -100. Interest Index: 9.

#feel free to argue with me but i am a farmer cooper stan blog now fdhdkjdskhjdfshk #my posts #tamora pierce #tortall

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ao3feed-larry · 4 years ago

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smitten kitten

by meredithflynn

louis is a little kitten hybrid. harry is a sweet, protective boy. and they're both absolutely smitten with each other.

aka the cutest kitten!louis fanfic

Words: 1445, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: One Direction (Band)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne

Relationships: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

Additional Tags: Innocent Louis, Protective Harry, Possessive Harry, Protective Liam, Kitten Louis, Hybrid Louis, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Light Angst, Sleepy Cuddles, Fluff, this is so fluffy, louis is extremely adorable, Adorable Louis Tomlinson, Smitten Harry, Smitten Louis Tomlinson

via AO3 works tagged 'Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson' https://ift.tt/3fb8zTS

#author #larry stylinson #larry fic #ao3 feed larry #smitten kitten #<p>by <a rel= href="/users/meredit

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alarriefantasy · 6 years ago

Note

Insecure Louis? Like, REALLY insecure Louis. To the point he has given hope he will ever get love and Harry is in love with Louis since forever. Thank you! ILY! And your blog! 😘

THANK AND I LOVE YOU TOO! :) I tried my best on this one, but they may not all be exactly what you asked for! Definitely insecure Louis though! Let me know if you want more! :)

Insecure Louis

Always running after you,like a lost dog. by ace23

Words: 4k

Harry is an alpha, meets omega Louis in a club.

Right away he feels a wild desire for him, and after he gets him is left wanting more.

Louis never stays though, and Harry is slowly but surely falling for him.

Just Another Ordinary Day by jacinth

Words: 4k

Omega Louis finds out his best friend (who he may or may not be in love with) Harry, an Alpha, might have found someone he wants to mate with. Jealous and tired of dealing with it all, he confronts Harry and demands to know who it is. The Alpha refuses to give a name but proceeds to describe the object of his affection.

Despite not wanting to hear about how much Harry wants this supposedly “perfect, witty, gorgeous, stubborn, most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen, with a body that drives me mad” boy, Louis listens like the good friend he is.

Love Is a Kitten from Hell by youbeyou

Words: 8k

Louis Tomlinson passes himself off as an arrogant prick at his new school to hide the fact that he’s terrified of being bullied again. Just when he’s getting tired of putting up walls, he finds himself in a local pet shop where he finds a sanctuary playing with the kittens in the front window.

Harry Styles is the popular football player who works at the pet shop, secretly watching the boy he thought was utterly unlikable prove him wrong.

Partnered together for a class project, Harry gets more and more hints that Louis is actually someone worth getting to know. But the real question is, will Louis let Harry in?

I never thought through love we’d be (making one as lovely as she) by shitucute

Words: 8k

or, Louis’s main goal in life is to be knocked up with Harry’s kids and he doesn’t realize that Harry wants the same.

Every time that you get undressed (I hear symphonies in my head) by theboyfriendstagram

Words: 12k

OR an AU in which Harry is the typical frat boy who doesn’t believe in love but falls for the insecure mess that is Louis.

here’s to drinks in the dark by teacuplarrie

Words: 13k

Harry is an English teacher, Ed is the volleyball coach, and they only have eyes for their best student and star player, Louis.

Green Eyes, Empty Canvas by SexyAsswoMan

Words: 15k

His eyes were a weird shade of green. A shade that reminded you of a forest. a forest washed up in rain, glistening in the golden sun. Bright yet soft at the same time. And Louis wanted to get lost in them. Wanted to take it all out and splatter it on a canvas. Wanted to know every stroke of the man that stood in front of him.Too bad he was shit at forming words.

or where, Louis Tomlinson liked to paint and suddenly, all he could ever paint was Harry Styles.

The Love Hour by Snowy38

Words: 17k

“Shit. Hi. Hello. Fuck….”

“May I politely remind you that we are live on air, Tom. Please keep swearing to a minimum.”

“Oh. Oh yeah.”

“How can I help you, Tom?”

“I’m single.”

“Hmm…”

Shallow breaths can be heard, a scratchy noise born of fidgeting.

“That’s it, really,” the voice states, raspy and slightly high-pitched. Nervous.

Harry shuffles forward in his chair, crossing his feet underneath.

“It’s okay to be single,” he begins in his best soft voice, deep but attentive. Kind. “Maybe that’s not the real problem here, Tom.”

Or the fic where Harry is a love Guru and Louis needs relationship advice. Lots of it.

a lily perhaps by gglow

Words: 19k

OR the one where Louis works for Niall and somehow gets seduced by his friend Harry Styles. It wasn’t written in the stars or anything.

A Road To Something Better by taggiecb

Words: 25k

Louis Tomlinson, famous romance novelist, has just had the rug pulled out from under his feet when his boyfriend leaves him without notice. What's the most appropriate response to this? Move a thousand miles away and seclude himself in a tiny lake town, of course. But nothing is as he expects it to be in the very best way, especially not the handsome mayor of McAll, Idaho.

let me carry your weight by soldouthaz

Words: 28k

louis is fresh out of a bad relationship with someone who made him feel awful about how he looked. on his journey to better himself, he meets harry - the ridiculously attractive and fit personal trainer.

Short and Sweet by 5ft9

Words: 29k

Louis is a shy university student in a world scarce of male omegas. He's always dreamt of having an alpha despite his sheltered upbringing, fantasizing about being loved and cared for. He's immediately smitten by the mysterious alpha with curly hair, broad shoulders, and the addictive coffee scent.

like it's a game by soldouthaz

Words: 32k

there is little harry hates more than truth or dare.

and louis.

To Be Loved and To Be In Love by RealName

Words: 34k

First Dates AU. Louis Tomlinson is a thirty-year-old divorcee whose friends have signed him up for the Channel 4 show First Dates. Harry Styles is a twenty-eight-year-old lawyer who has never been in a long-term relationship. They are filmed going on their first date.

Big, Bright World by RealName

Words: 35k

It really was just a little crush in the beginning, nothing to be worried about. Louis had never really liked anyone he’d worked with in the past, but he was sure he could control himself. Little did he know that over time his ‘little crush’ would develop into a blazing inferno of Hell-fire proportions. Every day, Louis’ feelings became more intense, more immediate, each little smile and gesture and silly flirtation mounting up into something palpable, with a life of its own. Louis felt it every moment they were together.

The only problem? Harry was engaged to someone else and had been from the moment Louis started working at Visionary.

Office AU (not based on the TV show).

A Summer of Us by LouisandHarryandLove

Words: 47k

Louis couldn’t help that he was basically a bundle of nerves all the time. He had too many thoughts and too many worries, but too few friends to share them with.

So when Louis’ mom told him he could invite a friend to the beach house his family was renting for the summer, he couldn’t help but panic.But this year was different. This year he knew exactly who he wanted to invite, if he could just get up the nerve to ask the pretty curly haired boy who had been so nice to him for the past four months.

Little does Louis know, he’s in for one of the best and most transformative summers of his life

It’s Safer In The Dark by aace1234

Words: 79k

Louis has a major crush on Harry. Does Harry feel the same way? Will Harry find out about what Louis is going through at school?

Don't Let It (Me) Break by falsegoodnight

Words: 168k

Or the one where Harry is oblivious, Louis is broken, Zayn and Liam are in love, Gemma and Lottie are lovely, and Niall is just waiting for everyone to get their shit together.

And it's all Malcolm's fault

♡ updated 04.29.21

♡ credit to the owner of the manip

♡ past themed recs here

#ask

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takemedancingmaine · 6 years ago

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Congrats, It's A...

I paced back and forth with anticipation.

My footfalls were the only sound in the room. I was nervous that something was wrong with how quiet it was in here. The sterile air and the smell of antiseptic were almost overwhelming in the small, white room.

When the door opened again I breathed in deeply, despite the bleach smell, preparing myself for whatever was to come.

“So she doesn’t have a tag and she’s not chipped,” the vet said as he brought her back in with him. His hand absolutely dwarfed her. She was so small. He placed her down on the table gently and she just started wandering in small circles on the metal surface, looking around and studying her surroundings.

“So if you’ll have her,” he continued, “she’s all yours. Otherwise, we can keep her here until she gets adopted.”

I looked down at the tiny fluff of white on the table in front of me. I thought of moment I first heard that little meow, at three o’clock this morning and when my eyes met hers an hour later, I was a goner.

“I'd like to keep her,” I told him. Looking at her now, I was certain.

“That's great news!” He smiled. “Well, she weighs just over two pounds, which is enough for us so that we can start giving her all of her proper vaccinations and we can get her spayed.” He looked at a couple of things on his clipboard.

“Would you be okay to pick her up on Saturday morning? She should be out of the anaesthesia and ready to go around ten.”

“I can do that.” I nodded.

“Perfect.” He scribbled something on the page he was looking at before handing it to me.

“Just take this out to our front desk and they'll give you the bill and all of the other necessary information. If you have any questions my number is on that page, as well as the clinic’s number.”

“Thank you so much.”

“Of course.” He nodded. “Would you like to say goodbye?”

I nodded back and then leaned over the table a little bit and scratched behind her ears.

“Hi sweet girl,” I whispered to the kitten in front of me. “I have to go to work and you have to get all your treatment so you grow up big and strong, okay? I'll be back in a few days. I promise.”

I know it's crazy, that I’m probably crazy, but when I was talking to her she was staring at me like she understood me. She gave a tiny little mew and continued to purr as she tried rubbing her face on my hand. I was smitten.

I gave her one more look over my shoulder and turned and walked out of the room. It was silly that I was getting emotional leaving her when I'd only known her five hours but we’d bonded during that time.

I'd rescued her from the rain and the dank area under my front porch at four AM, wrapped her up and taken her to the local animal shelter once they opened, and was now planning to walk to the front desk and properly adopt her.

As I waited at the desk for the office assistant to become available, I texted Louis a million heart emojis for him letting me take an hour or so this morning to deal with it all and then texted Niall that I was now a cat mom, apparently.

Niall: you’ve got yourself a little moggy then?

Ruby: a moggy?

Niall: it's a term for cat

Ruby: well then yes, I've got myself a little moggy

Niall: can't wait to meet her!

It was my turn to step up to the desk. One I did, I filled out all the proper paperwork, paid, and when they asked me for a name for her to put into both their system and the microchip system the only name I could think of was Moggy.

So her name was officially Moggy.

When I'd woken up at three this morning to the sound of meowing I'd thought I was losing my mind. It was pouring rain. There was no way I could hear a cat outside over the sound of the rain.

After an hour of tossing and turning though, unable to fall asleep because of the incessant meowing, I decided that I was not imagining it and that there really was a cat somewhere out there.

So I pulled on my rain boots and raincoat, grabbed a flashlight, and went outside to see if I could figure out the source of the sound. When I saw the tiny white kitten with her dirty fur and grey face, damp and miserable and alone, I coaxed her out from her hiding place under my porch and got her upstairs.

Holding her I was in shock of the fact that this tiny creature was making loud enough sounds to wake me up. Once she was in my arms she quietened up, her meows had softened, gotten smaller… Her purring was loud but gentle.

Upstairs in my apartment, I had washed her off as best I could and wrapped her in warm towels and mentally ran through my options. She looked alone--no brothers or sisters, no mom--and I felt like I couldn't in good conscience leave her outside again on the off chance that she wasn't alone. So I could bring her to the clinic to see if she was chipped or see if they'd take her in to be adopted if she wasn't.

In the span of a few hours though, of both me and her trying to calm down after our middle-of-the-night ordeal in the rain, of me getting dressed and ready to go to the clinic and work, and of the two of us walking the many, many blocks there together because taking her on the train worried me, we had formed a real bond.

When the vet came in and said she wasn't chipped and I could have her, I felt my heart in my throat. I hadn't wanted (or needed) a pet, but looking at her I couldn't say no.

I definitely didn't need a pet. I was stable in my job and my location, but I didn't ever really see myself as the kind of person to have a pet. If I did, I’d always thought it might be a bigger dog that I could run with and would be someone who would make me feel safer.

In less than twenty-four hours though, I'd gained a boyfriend and a cat.

The universe was funny that way.

Once I was done at the clinic with getting everything set up for Moggy, I found myself on the train to work.

Work.

Where Louis was. Where Louis was and where I would have to tell him something. Where my life as I knew it was likely to end. I'm not usually such a coward but something about telling Louis was making me nervous.

So when I stepped into the bakery around nine fifteen and saw Louis at the till I almost felt like I might get a reprieve, but as I slipped past the door into the kitchen I saw him ask Bridgett to take back over. I groaned. I wasn't even going to get a moment to settle in, to calm down and go over my word choice.

“Time d’you call this?” Louis called loudly as I slipped off my jacket and placed it on the back of my desk chair. I stepped back out into the kitchen and began washing my hands at a sink as he peered into an oven through the door, checking in on a bake.

“Well, I'm a mom now,” I looked at him over my shoulder. “I'm still only just getting the hang of it.”

“So you adopted her then?” He spun around and looked at me expectantly.

I nodded. “I did!”

“Oh my god, I'm so excited to be an uncle!” Louis came over and picked me up and hugged me. I laughed and ruffled his hair to get him to put me down.

“When can I meet her?” He asked.

“She’s staying at the clinic for now while they give her all her shots and stuff. I'm picking her up on Saturday morning.” I filled the kettle and clicked it on as Louis took out two mugs and put tea in each one for us.

“So you're saying I get to meet her Saturday?” He asked, his eyes bright.

“That wasn't what I was saying, but I feel like it's the only acceptable answer for you, so sure. You get to meet her Saturday.”

I knew he wouldn’t take no for an answer. Our friends had deferred to doing something until early next week, Liam with a final showing of the apartment and the rest of the teachers were having some sort of grading pow-wow to catch up. Louis knew neither of us would be busy with any of them this weekend. He knew he could coerce me into inviting him over. He was witty and tricky.

“Sick!” He jumped up on his toes quickly before settling back down. “I can't wait. I'll bring stuff for lunch and we can just watch soccer all afternoon. What's her name?”

“You're going to commandeer my laptop to stream soccer while also commandeering my home to play with my new cat?” I raised an eyebrow at him.

“I'm bringing food, woman! Is that not payment enough?”

I laughed at him, shaking my head and running a hand through my hair.

“We can watch some soccer, but we also have to watch Moana.” I gave him a stern look--or tried to at least. I once watched Moana four times in a row with Cleo back in college. Louis knew I didn't joke about when it came to that movie. Neither did Cleo for that matter.

He sucked in air between his teeth. “You drive a hard bargain, Ms Singh.”

I just looked at him.

“Deal.” He was beaming as he picked up the kettle that had just gone off and started pouring the water.

I walked into my office for a moment to turn on my computer--not that I hadn't been trying to answer some emails this morning--and when I came back out Louis was leaning back against the counter top facing me. He’d poured the water from the kettle into our mugs. They were steaming.

“Her name is Moggy by the way.”

“Moggy?”

“Mhm.”

“What the hell kind of name is Moggy?” He asked.

“Well, okay, so that brings me to the second thing I needed to talk to you about.” I tried to sound as casual as I could as I looked down at my mug of tea.

“Go on,” Louis encouraged me. He didn't know what I was about to say, but I could tell he knew it wasn't bad news. He was intrigued about how my cat’s strange name had something to do with anything else.

I knew how I had to do it. I couldn't draw it out. I couldn't, for his sake or mine, make it excruciatingly long and awkward and I couldn't bumble my way through an explanation.

It had to be quick and to the point. I'd rip off the news like a band-aid.

I had to force myself to look at him though, to face my reality.

I took a deep breath and forced the words out.

“I'm dating Niall,” I blurted. “We’re dating.”

I was watching his face closely to gauge his reaction so I saw each emotion and thought as it passed over his features. Louis’ face swiftly transitioned from mild curiosity to confusion and then understanding and excitement and finally--help me--arrogance.

“I. Told. You.” Each word was emphasized.

“I know.”

“I told you!” He repeated, his words becoming boisterous as he looked me over.

“I know.”

“I told you that you two would start... I can't believe you think... I pretty much nailed that timeline. You are... This is… brilliant. It's brilliant!” He was having trouble forming full sentences. It seemed only fragments could make their way past his lips.

“You really think so?” I asked, wringing my hands together.

“Ruby, are you kidding?” His eyes grew large and he began waving his hands around.

“Since the moment I saw the two of you together I've been rooting for the two of you to get together.”

“You're not worried?”

“About what?”

“About what happens if he and I don't work out.” I felt like I was stating the obvious, but when talking to Louis things were never really all that obvious. I should've known better.

“Well, that's not an option.” Louis shrugged. I noted the small bit of flour in his hair and had to bite my lip to keep from smiling. It looked like he was greying at his right temple.

“Louis.” I narrowed my eyes.

“If,” he began and then started again. “If you don't work out, then we will figure it all out together. When the time comes. I'm not picking sides. I'm not losing either of you.”

“Louis-”

“I'm serious,” he said. “As someone who knows the both of you quite well as individuals, I can say this with a fair bit of authority. It's a pretty big if, but if anything bad does go down, we can figure it out. In the meantime, can I be excited for you?”

“I suppose I'll allow it.” I shook my head and tried to hide my smirk. Louis knows me though. He definitely saw it.

“Really, I'm so happy for you both.” Louis opened his arms and I immediately stepped into them.

“Thank you, Louis.” I hugged him back.

“Of course,” he said, rubbing my back.

“So what kind of food are you getting me for Saturday?” I asked.

He laughed and stepped back from the hug.

“Pizza?” He asked.

I pretended to mull it over. “I think that that sounds wonderful.”

“Great!” Louis turned and stepped away from me as a timer went off. “I'll grab a dairy free option and invite Niall along for the afternoon as well.”

“You're going to be so annoying about this, aren't you?”

“I'm texting the group as we speak.” He slipped his phone out of his pocket and threw me a wink over his shoulder.

I groaned and trudged into my office, turning my phone to silent immediately before settling into work.

Niall: I'm here

With a quick glance over my shoulder at Moggy, who was asleep on what was more than likely becoming her favourite chair, I sprinted down the stairs to let him in.

I'd had Niall come early--before Louis--just because. Niall was seeing Louis for the first time since our collective beans had been spilt--by me--on Wednesday and he was just wanting a moment alone with me before the inquisition began.

I opened the front door and was met by that smile that was quickly becoming my favourite. I blushed at the sight of him on my doorstep.

“Hi.”

Niall stepped inside and locked the door behind himself. When we got to the top of the stairs, just before I'd opened my door, he pulled me in for a hug. I gratefully accepted.

I was surrounded by him, my face pressed to his chest, his arms wrapped around me, holding me close, his scent doing all sorts of things to me as he rested his cheek against the top of my head. It was when he pulled back, but only slightly, that I felt the shift.

Niall held me close, his arms still around me, with his face just next to my own as he took a deep breath. I could hear the tremor in his breath. I felt my cheeks heat and felt my heart rate speed up.

He brought one hand up to cup my face and then I felt his lips on mine, just for a moment, before he pulled back again.

I couldn't even process what had just happened it had happened so quickly. It was as if his lips on mine had only been a ghost of a feeling. It was almost as if I'd only imagined it happening.

And then it was happening again.

Niall had only pulled back for a moment after that initial contact, and then his mouth crashed against mine.

One of my arms that had been around his waist quickly moved and while one hand pulled him closer to me the other tangled itself into his soft hair as I lost myself in the feel of him against me, his mouth on mine. I felt him doing the same, pulling me closer, as if that was possible, with his hand that was still wrapped around me.

When I was younger, I used to think my foot had to pop when I kissed someone. Thanks a lot, Princess Diaries. Then I'd gone through a phase where I was convinced there had to be a ‘spark’ when I kissed someone. I'd read books about how it felt like a person was on fire when they kissed someone, or that it felt like coming home--whatever that meant.

No boy had ever measured up to those highly unrealistic expectations. I mean, if that happened for anyone else I'm sure it was great. But I'd spent so long trying to find this ideal version of how it should go. When I was in college I'd realised how ridiculous those ideas of mine were.

With Niall it was different.

It felt natural. As if this wasn't the first time we were kissing, but the thousandth. It felt like it was something I could do thousands more times. Kissing Niall felt like so many things at once: excitement, comfort, anticipation, joy… I was so content to just be in that moment with him, to bring one hand up to trace his scruffy jawline as he kissed me senseless.

I felt reality both slipping away and coming into focus, centred on the man in front of me as if Niall was the focal point for clarity and the reason for the loss of it.

We were both breathing hard when we pulled away from each other, Niall resting his forehead against mine. I swallowed hard and felt a smile break out over my face as his blue eyes searched my brown ones.

“Been wantin’ to do that,” he said eventually.

“Been wanting you to do that,” I said back.

His eyes lit up.

“Oh yeah?”

“Mhm,” I hummed.

“Well good thing then, darling,” he said as he pulled back from me further, “because that's going to be happening pretty often from now on.”

There was a small smirk on his lips as his eyes held onto mine. I felt like my face was on fire I was so red, but the electric feeling that surged through me in anticipation was not unnoticed by me either.

Also, darling. He’d called me darling. I'd been called babe or baby before, even sexy and honey, but darling… Something about it felt so personal and endearing. I was pretty sure my heart was working overtime to keep me alive between our kiss and his words.

That was how I knew Niall and I had started off our relationship--relationship? we’re just dating--on firm ground: it wasn't just a physical attraction that drew us to each other. Sure, he was handsome and I enjoyed looking at him, but he did things and said things that made me feel comfortable and gave me joy. He was always trying to make me smile or laugh. It was truly wonderful to know he was putting in the effort.

I'd been in purely physical relationships in the past, or ones that had been built on only physical foundations and never did they end well. They were shallow and I always felt like there was something missing from them.

Being here, at this moment with Niall, I realized what it was that was missing in the past. It was an emotional connection. Sure, I’d been with guys I could laugh with in bed, or could count on to swing by and give my car a jump when the battery died, but that wasn’t support in a way that meant something. That was comfortability with someone. There was a difference.

With Niall, there was both comfortability and support, and more. The more had been so little exploring thus far between the two of us, too. I was sure there was, or at least could be, so much to experience.

I decided to ignore his comment about kissing me and turned to open my door. We were still in my hallway.

“Ready to meet Moggy?” I asked him.

“Very,” he said from behind me and then I was opening the door.

Moggy lifted her head when the door opened and when she noticed someone who wasn't me, she gave a frumpled meow and stood up to come to greet us.

“She's precious,” Niall said as he knelt down to her. He extended one hand and she gave him a cursory sniff before meowing and mushing her fluffy head against his palm. He looked up at me and smiled, his dimple popping.

“She really is.” I nodded. “Tea?” I moved toward the kitchen. “Coffee?”

I clicked on the kettle.

“I'm good,” he called out. “Louis is on orders to get me a Kombucha with the pizza and whatever else he's bringing for me.”

I snorted and then immediately thought of my mother. She used to tell me all the time that I'd have a hard time ever finding someone because I snort in response to silly things. She said it wasn't lady-like.

Also, I didn’t know that many people--or any--that willingly drank Kombucha like I did. Niall’s words made me pause for a second before I focused on this bigger picture.

“You don't know what he's getting for you?” I asked.

“I never know what Louis is gonna do,” Niall said.

“That's fair,” I said as I poured the hot water and made my tea. With my mug in hand, I made my way back into the living room where Niall was teasing Moggy with a feather on a string toy I'd gotten for her last night when I went to the pet store in preparation. Apparently, she loved it.

I had spent almost two full hours at the pet store last night after work. I got food and treats and toys. I’d spent far too long trying to choose between everything, searching only for grain-free, healthy options.

The toys had been harder to choose between though. I just chose at random, but all cats have different personalities and I'd not spent time with Moggy, so I had no idea what she would like.

I'd ended up brushing off the help of every employee there, politely, of course. I'd researched a lot and I'd felt capable, I was just indecisive about everything. I spent so much more money than I’d intended to and would be ashamed to admit, but I was a first-time pet-mom and was cautiously optimistic about it all. I wanted to do the right thing, but was aware there were so many outcomes… so I ended up preparing for everything.

My bank account was actually sobbing after my trip to the store last night. I was lucky Friday was payday. I also had to get groceries at some point this weekend. Maybe I should’ve thought about that before I bought two different kinds of food and four different kinds of treats, along with the embarrassing number of toys I’d acquired.

I sat down beside Niall on the floor, and he turned to me. Quicker than I could blink he kissed me again. I felt him smile against my lips. The smirk on his face when he pulled back made me blush.

I felt myself easing under his touch. It was unusual, lovely, but unusual. He was making me feel things I didn't understand. I quite enjoyed these things I didn't understand though. It all felt pretty good.

“I still can't believe you named her Moggy.” Niall looked back down at her, started playing with her again.

“Yeah, neither can Louis,” I groaned. “When he found out you're the reason why she's named Moggy he literally laughed to himself the whole day. Every time I tried to do anything all week he’d literally just look at me and giggle and say her name.”

Thankfully, I did manage to keep him from putting that information into the group chat though. Louis wasn’t happy about it, because he wanted nothing more than to torment me, but he acquiesced for whatever reasons I didn't know. Maybe it was because he wanted that one thing to himself to hold over me, maybe it was because he was the sweetest person I'd ever been lucky enough to be friends with. Whatever the reason, I was in the dark.

“Yeah, he's a little jerk.” Niall smiled.

“He is.” I nodded and watched as he shifted so he was lying down, leaning on one elbow while the other held the end of the toy Moggy was playing with.

“At least you never lived with him.”

“True. Did he drug you to make that happen?”

Niall laughed, his head falling back and the sound echoing around my home. It startled Moggy, but only for a moment before she returned to playing.

“They said she's probably only just three months old, judging by her size and weight,” I spoke up after just watching the two of them together. “She's so little.”

“She is,” he said. “I imagine she's grateful you saved her.”

“I did what anyone would. I mean, I did crawl under my front porch in the rain at four in the morning, but I'm sure anyone would do that.”

My phone started ringing and I jumped. I already knew who it was, so without answering, I made to stand up. Before I could though, Niall grabbed me and pulled me down to him, kissing me quickly before letting me go.

“Told you that would be happening a lot.” He gave me a cheeky smile. I made a face at him but the heat in my cheeks gave me away and then I jumped up and ran down the steps to let Louis in.

“Ohhhhh you're blushing,” Louis chirped as I opened the front door.

“Shut up.” I took the pizza box from him and left him with the drinks and a paper bag.

“Is that any way to greet me?” He asked.

“You are such a-” I cut myself off. “Thank you for the food, Louis.”

“You're very welcome, Ruby.”

“How is it today knowing that you also have tomorrow off?” I asked him as he climbed up the stairs ahead of me.

“Yeah I feel weird, don't I?” I saw him shrug his shoulders. “I don't think it'll really sink in though until I wake up tomorrow without an alarm and I get to just clean or watch movies all day or whatever else. I think it'll hit me when I'm in the middle of not being there,” he said as he opened my door.

We stepped through and Niall looked up at us from his spot on the floor. He was lying down on his back with his hands behind his head and Moggy had crawled onto his chest and was happily chewing a little mouse toy until we interrupted her.

She gave another frumpled meow and got up to inspect Louis. He seemed to pass her test; she sniffed him and then meowed some more, bumping her head against his leg. He had his hands full and couldn't pet her yet, but she seemed okay with that.

“Neil.” Louis nodded to him and then he headed to the kitchen, Moggy hot on his heels as he went.

“Tommo,” Niall called back and stood up. He gave me a smile as he straightened his clothes and together we followed Louis and Moggy into the kitchen to go sort out our food and drink options before Louis took over our screen watching options.

“Here is your disgusting drink.” Louis handed Niall the bottle of Kombucha before taking out a six pack of beer for them to split later on while I poured myself and Louis glasses of water from the filter in my fridge.

“Thank you.” Niall smiled and opened up the paper bag. He paused for a moment before looking up at Louis. “I love you.”

Louis’ laughter echoed around the room while Niall reaches into the bag and pulled out a few fries as I just smiled watching the two of them interacting. Even the nicknames they'd used for each other earlier flew from their lips without conscious thought.

Their friendship was so effortless and even being an outsider to it I felt special witnessing it. Louis got out plates for us all and opened the box of pizza, the disgustingly perfect aroma wafting out into my kitchen and making me seriously question why I don't eat pizza for every meal.

“I knew you were probably craving it at this point, it's been what, a week?” Louis asked.

“It's been longer than that, mate,” Niall said as he proceeded to pull the Nando's containers from the bag. “I haven't been since I left Ireland.”

“Oh shirt, no way,” Louis gasped. “Is that some sort of record for you, then?”

Niall shook his head as he began placing his food on a plate for himself.

“I actually think it might be,” he said after a moment.

“Niall here likes to pretend he eats good food and is culturally diverse in his palate, but truth be told the man could eat Nando’s for every single meal every day of his life and he would never get tired of it,” Louis told me.

“I'd like to argue and say I'm not that bad, but I honestly don't think I can,” Niall laughed at himself. I just shook my head and grabbed two slices and slid them onto my plate as I watched them.

“I've been meaning to tell you that your accent is worse than it was when I met you,” Louis said as he took three slices and stole a few fries from Niall’s plate, which earned him a threatening glare.

The three of us carried our plates into the living room, sitting on the couch with my laptop in the coffee table in front of us.

“I was back home for four years, Tommo.” Niall moved a throw pillow out from behind his back. “It gets worse when I'm around family or just back in Ireland at all. It had watered down after being here so long.”

“So it'll mellow out after a bit is what you're saying?” Louis asked.

“I suppose so.” Niall shrugged and started eating as Louis typed in my password and started looking up the proper sports network to sign in to and start watching soccer.

“He knows your password?” Niall leaned over and asked me. Louis smirked as he continued to navigate the browser he’d pulled up.

“It's my work computer.” I shrugged. “I never changed it from whatever it was when he gave it to me.”

“Ah.” He nodded.

“Derby or Liverpool?”

“Derby,” Niall responded to Louis who clicked the game and started it. We’d only missed the first ten minutes.

Moggy was curled up between my feet on the floor. For the entire afternoon, the four of us just sat around, eating and watching different soccer games, playing with Moggy and withstanding relentless teasing. (That last one only applicable to Niall and me).

There was a moment late in the afternoon in the kitchen when I was cleaning up that Niall snuck up on me. Louis was still watching whichever game it was at the time, Moggy curled up on his lap. I had been wrapping the leftover pizza in tin foil when Niall came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my shoulder.

“Hi, darlin’,” he whispered. He kissed my neck. I fought back a shiver at his touch, his breath on my neck, and the sound of his voice.

“Hi,” I said back, quietly. “How are you?”

“Right now I'm really pretty great,” he said.

“Wow.” I placed my hands on top of his. “That's wonderful. Anything in particular making you feel that way?”

“Well, I did just eat my favourite fast food and watch four hours of football.” He shrugged. “Plus, there’s this really cute girl that I like, and she's been leaning against my side all afternoon.”

“A girl? Niall Horan has a crush?”

“Yeah,” he said, his voice coloured with a sombre tone. “The worst part is I think that she knows it.”

“I wouldn't say that's the worst part,” I told him.

“No?” He asked. “Not even when it drives me nuts trying to think straight around her?”

I blushed and began tracing circles on the back of his right hand with my index finger.

“There are worse things, I suppose.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” I nodded. “She could not like you back.”

“So you're saying that she does like me back?”

“I'd say so,” I said. “She did let you kiss her earlier.”

“Speaking of which…” He trailed off, his voice low as he spun me around in his grasp before he brought both hands up to cup my face gently and bring his lips to mine. I smiled against his lips and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him close.

I'd been with guys a lot taller than me and guys closer to my height, but Niall was the ideal height for me as it turned out. Our bodies aligned perfectly when up against each other like this.

His presence overwhelmed my senses in the best way as he kissed me, his scruff scratching just slightly against me as he did. He pulled back and gave me a smile, his cheeks pink and his eyes bright.

“There's something about you, Ruby,” he said, voice low. “Something about you that draws me in. And I don't know if it's tangible or not, but I crave it. Whatever it is.”

“Most guys would be worried about scaring a girl away by saying something like that to her too quickly.”

“I'm not most guys.”

“I know.”

“I swear to god if you two are making out in there I'm going to throw up all the food I just ate! Just because I support this relationship doesn't mean I want you two doing naughty things with me around!”

When Niall started laughing I couldn't help but join in. I ended up doubled over, clutching my abs with tears in my eyes as Niall giggled next to me, the sound echoing around my apartment, filling it with warmth.

When I got back into the living room I sat down in the middle of the sofa and laid my head on Louis’ shoulder.

“You're such a toad,” I said to him.

He wrapped his arm around me as Niall sat down on my other side and passed Louis a freshly opened beer, keeping one for himself, and handing me a glass of whiskey. It was my favourite glass. I wondered if he’d known it was my favourite after only seeing me use it once, or if it was entirely coincidental that he’d grabbed this particular glass.

He just smiled at me.

“Yeah, but I'm your toad,” Louis said before he settled back against the couch fully and we finished watching the game. After the match finished I’d put on Moana while Louis grabbed us another round of drinks. He’d groaned but gone along with it. After all, he was my best friend.

#Happy Sunday!#I honestly think the coolest part of this chapter this week is that I took that photo #It's from the orange/green line platform at the Roosevelt Station - looking West #I love my city #ALSO WE'RE IN DOUBLE DIGIT CHAPTER NUMBERS #WE'VE COME SO FAR #fic: oth #fic: only ticket home #OTH10 #1dff

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tabloidtoc · 5 years ago

Text

OK, September 9

Cover: Katie Holmes -- My Side of the Story

Page 1: Contents

Page 2: Contents

Page 4: Brad Pitt thrilled to have his kids back under his roof

Page 6: Bethenny Frankel leaving RHONYC

Page 7: Kanye West’s fast-food binges, Eminem is trying to make amends but Rihanna isn’t interested, Jennifer Lawrence is filming and planning her wedding and her multitasking is rubbing her costars the wrong way

Page 8: 30th anniversary of Pretty Woman coming up and Richard Gere and Julia Roberts are making plans for a world press tour and looking forward to catching up over cozy dinners, Kylie Jenner is making it clear to her mom Kris Jenner that when it comes to her business she’s the boss, Chris Pratt is starstruck by father-in-law Arnold Schwarzenegger which annoys new wife Katherine Schwarzenegger

Page 9: Jewel’s fitness fete, Sharon Stone is focused on her three sons

Page 10: Red Hot on the Red Carpet -- polka dots -- Zooey Deschanel, Nikki Reed, Vanessa Hudgens

Page 11: Brittany Snow, Zoe Kravitz, Selena Gomez

Page 12: Kaley Cuoco vs. Iggy Azalea, Kelli Berglund vs, Linda Cardellini

Page 14: News in Photos -- Mandy Moore and Isla Fisher

Page 15: Paula Abdul, Jim Carrey, Nicole Richie and Zooey Deschanel and Busy Philipps

Page 16: Justin Bieber, Kourtney Kardashian

Page 17: Autumn Calabrese, Zachary Levi

Page 18: Jerry and Jessica Seinfeld and kids Shepherd and Julian and Sascha, Javier Bardem for Greenpeace Protect the Oceans, Kevin Jonas’ wife Danielle and daughter Alena

Page 20: Kate Bosworth, Nick Carter, Rachel Brosnahan and Alex Borstein

Page 22: Awkwafina and Natasha Lyonne, Tarek El Moussa and girlfriend Heather Rae Young

Page 23: Ashley Tisdale, Whitney Port and son Sonny, Christina Milian

Page 24: Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen’s massive manor for sale

Page 26: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s vow renewals

Page 27: Leonardo DiCaprio and Camila Morrone’s love nest, Heidi Pratt tells Spencer Pratt to stop spending, Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher keeping the spark alive

Page 28: Chris Hemsworth is taking a break from acting and Elsa Pataky sees it as the perfect opportunity to expand their family, Yolanda Hadid and Joseph Jingoli are serious, Love Bites -- Lily Collins and Emilia Clarke’s ex Charlie McDowell dating, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Lauren Hashian married, Mackenzie McKee and husband Josh split

Page 29: Liam Hemsworth files for divorce from Miley Cyrus, Brody Jenner and Josie Canseco smitten kittens

Page 30: Cover Story -- Katie Holmes is setting the record straight about her split from Jamie Foxx and whether Suri’s dad Tom Cruise is still in the picture

Page 34: Jason Momoa’s untold story of finding love and massive success

Page 36: Hayden Panettiere’s fresh start

Page 38: Taylor Swift’s hits decoded -- Taylor Lautner, John Mayer, Kanye West

Page 39: Jake Gyllenhaal, Conor Kennedy, Harry Styles, Joe Alwyn, Katy Perry

Page 40: Interview -- Tiffany Haddish on her success, her plans for motherhood and her new show

Page 42: Bachelorette Body Blitz -- Andi Dorfman, Kaitlyn Bristowe, JoJo Fletcher

Page 43: Rachel Lindsay, Becca Kufrin, Hannah Brown

Page 46: Style Week -- Zendaya

Page 48: Lucy Hale’s bargain beat

Page 49: Eyewear -- Chrissy Teigen, Ashley Benson

Page 50: Eye Catching -- Lana Condor

Page 52: Beauty -- Bakuchiol -- Emmy Rossum

Page 54: Entertainment

Page 55: Q&A -- Kevin Cahoon of Glow

Page 56: Who killed Princess Diana?

Page 60: Tyler Cameron and Gigi Hadid’s hot summer nights

Page 61: Hollywood Heat Meter -- Whitney Port and Lauren Conrad haven’t chatted in years, Larry King filed for divorce, Keanu Reeves returns for the fourth Matrix film, Sophie Turner wore the same dress Joe Jonas’ ex Taylor Swift wore three years ago, Prince George’s studies include religious studies and ballet and French and computing, Pop of Color -- Hailey Bieber

Page 62: Horoscope -- Virgo Zendaya

Page 64: By the Numbers -- Cara Delevingne

#tabloid #katie holmes #jamie foxx #tom cruise

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mildlymaddy · 7 years ago

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cats, lilo, and danielle campbell looking devastatingly beautiful

I love how this is given without context and almost sounds like a prompt to the point where I’ve been seriously tempted to just leave it in my inbox so I can fall upon it in a couple months and genuinely think you once sent me a prompt asking for a story featuring cats, lilo and danielle.

I’m guessing it’d go something like this…

"You should call him."

Louis almost drops his phone on hisface at the sound of Danielle's voice, and hastily swipes out of Instagram,trying to school his features into a look of polite puzzlement. "What'sthat you're saying, love?"

Danielle's sitting at the living-roomtable, wearing only a pair of boxers and that green shirt she's alwaysborrowing from Louis's closet. She's got one tan leg curled up under her, nakedtoes peeking from under her thigh, and Louis couldn't be more smitten with herif he tried. She's so fucking fit, some days he wonders how she can be real atall.

"Liam," she says, bringingLouis back to reality with a jolt. "You should call him."

How do you even know I was looking athis Instagram? Louis wants to ask. She's beenon her laptop for the past half hour, looking at animal adoption centersbecause she's been toying with the idea of getting a cat. Louis's not much of acat person himself, but they went to a shelter a couple days ago and the sightof Danielle holding a tiny fluffy kitten up in her hands and cooing reallybrought him around to the idea.

"You've been making moon-eyesat your phone for ten minutes," she continues, as if she knows exactlywhat he's thinking, "and I'm right here, so you're definitely not lookingat pictures of me." Her eyes are fixed on the computer, as if thisconversation doesn't really require any of her attention when Louis can barelyhear her through the nervous beating of his heart.

"I could be," he says,knowing how unconvincing it sounds.

"But you aren't," Daniellesays, shutting her laptop with a click and finally looking at him. She'ssmiling, which isn't exactly the reaction Louis would have anticipated, andthere's even a familiar glint in her eye when she adds, "He did lookreally nice on that last selfie he posted.""I... have no idea what you're talking about," Louis lies, sitting upso he's no longer sprawled over the couch. He puts his phone face down on thecushion next to him, keeping one hand over it.

"Of course you don't," shesays, and it's amazing how much it sounds like 'of course you do.'

"He's my best mate," Louissays, as way of deflection, except... except it hasn't exactly been true as oflate, has it? Liam didn't even call to tell him Cheryl was pregnant; Louisfound it out through the fucking Sun, of all things. Liam stillhasn't seen Freddie.

"Then why don't you callhim?"

"He's busy," Louis mumbles,picking at the frayed knee of his jeans. He misses sweatpants, but he alwaysfeels like a bum next to Danielle when he wears them. "I'm busy.There's just never any time."

"There's time now,"Danielle points out. She seems to hesitate, biting on her lip in that way thatalways makes Louis want to kiss her, then adds, "Trust me on this, youdon't want... you don't want to lose touch with him just because you'reuncomfortable with how you feel about him."

"I don't feel anything abouthim!" The words come out squeaky, and it's all Louis can do not to leavethe room and go hide in the kitchen. This conversation can’t be happening. Surely he’s hallucinating all of this.

"Look..." Danielle says,and she's the one who looks embarrassed now, the tips of her ears flushing asshe fiddles with the cord of her laptop; "Maybe I'm getting this wrong, and I’m sorry. But... I've seen you. I've seen you, when you get up at night and have asmoke..." She's proper red by now, and Louis feels dread pooling in thepit of his stomach like cold tar. "I've seen you staring at that pic heposted last Christmas, the one where he's shirtless, I..."

She trails off, and Louis wants todie, wants to dig a hole right there in his living room and bury himself in it.He can't even make himself look at her anymore, eyes fixed on his clenchedhands, trying to keep the bile climbing up his throat from spilling out. Heknows what comes next, just like he always knew it couldn't last. Lads fromDonny don't end up with girls like Danielle, they just don't. He always knewhe'd fuck it up, sooner or later.

He just never expected it to happenwith him caught having fucking feelings for his ex-best mate.

He waits for the blow, but the blowdoesn't come. When he finally looks up, Danielle's gazing at him with her chinin her hand, grave and pensive. "It's okay, you know... I mean, obviously, it'sprobably too late, but... doesn't mean you have to squash it all down."

Is this a test? Louis wants to ask. Am I supposed to denyeverything? Tell you you're crazy? Am I... am I supposed to offer a threesomewith my as-good-as-married best friend?

"I love you," Daniellesays, not like a threat or a plea, but like a statement. "I'll love you nomatter what. I'm not going to pretend it's not eating you up, though."

I want you, Louis thinks. I love you. What does itmatter if I wish I'd been bold enough to kiss my best mate before it was toolate to do it?

"I love you," he says,voice so raw he doesn't even try to say the rest. Danielle's smile makes himache with the strength of it all, with how much he wants to keep her safe fromhis own self-destructive shitty heart.

"I know," she says, hereyes tender. She gets up from the table, Louis's shirt reaching down rightunder her buttocks, and all Louis can think about is sliding his hand up herthigh, making her moan so she'll stop cutting his heart open as softly as if itwas a peach.

Danielle stops by the couch, leansdown to press a kiss to Louis's forehead, then walks away before Louis canreach out for her. "I'm gonna go for a run," she says, making her waydown the front hall. "Call him."

Louis stares as she walks away, stares long after she's disappeared up thestairs, his brain more quiet than it has been in months.

It's only when he hears the familiarsound of running water that he shakes himself and gets up, following the murmurof the shower to the upstairs bathroom.

His phone lies face-down on the couch,forgotten.

#ferryboatpeak #everyone is up in their nouis and narry feels #so of course i've decided to write some lilo #figures #lilo #louelle #my fic #memes #<3 #this is either very good or total crap #as always i'm not sure which #hopefully it's got some good in it at least #fingers crossed

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firstprince-ao3feed · 1 year ago

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Kitten.

Kitten. https://ift.tt/4TUrN2j by Stuckyl0v3r “Are you Henry Fox?” “Yes, how can I help you?” he replied, sort of in awe as to how they knew his name. They surely weren’t patients, he couldn’t recall their faces. “Mr. Fox, your assistance is required.” She continued smoothly. “If you’d be so kind to follow us, we’ll be forever in your gratitude.” Henry gripped the bat tighter, ready to take a swing. “What for?” he asked, voice wavering, noticing how the woman squinted and took a half of a step forward. He was ready to shut the door in their face. “Please” the crying woman said in a small voice “my brother has been shot, he needs medical assistance. We know you’re the best surgeon around, we did our homework. He needs to be cared for soon. Please.” She begged, a twinge of sympathy hitting Henry in the heart. When doctor Henry Fox cares for the head of a mafia organization he didn't quite expected to be so terrified and attracted to him. Words: 7291, Chapters: 1/2, Language: English Fandoms: Red White & Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Alex Claremont-Diaz, Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, June Claremont-Diaz, Nora Holleran, Liam (Red White & Royal Blue), Spencer (Red White & Royal Blue), Miguel Ramos (Red White & Royal Blue), Percy "Pez" Okonjo, Beatrice Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Other Characters Relationships: Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, June Claremont-Diaz/Nora Holleran Additional Tags: Mafia AU, doctor!henry, Mafia boss!Alex, June and Nora are badasses, alex is smitten, Protectiveness, angsty, Fluffy, Protective Alex Claremont-Diaz, Top Alex Claremont-Diaz, Bottom Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor, Miguel Ramos Being an Asshole (Red White & Royal Blue) via AO3 works tagged 'Alex Claremont-Diaz/Henry Fox-Mountchristen-Windsor' https://ift.tt/PsjuRqp November 08, 2023 at 02:27PM

#IFTTT #ao3feed #red white and royal blue #rwrb #firstprince #Stuckyl0v3r

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kindofsharethat · 7 years ago

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ok ok but! lou lou being shy?? our lil cute smitten kitten being shy?! the ball of sun rays and sunflowers owning the biggest awards in the music industry being shyyy? around fans?¿ around those who would bath him in the best warm milk to keep his skin soft and iron his clothes? or lou being shy around the people who love him as relentlessly as he loves them? the cutest thing in the world, flowers candy and rainbow coloured waterfall if you ask me

i do think he has a quieter, soft side like liam has said he's a petal 🌷

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blazinginbus1 · 7 years ago

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Wheres that picture of zayn and louis doing an interview with liam in a couch and zayn is looking at louis so fondly

I assume this is the one you were taking about, darling?

And YES, Zayn looks like a smitten little kitten listening to whatever Lou is saying.

P.S. When will Zayn bring back blue camo pants? I’m ready for it.

#answered #anonymous #I legit forgot this beautiful photo existed #:(#Zouis #OTP: WIZZO!

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stylesdimplefeelings · 8 years ago

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Whipped...friends?? Or...not anymore??

Had Harry known Y/N was gonna be in New York he would have picked her up at the airport. He would have given her no other choice but to finally confront him because surely she wouldn't have wanted to walk in this cold weather.

And he should've taken that moment back at the restaurant. Pulled her away from that bloke and asked who the hell he was. He would've told her he misses her, that in all honesty he's very confused because he doesn't know what he did to have her acting like he doesn't exist. He can't understand how she's able to cut him out of her life this easily. He would tell her it hurts that she’s managed to do so. He should've taken that moment at the restaurant, but he didn't.

And what infuriates him the most, is that Gemma knew.

He's been on the phone with her for the past fifteen minutes. Ten of those spent going on about having seen her out with some guy he's never before seen in his life. Harry's moaned and complained, because 'maybe she really is seeing someone, Gem. Maybe 've really lost m'chance.'

It wasn't until then that Gemma decided to come forth with this information, coyly telling Harry that 'Y/N came over a few days ago to borrow a duffle cause she left hers at yours or summat.'

And Harry doesn't know why she didn't pop by his place to pick it up. Not like she was gonna run into him.

"You're meant t' tell me these type of things. M'ye' brother."

Harry's been practically burning his hotel room floor from so much pacing, trying to figure out why in green Earth Gemma didn't see 'fit' to tell Harry that Y/N had told her she would be flying to the big apple.

"She hasn't called ye'?" And what kind of question is that? She knows Harry's not spoken to her since she left in a hurry that night.

"I've not gotten a single text, Gem."

On the other end of line it sounds like Gemma's shuffling about, and Harry can only imagine she's just sat up by the tone to her next words.

"She hasn't?," and she sounds genuinely appalled.

Harry stops dead on his tracks, eyebrows furrowing deeper in thought. Why does he feel like she's hiding something from him.

He runs his fingers through his hair, pulling at the ends in frustration, "what're ye not tellin' me, Gemma?"

She's quiet for about a minute, so Harry presses.

"Gem?"

"I thought she was going t' see you, Haz."

"Why would she? She's not been answerin' m'calls. Why would she go out of her way and come t' New York t' see me?"

Was she? Why wouldn't she call him when she landed?

"Wait, how did she know I was here?"

Again, a slight pause.

"I might've told her a few ago when we went out t' brunch." Gemma sounded sheepish, knowing fully well there was no reason to tell Y/N of his whereabouts. Not when apparently she wanted nothing to do with him.

"She'd asked me how ye' were. If ye' were doin' alright. So I told her. She didn't say much about it. And then when she came over for the duffle, I just. I had t' ask Harry."

She sounds even more nervous now.

"Ask wha'?" This has Harry feeling uneasy.

"She's your best friend for Christ' sake."

"What did ye' ask her, Gemma?"

He feels like he has to sit down for this. And when he reaches the edge of the bed and sits, he doubles over, elbows on his knees. One hand holding his phone up to his ear, the other pinching at his bottom lip.

"I honestly can't understand why she cut all contact with you. So I asked her why. And when she didn't wanna talk about it, I insisted."

But he feels like that's not all they talked. "Wha' did she say?"

"She broke down, Harry. She told me she couldn't be friends with you knowing you loved someone else."

"Wha'?"

Why would she think that? Most importantly, why would she stop talking to him all together because of that.

"Tha's what I said. Told her you would've told me if you had. Also told her that was no reason to drop the friendship. And so she finally confessed her feelings for you to me."

Harry can almost hear his heart rate pick up.

"She said as much as she loves you, she couldn't stand seeing you with someone else."

"She said she loves me." He's whispering it to himself. This is why she didn't want to see him? How could she possibly think he could love anyone else but her. He thought he'd made it so obvious. "Gemma, tell me ye' didn't-."

"Of course not," she cuts him off, "-tha's yours to tell her. Which you should have, you git. Shoulda told her a long time ago."

"D'y'know where she's staying?"

He's gotten up from the bed so fast it makes his head woozy. He's not even fully pulled his hoodie over his shoulders when he slips on his boots.

"Harry, it's one in the morning where you are."

But he doesn't care. He doesn't care that he'll have to hail a cab so late at night instead of searching for the keys to his rental, because frankly he doesn't remember where he's left them and he can't be bothered to spend any more time looking for them.

"Gemma tell me where she is."

It doesn't take long for Harry to get a cabbie's attention, he is Harry Styles after all.

In the blur of it all, he's somehow ended up with the boys hollering over the phone at him. Cheering him on and telling him to go get his girl.

"Honest, s'bout time it happened for the pair o'ya." Next to Harry, he reckons Liam's probably the most romantic out of the lot.

"Wha' if she doesn't want me? Wha' if s'too late and she's happy with tha' other bloke?"

To the rest of the world, it would be insane for anyone to think Harry Styles has moments like these. Moments of doubt when he radiates confidence. But honestly he's just like any other human being trying to find love and someone to give his own to.

"Who? Her cousin? That'd be weird,man," Niall chimes nonchalantly.

He can hear what sounds like two slaps to the arm before hearing Niall grunts in dissatisfaction.

Has everyone been hiding these vital specs of information from him.

But he doesn't even have to ask before Niall's explaining.

"Okay, yeh I knew she was goin' t' New York."

Of course. In retrospect, Harry should've know Niall might've known. Next to Harry, Niall's the closest to Y/N. What with him going back and forth dealing with the film and the magazine a few months ago, Liam doing his solo project and preparing for his and Cheryl's baby, and Louis in LA most than not for Freddie; Niall's the only one who's just so happened to not travel much during the hiatus. And he never really minded taking Y/N with him when he did have things to do.

"She tol' me she needed t'see you. N' I didn't wanna spoil the surprise."

"Well tha's great, innit? Everyone knew but me? Anythin' else any o'ye would like t'share?"

He doesn't mean to sound frustrated, but he just..is. Had he known all of this, everything would have gotten resolved earlier, and he wouldn't have had to sulk over Y/N being out with a cousin. He wouldn't have had to watch her walk away and out of that restaurant, an awful feeling in his heart at she sight of her with someone else.

But it's all done, and at least now he knows the way she'd look at him, like she was smitten, wasn't all in his head.

"Quit your mopping, Harold and just tell her how much you miss her."

After Harry had told the boys what'd happened and asked them not to hassle him about it, they'd let off the teasing, didn't wanna strike a nerve and make Harry feel bad. He is the baby after all. Now, Harry can't help but smile sheepishly at the sound of all three making kissy noises on the other end of the line.

With whole hearted 'good luck's from the boys, Harry hangs up and his mind goes back to wondering what will happen after tonight.

The rest of the drive there his mind's still trying to process the fact that Y/N told Gemma she loves him. His Y/N loves him.

And when he reaches her suite, he's not sure if she'll open the door. Or if she's even gotten into bed yet.

But he knocks nonetheless, and when he hears light footsteps getting closer on the other side, the butterflies in his tummy go wild.

"Who is it?" Oh how he's missed hearing that voice.

"Room service." He can't risk her not opening if he tells her it's him.

The door slides open just a bit then, and he sees her peek through it before hearing her yawn.

"Please," is the first thing his head can muster up, "don' shut me out, poppet."

Y/N doesn't know what to say...what to feel. After not seeing Harry for so long, here he is, stood in front of her hotel room, palm on the door as if to prevent her from closing it.

And she'd be a liar if she said she didn't miss him. Hearing him plead for her not to deny him entrance.

She's lost in a trance, looking him over, his eyes tired and hair a mess. Pink lips pursed into a line against the pale of his skin. And his green eyes, burning into her with a sad look.

But she doesn't say anything. Just steps back into the darkness of the room, allowing Harry to slip in and shut the door behind him.

"I miss ye, kitten." He breathes in relief, finally able to tell her so she doesn't think he doesn't.

She sighs, her back facing him, "Harry, can we please do this tomorrow?"

Harry can't deny that deflates him a bit. As much of a long shot as it was, he was really hoping she'd say she misses him too.

He strides over to her, but keeps his hands to himself even though he's been dying to hug her again. There's nothing else he can do with them but thumb at the rings to twist them around his fingers.

"No," he whispers, determined. "M'not leaving until y'tell me wha' I did wrong." He wants to hear it from her lips.

She turns to look at him, towering above her. Too close, but too far. "You did nothing, Harry."

"Then why've ye' not been answerin' m'calls?"

Silence.

"Or replyin' t'm'texts?"

She's fiddling with the hem of her shirt, unsure of what to say. Surely she can't tell him she couldn't stand the chuckles and secret whispers between him and the guys over Harry's probably now girlfriend. She can't tell him she's stupidly fallen in love with her best friend and him denying her would break her. But the way he's looking at her right now makes her wanna melt back into his arms.

She needs to say something, anything to end this conversation before she explodes.

"Don't know how to say this. But I started seeing someone, and I wanna dedicate more of my time to him."

Harry can't believe she's really trying to feed him that excuse.

"Oh really? Does he live here? Is tha' why you're in New York? Wha's his name?" He challenges.

She stutters for longer than she should.

"Surely you've not forgotten the name of this said bloke you're seein'?"

Y/N can feel herself getting frustrated. Not because she's choked up on a simple name, or because it doesn't seem like Harry will be leaving any time soon. No, she's frustrated at the fact that Harry knows her so well he's able to see past it and know she's lying.

But she tries anyway, "umm, his name's, umm-"

"Bullshit!" He's calling her out. He's gonna make her say it even if he has to stay til well into the next day.

It catches Y/N just a bit off guard though. But it's enough for her to reach her limit.

"I don't have to give you any explanations Harry!" And Harry doesn't recall ever hearing her raise her voice. Other than at the telly during intense scenes from a show or a film, or when she's driving.

"I don't have to tell you who I'm dating. You sure as hell don't tell me!" She brings her index finger up to poke at his chest. "But that's okay because you don't owe me any explanations either. So don't ask me why I've not been coming around because I can't give you an answer. So I hope you'll be happy with your new girlfriend and I hope you have a great life together-"

"There was never anyone." He tries to cut in, failing to stop her ramble.

"-because I'm sure she's perfect in every sense of the word because you'd blush every time Niall or Louis or Liam whispered to you about her-"

"Tha' was you they were teasin' 'bout." Another failed attempt.

"-and you deserve that Harry, you do. Don't worry about me I'll be fine an-"

She grabs at her wrists to stop the gestures.

"Y/N. I love you."

"And I know y-."

That's shuts her right up. And Y/N was really never expecting that.

"You what?" Almost an inaudible whisper.

Harry takes her hand in his then, intertwining their fingers, staring at how hers fit perfectly into his.

He scans her eyes as he brings his hands to cup neck, thumbs running over her jaw. And he honestly cannot understand why she would think he doesn't.

His thumb pads graze the bottom of her lip before repeating himself.

"I love you."

It's then that she brings her hands to his hips, clenching the grey material of his hoodie.

"Harry, I-"

"Jus' say it, poppet. M'right here."

"I love you, too."

Harry can't hold back anymore.

So he closes the space between them, lips ghosting over hers. And when Y/N puckers her lips to firmly press into his, he knows she means what she's said.

With a smile and another kiss.

Harry whispers one last time.

"I love you, so much."

A/N: Wanna take a moment and say thank you to every single one of my readers, whether you follow or not. Thank you for taking the time and reading this unexpected short trilogy. Thank you for being patient with me when I was feeling uneasy about that second part.

And thank you to the anon who requested this.

I hope whilst you all read that it felt at least a bit real, even the slightest to brighten up your day.

Much love, LouM xx

#Harry Styles #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles one shot #harry styles story #harry styles fluff #harry styles preference #harry styles blog

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