#my heart aches for Liam and the live he couldn’t get to stir in a better direction

[timetohealit]

.

[jarienn972]

La Sirena - Chapter Seven

Captain Swan Supernatural Summer

After not getting much writing done over the hectic (and rather awkward this year) holidays, the muse finally returned long enough for me to finish this latest chapter of my @cssns​ story.  (It also didn’t help that my old laptop finally gave out on me so I had a 2 week delay while waiting to get a new one and get all of my files transferred.) This chapter sets up the coming climax as there are only two more chapters planned and as you’ll see by the end of this chapter, it’s not going to be fair sailing for their blossoming relationship. We left off in chapter six with a stunned Killian learning more about Emma's past and the history surrounding the only known human who'd ever been deemed worthy to avoid the siren song. There's still a lot of uncertainty for this pair as confrontation with Regina looms - and things are going to get very stormy.

Thanks again to @kmomof4​ for being an amazing beta and cheerleader and to @courtorderedcake​ for her stunning artwork!  

Catch up from the beginning on AO3 or FF.net or here on Tumblr: One  Two  Three  Four  Five  Six

Pause to Reflect

How does one act upon learning that they might be descended from a deity? Certainly there was nothing about his life so far that would have suggested such a divine lineage could be possible. Liam had practically raised him after their mother's passing when Killian was barely walking. Their father had become an increasingly abusive drunkard, rarely gracing his sons with his presence or assistance. Shortly after Killian's 13th birthday, Liam departed home to begin his new life by enlisting in the Royal Navy. By this time, their father had remarried and his new family became more important than his eldest sons.

Left to fend for himself often, Killian couldn't wait until he could enlist as well - going so far as to lie about his age to join at the tender age of 16 instead of the legal 18. It had helped that his brother, then Lieutenant Liam Jones, was the rising star of His Majesty's Royal Navy. The younger Jones was welcomed with open arms and while life on board a Navy ship in the shadow of his esteemed sibling wasn't particularly easy, it was far preferable to life back home. Killian flourished in his new life at sea and began rising through the Royal Navy ranks himself, but had his success in the maritime realm been a small, random clue from the universe that he was a direct descendant of the god of the seas?

What pure, unadulterated rubbish, Killian thought as he absentmindedly raked his fingers through his dark hair. It couldn't even be remotely possible that he was related to a god.

But then how was any of this real?

Days ago, he'd set out to explore an uncharted, cursed island on His Majesty's orders only to end up being taken captive and losing too many of his men in the skirmish. The pirates who'd abducted him had then sailed away, making the fatal error of venturing into waters guarded by mythical sirens. They were sung to their demise, leaving their treasure-laden ship to run aground and sink into the depths - yet their prisoner survived.

Miraculously, Killian Jones was still here amongst the living. He'd survived the battle, survived captivity and survived the supposedly tantalizing call of the sirens only to find his life in jeopardy once again from those same vindictive sirens?

Bloody hell, Jones… What has your life become?

"...We may not have much time to prepare…," Emma's voice brought him back from his mental wanderings. "Killian? Are you even listening to me? This is quite serious…"

"I'm sorry, Love," he replied sheepishly as he scratched at the week's growth of ruddy, wiry whiskers along his jawline. "I guess I allowed my mind to drift off at the absurdity of all this nonsense. All that I have learned today hasn't exactly been the easiest pill to swallow, you know…?"

"What about this debacle do you need to swallow?" she questioned, not understanding his chosen euphemism.

"Saying that something is difficult to swallow means that it's just a smidge hard to believe. Oy, this has been quite the long week…" He cringed the very moment he uttered those words, chastising himself for using another expression she wasn't likely going to understand. "Nevermind…," he sighed. "Let's just focus on what we need to do at this moment."

"So then you admit that you were not listening?" she scolded him as she placed a woven reed basket filled with a variety of fruit onto the sandy ground by his feet while tossing a ripe fig towards him. Well, maybe she'd thrown it at him, he surmised as he caught the fig mere inches before it would have struck his still-healing forehead. He frowned his feigned displeasure but she ignored him, continuing her instruction. "I know Regina. We aren't going to have much preparation time and you will need your strength, so eat. I'll raise a protective spell around the cavern but it may be of little use against the full council - or against the powers of a god."

"I thought you didn't want to use your magic?" he queried, biting into the sweet fig as she'd ordered. Oh, what he wouldn't have given for a huge slab of savory, tender mutton right now…

"I have no choice. If I can provide you with even some brief protection, then I must. I brought this retribution upon myself the moment I rescued you…"

"Why did you?" he interrupted. "Why did you choose to rescue me? If you were aware of the huge risk you would be taking with that act, why didn't you let me drown?"

Her emerald green eyes cast solemnly downward as she stood in contemplative silence for a moment. "My instincts told me I should," she replied after a long pause. "You were injured and weak and my intuition insisted that I needed to save you. I do not regret my decision and perhaps this is why…" She lifted her gaze to meet his as an almost wistful smile stretched across her lips. "Perhaps you were meant to save me."

"Save you?" This time, he was the one who failed to grasp the intention of the statement, but his query would go unanswered as the cavern was plunged into ominous darkness. The midday sun that had mere seconds ago been reflecting off of the surface of the spring had, in an instant, been replaced by the blackness of midnight. "That can't be good…" Killian muttered as his hand instinctively inched toward the grip of his newly acquired cutlass.

Emma's expression hardened as she swallowed back the awful lump forming in her throat while spinning around to cast her eyes skyward at their narrow view of the heavens through the opening in the ancient lava tube ceiling.

"There is nothing good to come from these gathering clouds," Emma stated as she angrily set her jaw, a scowl now deeply carved where the gentle smile had previously graced her visage. "Stay here - and please, do not disobey my instruction this time. My protective spell will stall their actions but I do not know for how long. Allow me to try reasoning with them first?"

"And then what?" he wondered, tightening his fingers around the bronze cutlass, however useless it may be against a god.

"I wish I knew," she sighed as she unconsciously allowed her fingertips to brush across his forearm, a gesture that left his skin tingling and his heart aching as she sprinted away to confront the ghosts of her past.

***********

Emma couldn't remember ever seeing the waters of her typically serene bay so angry. She heard no birds singing from the swaying palms nor did she sense the presence of any of the local sea creatures. Her marine friends had wisely left the cove to escape the wrath of the gods, but Emma had no such choice. Shedding the linen tunic that would only weigh her down and entangle her fins, she darted to the end of the jetty and dove through the choppy waves. Her human legs morphed into her lithe, muscular tail the instant she submerged and with a powerful flick of her tailfin, she plunged into the depths in search of her sister.

Mocking chatter echoed through the seas and filled her ears but Emma chose to ignore it. Insufferable as she might be, Regina was really the least of her concerns if Triton became involved. She could only hope to plead her case to the council and perhaps they wouldn't be so quick to laugh once she proved Killian was a worthy human, deaf to the seducing siren call. They would have to show him mercy and perhaps then she could appeal to Poseidon's mercies as well to grant the wayward sailor a path home.

Sediment stirred from the ocean floor obscured her sight but she didn't need her vision to sense Regina and the council's presence. It surrounded her from all sides, a heavy weight trying to force her down because while she might still be physically one of their kind, Emma had long ago been ostracized. The oppressive atmosphere she felt here beneath the sea she'd long called home only served as confirmation that she was no longer regarded as an equal.

"Show yourself, sister!" Emma shouted, masking her fear with overt bravado. She'd be damned if she would bow to the council's pressure. "Let us settle this matter right here and now!"

The taunting words and laughter drew closer until Emma sensed the feather-light flick of something against her fin. A slithering tentacle skimmed and then encircled her forearm before Emma wriggled free and glared into Regina's grinning facade. She would have loved to have smacked her sister right out of the ocean with a whip of her tail, but Emma didn't dare waste the energy.

Regina, in her favored squid-like form, whirled around her estranged sibling a few times, creating a mini vortex around Emma's body before swirling to a halt roughly an arm's length in front of the beleaguered former siren. With her human arms, Regina daintily slicked back a few stray strands of ebony curls while adjusting her elaborate coral-studded headdress, gestures clearly intended to intimidate and remind Emma who was in charge here. Emma folded her arms across her breast in defiance, not about to be put off by Regina's posturing but still hoping she could conceal her growing anxiety in front of the council.

The remainder of the council began to appear from out of the blue depths, initially as shapeless blobs that she gradually began to recognize. The sirens took a diverse variety of marine forms, each choosing their preference based on individual strengths and morphing ability. There seemed to be a few new faces on the council, at least some she didn't remember after years of trying to put that chapter of her life behind her. The only thing Emma was certain of was that all seemed to be wrapped up in the same little bubble of disdain. Regina's influence may have been stronger than Emma anticipated.

"Erimetha…," Regina addressed her at last. "You have been accused by this council of sirens of violating our solemn code and aiding a human. Well, not just aiding - harboring. We believe you have allowed that same human to live with you. Did you suddenly feel the need for a pet after all of your years in banishment?" Her insult elicited a chorus of chuckles amongst the council members and while Emma's instinct would have been to snap at her snide remark, she bit her tongue and allowed it to slide - for now.

"As I have stated many times before, sister, I was never banished. You can believe that fallacy all you want, but I made the choice to leave entirely of my own volition," Emma stated.

"Semantics," Regina dismissed the argument with a shrug. "Doesn't change the severity of these violations that you stand accused of."

"I have committed no transgression," Emma insisted, "not that it matters to any of you! Every one of you blindly sings your song to entice those unsuspecting humans so you can appease the gods, but why? You're told that all humans are evil and unworthy to traverse our realm, but have you ever spoken to a human? Ever gotten to know one?"

"We were created merely to pass the gods' judgement upon those inferior beings." The statement came from a council member with flaming red hair who Emma recalled was named Zelena. She also recalled that Zelena was one of Regina's closest allies as the redhead continued speaking. "They all submit to our song and then drown themselves. If this act pleases the gods, who are we to disagree?"

"Even the great Poseidon himself said that those sailors who were deemed worthy would be allowed to pass through our realm unimpeded. Why would he make such a statement if he believed that no human would ever be worthy?" Emma countered, but her words were still falling on deaf ears.

"Please…," Regina chuffed. "No human has been determined to be worthy in nearly a millennium. All have surrendered themselves to our siren song and all have perished."

"Not all!" Emma snapped. "One survived your song. One was immune to your seduction. Perhaps the gods had already determined his worth?"

"So - you admit that you have been harboring a human here with you?" Regina demanded, eagerly waiting for Emma to incriminate herself as her tentacles coiled with anticipation.

"It is of no matter to you," Emma responded. "He still survived. I did not make him immune."

Regina stared back at Emma in disbelief of her sister's bluntness. "That's not possible. No human can be immune to our enticing call…"

"Killian never heard your song, nor mine," Emma blurted out, immediately regretting her utterance.

"Killian, is it?" Regina teased, a stomach churning smirk curling up the corners of her ruby red lips. "You gave your pet a name? Aww… how adorable… How about we go find out just how immune your pet really is?"

With a swish of her tentacles, Regina launched her body upward through the waves with Emma following close behind. They broke through and surfaced almost simultaneously but before Emma could speak, Regina let out a hearty cackle.

"A protection spell? Seriously, Emma, you really need to do better than that," Regina taunted, using Emma's preferred moniker as a derogatory slur. With the faintest wave of her perfectly manicured right hand, Regina's magic cancelled out Emma's protective barrier and a bewildered Killian Jones materialized upon the sandy shoreline in full view of the council. "So, this is your little pet human?" Regina regarded his bedraggled appearance from afar, noting his ill-fitting clothing, tousled hair and scraggly beard. "We're to believe that this pitiful looking thing is supposedly worthy of our realm?"

"Stop referring to him as a pet! He's an intelligent being, just as we are, and he has a name - Killian Jones!" Emma cried out in his defense, uncertain if he could hear their conversation from this distance.

"He's still an inferior creature," Regina scoffed. "Why would I ever believe that this - this scrawny human - could be immune to the call of the sirens?"

"Have the council sing. Sing yourself if you must," Emma offered. "You will all see that it will have no effect upon him. He does not hear the melody - not a single note!"

"Oh, I have plans to test your human," Regina sneered, her eyes narrowing and darkening malevolently. "Lord Triton!" she called out, much to Emma's horror. "Deliver me that kraken!"

[sunflowerkiwi93]

Now That We’re Done - HS

All Parts: HERE

Summary: A twenty year old dancer, Elizabeth Payne, is recovering from a traumatic past with the help of her older brother, Liam. The two of them have been yearning for peace for quite some time, and when a good friend comes to live with them for the summer they start their journey towards finding it.  Through ups, downs, relapses, and two albums- Liz fights through her own mind to get better.

Warnings: There are mentions of abuse, PTSD, and anxiety throughout every part.  Also- mature content. One of the guys doesn’t turn out to be so great- this story is not intended to give him this image.  This is all purely fiction.

Part Four

Harry, Liam and I were around the pool all evening.  Bags of food, empty cans of soda and a few empty bottles of my brothers favorite beer was all that was left around the patio.  I had a towel wrapped around me as I went about the concrete gathering things up.  Liam crashed at one o’clock leaving Harry and I to be the ones to clean up.

“He got up again and said he was going to get a shower,” Harry sighed coming outside with a garbage bag, “Then he told me not to worry, that it’s apparently Thursday and that he doesn’t have work tomorrow, so he went back to bed.”  I laughed under my breath and shook my head at my brother's drunk nonsense.  I could feel my wet hair wrapped on top of my head in a bun get that ache and I knew it had to come down.  

“What time is it Harry?” I unwrapped my towel and put it on a chair then reached up to my hair and unravelled the twist.  

“About two,”  He answered.

My hair was still wet but felt dried out from the chlorine.  I shook my head side to side and heard Harry gasp.

“Watch it!” He shouted.  I whipped my head around as fast as I could to look at him.  He had his hands up at his sides looking at me with his eyes wide.

“Did I get you?” I asked quietly, trying to hold back a laugh.  He slumped down and gave me a look.

“Did I get you?” He mocked dropping the cans in his hands rushing over to me.  I shrieked and ran towards him but just missed his arms purposely.

“Come on!” Harry shouted.

“NO!” I shouted back.  I rounded the pool scanning the fence and Harry was around the other side.  We stared each other down, neither of us daring to move.

I looked him up and down.  His brown curls messy, his green eyes a little bloodshot from the water, his skin tanned, his old shorts from the summer I was eighteen and a smile that could melt my heart.

“You know you wanna move!” He called over to me.  Neither of us budged.  I cracked a smile.  “Bring that little smirk over here!” He waved his hands towards himself.  I took a deep breath.

“You come over here mister big shot!” I said.  Harry put his hands by his side and shrugged his shoulders.

“Okay,” He said nonchalantly and started to run around the pool.  I instantly let out a shout and ran the other way.  Harry was catching up to me, cons to having the shortest legs ever, and I started to dive between patio furniture knocking an end table over to knock him off his path.  He barreled over it and caught me in his arms pulling me into him.

“I got you!” He laughed squeezing me in.

“Dammit,” I sighed trying to catch my breath.  I brought my hands up to rest on his arms that were still crossed around my chest.  “I can’t keep up like I’m eighteen anymore.” I said, still catching my breath.  Harry still held me the same as when he caught me.

“Well, if you start to dance again you might be able to,” He said.  I couldn’t see his face but I knew what he was doing.  He and Liam definitely had a conversation about this.

“Don’t start with that,” I started.

“Why not?” He asked immediately.

“Because-“

“Because why?  Because you loved it?  Because it’s what makes you the happiest?” Harry said softly and held me a bit tighter.  I held his arms a little tighter in return.

“Dance is your love.  Your passion.  Your drug and I believe you’ve been going through a withdrawal,” He nearly whispered into my ear, “You were the most beautiful dancer I’ve seen.  You were driven and hardworking.”  His arms came undone and his hands slid up onto my shoulders.  My arms fell back by my side.

“I swear I would sing you anything, anywhere if it meant you would dance again.” This time he whispered to me.  Chills ran down my back making me take a deep breath.

I didn’t want to move.  I knew if I moved he would move and I did not want him to move.  The only sound I could hear was that of the pool's filter and the crickets in the grass.  I swear I could feel Harry's heart beat on my back and if I could feel his that meant he could feel mine pounding in my chest.  We stood like this for a minute but it felt like eternity.

“Turn around,” Harry said.  Nerves stirred in my stomach.

“What?” I whispered, my heart rate nearly skyrocketing.

“Turn,” He said more sure of himself.  I slowly turned to face him in the grasp of his arms.  We looked at each other eye to eye.  His face was golden with a bit of pink under his eyes from the sun.  He slid his left arm around my waist, his hands brushing over my bare skin.  His right hand grasped my left and he held it out to the side intertwining our fingers.  He looked to my right hand and nodded for it to come to his shoulder.  He looked down to our feet, back to my eyes and then our feet again.  I crinkled my eyebrows watching him.  He cleared his throat and looked at me again.  I finally caught on and put my feet on top of his with a breathy laugh.

“Any requests?” He asked looking all proper towards me with a smile and his chin high.  I laughed again and he didn’t budge.  I sighed and gave him an answer.

“A Harry Styles original, Sign of the Times,” I said.  His smile faltered a bit and his lips parted, “It’s my favorite.” I whispered.

“It is?” He asked.

“Of course.  How could your first song not be my favorite?” I answered.  He smiled and closed his eyes with a breath.  Almost as if he was relieved with my answer.  He pulled me a bit closer, started humming before singing and we swayed side to side.

Halfway through his song I was lost in the music.  My eyes were closed and it was clear I was leading our movement.  Harry pressed our bodies together and I laid my head against his chest.  The two of us rocked along to the lyrics that struck my heart in the best way when I first listened to it.

By the end of it I didn’t want to let go. I wanted to melt into this moment forever.  The warmth of having him so close and how comfortable and fitting it felt.  How safe I felt being in his arms.  He slowed his singing and our dance came to a finish.  I stayed against him for a moment.  He didn’t seem to move either.  We paused, both of us taking it in.  He then undid our hands and brought his arms around my back and mine found their way around his.  He kissed the top of my head and I looked up toward him.  I swore he started to come closer until our attention was immediately turned to my left to the sound of a click.  We stood in silence listening.

“Maybe it was-“ Harry was cut off by two more clicks that came in a row.

“Harry,” I said so quietly I’m not even sure he could hear me.

“Sh,” He shushed.  One of his arms came up around me, his hand holding the back of my head bringing it into his chest protectively.  The only thing that moved was his head shifting side to side.

Another click.  Then two more.  Harry took a deep breath.

“That’s a fucking camera,” He whispered and suddenly started for the door keeping me tucked close to him.  My heart rate rocketed again and not in the fun way.  We fumbled through the door, he didn’t let go of me, instead he scattered around for his phone and dialed in a number.  I could hear it ringing, only once, and then a man answered.

“Matteo I need you here now.  There’s someone on the property who should not be here.  Thank you,” Harry hung up the phone and looked at me.  I stared at him with wide eyes.  “You’re going to be okay.”  He reassured me.

“Who would even...” I trailed off not even wanting to think about why someone would be on my brothers property at two thirty in the morning.

“Most likely a paparazzi looking for a buck,” He said but could tell his answer wouldn’t soothe my anxiety.  I took a deep breath and then one right after.  Two breaths turned into four.  Then six.

Harry turned me toward him completely and put his hands on either side of my face.  I looked into his eyes and felt a tear fall out of mine.  He took a deep breathe in through his nose and out through his mouth.  He closed his eyes and did it again.  My heart was beating faster and faster.  He opened his eyes and pressed his forehead down against mine.

“Do it,” He said and he breathed again.  I tried to follow him the best I could, “You got it, keep going.” We took eight breaths that I could count before I could feel my feet again and by that time Harry’s phone went off.  He didn’t break eye contact with me when he answered it.  Matteo was here and had someone else with him.  Harry set the phone down and watched me.

“Do you want to be out here when Matteo comes in or do you want to go to bed?” He asked me.  I shrugged my shoulders.

“I-I-I don’t know, will you be safe?  Is it okay if you go out there or...” I twirled my fingers around.  Harry smiled and hugged me.

“I’m going to be okay and I need you to be okay.  I’ll take you to your room, you need to go to sleep,” We started down the hallway.  Harry intertwined our fingers and we walked in silence.  He stopped at my door and opened it for me.

“Thanks for dancing with me,” He smiled and leaned in to kiss the top of my head again.  I heard the front door open.

“Thanks for singing to me,” I returned his smile.  “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” He said.

And with that he went around to Matteo and I could only hear the mumble of their voices.  I turned into my room and changed from my bathing suit to a sweatshirt and shorts and slipped into bed.  I laid awake for a while listening to the guys.  The backdoor opened and closed a few times as did the front door.  I heard Harry's laugh a few times and then it fell quiet for a bit.  It was in the middle of the noise when I started to drift to sleep, still thinking back to that moment Harry and I shared by the pool.  I smiled and closed my eyes letting myself fall asleep.

-

Morning came as fast as the night went.  I was woken up again to the smell of breakfast being made.  Tossing the covers off of me I hurried to the kitchen hoping Harry may look the way he did yesterday morning.  To my subtle disappointment my brother was awake with Harry who was dressed and ready for the day.

“Good morning!” Harry greeted me.  I smiled at him and hopped onto a stool right beside my brother.  I laid my head on Liam's shoulder and he put his arm around my back.

“Good of you to be up,” I laughed, “You left us early.” Liam shook his head.

“Jokes on me,” He groaned, “I haven’t been hungover in a long time.  I blame Harry, this only happens with him.”

“Hey,” Harry said from the stove flipping over a pancake before turning to Liam pointing the spatula at him, “You put that beer in your own hand.  This has nothing to do with me.” He turned back to the stove.  I laughed at both of them.

“Whatever you say Harry,” He paused, “So before the security breach happened how much of the party did I miss?” I flickered my eyes up to Harry who gave me a side eye barely turning his head obviously signaling me to answer Liam.  I took my head off my brother's shoulder and shrugged.

“Not much honestly, we were just trying to clean up,” I said without any excitement in my voice.  Harry stifled a laugh.  “What happened last night with the... the security... thing.” Liam and Harry went on to explain that Matteo and his partner, Harry's security, patrolled the entire property and came across a paparazzi who was in fact snapping pictures of us since before Liam went to bed.  It had gotten so quiet between Harry and I that that was how we heard him.  He was arrested but was most likely going to be released right away.

“That's entirely not right!” I exclaimed, “He violated our privacy and completely crossed a line!  They just let anyone out of jail regardless of what they’ve done these days I swear.”  Liam and Harry shared the same serious look between each other.

“You’re telling me,” Liam shook his head.  Harry looked down, flipped the pancakes to a plate and slid them in front of Liam and I.  My brother and I both reached for one, bumping hands, and fought for a piece.  Neither of us used a plate and instead ate it straight from our hands like we always did since we were kids.  Harry watched us and grinned.  He reached for a piece and ate it the same way.

“You guys are great,” He cheesed and took a bite.

“So what does...” I started with my mouthful and waited till I finished my pancake, “What do we do from now on? What's changing about security and stuff?”

“Well for starters Matteo and Jack, my security, will be here overnight,” Harry stated.

“I’ve already looked into changing my fencing and gate,” Liam said.

“And new cameras and scanners are coming in,” Harry finished their explanation as if they rehearsed it.

“So no need to worry?” I asked, my eyes widening a bit.  Liam put a hand against my back and shook his head.

“That makes me feel a little better,” I nodded.

“A little?” Harry asked.

“Yep.  I need a shower and then I’ll be all the way better,” I smiled.  They both shooed me away and playfully groaned.  I hurried away around to my room and got myself together.  I grabbed two towels and a change of clothes before turning out of my room.  Starting down the hall I put my things in the bathroom, started the shower and realized I didn’t grab my phone from Liam.  I came back out into the hallway and bumped right into Harry.

“Oh geez, I’m sorry,” He said, grabbing onto my arm.

“That’s okay,” I giggled.  We looked at each other for a second and just smiled.

“Are you okay?” Harry whispered.  I paused before answering, taking in this second.

“Yes,” I nodded, “And I mean that.” My eyes squared in on his and he sighed.

“Get outta here,” I could see him holding back a smile as he pushed my arm away.  Turning away from him to go out to my brother I could feel his eyes on me.  I glanced over my shoulder and he had a small smile on his face.  My heart skipped a beat.  It was impossible to think that there was a slight chance he and I were on the same page.

[fallonsliam]

wait for me

Falliam Frenzy; Week 1

“Please stay.” | What are you afraid of?”

An AU where Liam goes after Fallon after that exercise she thought was a date.

“Look Liam, I don’t know if you’re moving on, or if you’re moving forward, or you’re moving backwards, but I just… I feel like I’m moving in circles. And I just can’t do it anymore, okay? I’m sorry, I can’t..”

He watched the pain in her eyes as they started to well up. When she got up to leave, hurriedly grabbing her purse in the process, there’s this small pain he felt on his insides that he didn’t understand. All he knew was that he didn’t mean to hurt her – and his chest started stirring at the fact that he did. He hated seeing her hurt.

****

The night his memory was triggered by seeing the mask just made him start to feel this way. Obviously, unintentionally hurting people was something he never wanted to do, but it was different when it came to Fallon. After remembering himself kissing Fallon at the masquerade party, he couldn’t help but think of how heartbroken the girl in front of his doorway looked a couple minutes ago. She loved him – he knew that, even in that moment. He just didn’t know how to reciprocate it, nor have any memories the feelings he felt would be backed up with. He walked away thinking it was the right thing to do – to not give her false hope, but it most certainly did not feel right. After seeing that memory, he got up immediately with his feet bringing him to his front door. He hoped for a miracle in a way, that he would still see her outside – maybe hoping he’ll come back out the way he was right now.

She wasn’t there.

****

“Fallon,” He stood up from where he’s sitting and turned around, hoping she was only a few feet away, able to hear what he’s saying. He just couldn’t let this chance slip the way it did the night before. “I’m sorry.”

She continued to walk knowing the tears are going to burst if ever she decided to stay. Just walk away. It won’t get better. Just walk away.

“I just,” He said, trying to make his voice a little bit louder as she continued to walk. “I just need you to wait for me…. Please.”

She tried so hard not to listen to him, but it just was not happening. She could hear everything, and the moment she heard his favour, she stopped dead in her tracks. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and then all of a sudden, all of the times he had become patient with her ran through her mind. A tear crept down her eye without her noticing.

He shuffled his feet nervously when he saw her stop walking. Is she mad? Even more miserable? Was this even the right decision?

“I know it’s a bit of an ask, but I just…” He started to slowly walk towards her. “I hate seeing you getting hurt every time you see me. I know you love me, Fallon. I feel it. And I know it’s the truth.”

He could feel the tension between him and Fallon, who still had not turned around to look at him. “Believe me, I want to see this through. And I’m sorry if I did it the wrong way by asking you questions about Ashley earlier.” He reached out for her hand, which twitched as they touched. He too, felt the spark.

“I really just need time.” He slowly tried to make her face him, which she willingly did. “Time to process everything. Get to know you, see why I love you, and how I loved you. Because I feel it. My mind doesn’t understand it, but it’s there.”

He looked up at her, and sees the girl biting her lip with tears crawling down her cheeks, trembling slightly. It was obvious she was trying to hold back her emotions, but this was a side of her that he’s never seen before – he’s always known her as that girl who fearlessly did everything to make him see that they were in love. Now, as he looked at her eyes that were sparkling from the tears the built up around them, he saw fear.

He took a deep breath, feeling slightly defeated at the sight of her face. “I see you.” He said, whilst softly rubbing the top of her hand with his, hoping it would give a little bit of consoling. “What are you afraid of, Fallon?”

“Can we please go outside?” She answered nervously.

He nodded, agreeing to her request. He led her outside, careful not to let go of her hand – which, to his surprise, he was still holding. He felt the cold breeze touch his skin as the vicinity ran quiet. Then it felt right, it was just him and her.

“You,” His thoughts were interrupted when he heard what she had said, in between sobs, letting go of his hand in the process. “I’m afraid of you.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“I’m afraid of falling in love with you, much more harder if I wait for you.” She said, just letting the words roll out. “Because you’re nice, you understand me, and deep inside I’m still hoping you still would be able to love me. I’m scared that I’m going to get hurt more if I pursue us when you can’t even remember. What if you never remember us anymore? I never did anything for you to fall in love with me. You just did.”

“Fallon..”

“I can’t go through you rejecting me again, Liam. It’s too much for me. Waiting for you will give me hope. And I really want to look at the bigger picture here. You falling in love with me, again, doesn’t seem realistic. At least to me.” She tried so hard to not let all the welled up tears roll down her cheeks, but they did.

There she was again, hurt. His could feel his heart ache at the sight of her crying and all he wanted to do was hug her. So, he mustered up all of the courage he had, walked up to her and tightly wrapped his arms around her. She didn’t budge, but instead, started sobbing on his chest. She tried so hard to stop herself from returning the embrace and she was able to. Even when she really wanted to. It was only sinking in – she was letting the only man who’s ever made her felt home, go.

They stood there for a couple more seconds, his arms around her torso, whilst his hand slowly stroked her hair. They could feel each other’s warmth. Everything just felt so right, especially to him – even if it didn’t make a lot of sense. He didn’t care though, he didn’t need a reason for it to make sense. Being with her was enough for him.

“Please, don’t go.” He whispered into her ear, but she let go of his embrace a few moments later, after realising she was reeling herself back into his life again.

“I can’t.” She said, taking another deep breath and slowly taking a few steps back. “I have to go.”

He watched her quickly walk away, wiping the tears off her eyes yet he still couldn’t find the guts to tell her that he couldn’t live life without her next to him.

“I love you, Fal.” He whispered to himself, defeated.

[ladynonsense]

A Royal Disgrace (TRR/PM Crossover) : Epilogue

The end! Thanks for reading along, I had a lot of fun writing this series.

Catch up on my masterlist

Pairings: Liam x MC (Riley), Damien x MC (Kai)

Rating: T (pure, wholesome fluff with barely-there implications of sex stuff)

Summary: Fast-forwarding through the events of PM2 and TRR3, the gang has all moved on and manages to find some closure. Borrows dialogue from TRR3 chapter 22 and PM2 chapter 15.

Words: 3900ish

Tag List: @hustacks @hopefulmoonobject @brightpinkpeppercorn @choiceslife @perriewinklenerdie @pixieferry @nazariobae @zaffrenotes @ritachacha @h3llostrang3r @blackcoffee85 @wannabemc2 @sleepwalkingelite @debramcg1106 @furiousherringoperatortoad @bobasheebaby @sawyeroakleyscowboyhat @jlouise88 

Riley woke up slowly to late-morning sun already streaming through the window of the unfamiliar hotel room. Her body ached, cuts and bruises from the fighting the day before now even more painful than they had been when she went to sleep.

But Liam’s arms were around her, his warm chest pressed against her bare back. She sighed, pressing herself firmly against him, reminding herself that it was over. It was all over.

“Good morning…” he purred drowsily, “...my queen.”

She turned to face him, finding herself inches from his handsome face, even sexier before he’d had a chance to shave and smooth back his hair. “Liam...isn’t this a nice sight.”

He was glowing with happiness, and for the hundredth time she could hardly believe her luck to be loved by somebody like him. “I was just thinking the same thing.”

She ran a gentle hand over his hair and down his stubbled cheek. “Now that we’re married, it’s always going to be like this, isn’t it?” She tucked her head against his chest with a sigh. “Last night was so freaking hot.”

He chuckled, and she felt it vibrate through his chest. “I know it seems impossible, but every time that we’re together is better than the last, my queen.” Liam drummed his fingers thoughtfully against her back. “Having you last night and knowing that finally, you were my wife...it was more than I’d dreamed.”

Liam pulled her close and kissed her as she closed her eyes and forgot the world around her. “I want a lifetime of nights like that with you,” she murmured against his lips.

“Then the queen shall have it. You have all of me now. Now and forever, my love.”

Riley couldn’t stop smiling, feeling giddy from his sappy doting. Her first day married to Liam...her first day as queen. “So what are the royal plans for the day? Planting trees? Kissing babies?”

“I’m not ready to share you with the kingdom yet. I want you to myself this morning.” He pulled her into another kiss, deeper, but unhurried. When he finally pulled away, she was breathless.

“Liam…”

“Riley.” He brushed her hair away from her face. “I hate to bring this up, but I wanted to ask you something.”

“Oh?”

“Your friend travelled here for the wedding. Daniel.”

“Oh, yes! My old coworker from New York.”

“Right.” He drummed his fingers against her back again, and she realized he was nervous.

“Liam? What is it?”

“Is he...trustworthy?”

She laughed. “Of course. Daniel and I go way back. He’s harmless.”

Liam nodded slowly. “Do you think...could I entrust him with some sensitive correspondence? Something I wouldn’t want to send through the mail.”

Riley studied his face, surprised by the vulnerability there. Her heart broke a little for him as she realized what he was asking. “You need to send a letter to New York.”

He nodded again. “I am fine with leaving him in the past. You know that you are everything to me now. But I owe it to him to say something, if I can, without endangering him by reaching out to him directly.”

She squeezed him tight, snuggling into his chest once again. “I trust you. Always. Say what you need to say, and I’ll ask Daniel to drop it in the mail only once he’s back home.”

He kissed the top of her head, relaxing into her. “Thank you.”

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

“Say it again, Kai. Please.”

Kai laughed, wiping at the tears forming in his eyes. “I love you, Damien.”

Damien threw his arms around him, kissing his temples, his nose, his cheeks, over and over until they were both laughing.

“Kiss me for real!”

Damien obliged, his lips warm and soft as he kissed Kai tenderly, pouring years of unspoken feeling into the moment. “Sometimes it just hits me all at once… that after everything we’ve been through, everything you’ve helped me to overcome… you still want me.”

Kai rolled his eyes. “Of course I still want you...I love you.”

Damien grinned, breathless, like he could hardly believe it. “You love me.”

“And only you, Damien. You’re the love of my life.”

He shuddered slightly, his smile positively glowing. “I’ve loved you every single day since the moment I met you, Kai Park. And I never intend to stop.”

Kai punched him in the arm. “You’re such a sap.”

Damien laughed him off and stretched, popping his shoulders with a groan.

“So now that my phone service has inexplicably cut off,” he glanced at the phone cord, lying unplugged on the ground, “work is done for the day...and you’re here…maybe we could spend the evening together?”

“Of course.” He tried to play it cool, but he was barely able to contain his enthusiasm. “I’m all yours.”

“So...is there anything you wanna do? We could go somewhere…”

He looked around the familiar office, smiling. “I don’t know… There’s plenty of things to do here.”

“Like what?”

“I’d love to do some serious snooping through all your old cases.” He gestured at the files littering Damien’s desk. “Maybe we can even get this place tidied up.”

Damien shook his head, chuckling. “Tidy up if you want, but I’m not paying you.”

“You can pay me in sexual favors, if you want.”

“Mmm…” he pressed up against his back, hands on his hips, nuzzling into his neck. “OK, that I can do.”

Kai started shuffling through the mostly-unlabelled file folders with a sigh. “I don’t know why you bother with actual paper records of everything, anyway.”

Damien let him go, picking up some folders himself to sort through. “You can’t accidentally control-alt-delete a sheet of paper away.”

“That statement causes me physical pain…” he tossed some loose napkins from deep within the heap of papers into a garbage can. “Also, you could just as easily spill coffee all over a paper file, ruining it forever.”

“You can’t spill coffee on an entire filing cabinet,” Damien grumbled. “But drop one burrito on your keyboard, and suddenly all your files have been wiped from existence.”

“That’s an awfully specific example…” Kai picked up a folder and glanced inside, recognizing the case immediately. “Oh! What’s this? We worked this one together!”

Damien reached to snatch the folder away from him, but Kai easily held it out of his reach. A handwritten letter floated out of the folder and landed on the desk, as Damien watched nervously, holding his breath.

“What’s this…” Kai picked it up, tracing his finger over the elegant script as he read it to himself.

Dear D,

I hope this letter finds you well. I’ve entrusted it with a friend of my wife’s in effort to contact you covertly. Thank you for respecting this need for discretion and not trying to contact me over the past months. Your loyalty in doing so did not go unnoticed.

I feel I owe you both an explanation and an apology. No doubt you’ve put together several of the pieces on your own, as is the nature of your profession. But perhaps I can give a clearer picture and hopefully put your mind at ease over this matter.

The morning after we last spoke, I woke to an upsetting phone call presenting evidence of our relationship that I’m told you were privy to as well. I was rather strongly advised to break off all communication at once in order to prevent any further evidence from being collected and to increase deniability. As cruel as I felt in doing so, I believed it to be the safest course of action for both of us.

The blackmailer’s motives remained a mystery until we found enough evidence corroborating your theory about DK’s guilt to make an arrest. Immediately, he attempted to use the recording to bargain his way out of prosecution. I made the hard decision to give in to his demands in order to protect both of us. In the end I stripped him of his title and banished him, but he continues to live his life as a free man. For that I am sorry.

The way things ended between us weighs on me often. You know that I’ve led a sheltered life with little room for passion or risk. In the months that I spent determining who I would spend my life with, I was surprised by emotions that stirred in me. I had always thought the prospect of marriage to be political and transactional. When I found myself capable of real love and desire, perhaps I became reckless.

I should not have been reckless with you. However, I cannot find it in myself to wholly regret it. I hope you know that I have nothing but respect and fondness for you. Maybe when enough time has passed that I no longer fear a scandal, we can meet again.

One more thing: a message from my wife. She hopes that you will tell your dear friend how you feel about him. I have no specific comment on the matter, but I will say that taking a chance on love has been the smartest thing I have ever done. I wish you the best wherever your heart may take you.

Yours,

L.

Kai looked up from the letter to see Damien staring at him, biting his lip. He laughed to break the tension. “This guy is so cheesy, Damien.”

Damien chuckled, taking the letter and folder from him and tucking them both into the filing cabinet. “He’s a king. He doesn’t know how to flirt like a normal person.”

“Was that flirting? It reads like Greek tragedy.”

Damien leaned against the edge of his desk, grabbing Kai’s hands to pull him close. “Can’t fault his advice, anyway.”

“Mmm…” Kai kissed him softly, releasing his hands to run them through his hair. “Is that why you finally made a move? Your king commanded you to?”

“He’s not my...ugh. No. This was waiting for me when we got back from the whole Eros debacle. I had already told you how I felt by then.”

“Whatever. I’m never going to stop teasing you for seducing a king just because he reminded you of me.”

“Kai...you literally hooked up with my robot clone.”

Kai backed away defensively. “That is not the same! I thought he was you!”

“Right. Because at no point, while a man half your size…”

“You’re at least 85% of my size…”

“...While he’s picking you up and holding you effortlessly in the freezing cold while he fucks you up against a wall…”

“...I told Hayden all of this in confidence, by the way…”

“...It never once occurred to you…huh, something seems a little different about Damien today. Almost like he’s a super strong robot instead of a human being.”

Kai crossed his arms over his chest. “I am not having this discussion again.”

“Just admit it: You have a robot fetish.”

“I have a ‘people who look and act exactly like Damien Nazario’ fetish.”

“Sounds filthy.”

He bit his lip teasingly, grabbing Damien by the belt and pulling him back against himself. “It is.”

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

“Damien! Oh my god!”

Damien sat at his desk in his new home office, patiently waiting for Kai to come running in to tell him whatever news had him so excited. Sure enough, he appeared in the doorway a moment later.

“They’re coming!”

“Great. Who?”

“The king and queen! They RSVPed!”

“More information please.”

Kai was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, but managed to contain himself to the chair across Damien’s desk. “Right. I sent an invitation to King Liam and Queen Riley. I also sent one to the Queen of England and to President Thompson, you know, just to get the standard form letter congratulations for our scrapbook.”

“Right, of course you did.”

“Anyway, Liam and Riley actually said they’re coming!”

Damien pushed his reading glasses up on top of his head, rubbing the bridge of his nose. “They called you?”

“No...they filled out the form on the website like everyone else.”

“Oh. Well then.” Damien turned back to his work, unimpressed. “It was just a mistake, then. Or a prank.”

“You are such a drag, D. Why can’t you believe that your old friends would want to come to the wedding?”

“Oh, I don’t know...they’re royalty, they live overseas, they left on bad terms with me, they’re afraid to even contact me for fear of a scandal...should I go on?”

“You’ll see. They’re coming.” He stood back up and flounced out the door, calling back as he walked down the hallway, “I’m putting them on the list!”

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

Damien peeked out from the cabin, careful not to let the guests outside notice him. Folding chairs were set out in two tidy sections with a wide aisle down the middle. Leaves were falling gently off of the red and golden trees, swaying in the wind. He had been nervous about planning for an outdoor wedding in the fall when the weather could be so unpredictable, but the gamble had paid off beautifully. He closed the door again before he was spotted.

“Alright Dames, time for a final wardrobe check.” Hope cornered him with a lint roller, running it over every square inch of fabric on his body before fussing with the boutonniere on his lapel.

“Hope...I’m sure I look fine.”

“Yeah, well…” she smoothed his hair down with her hands, tucking it behind his ears. “You didn’t pay $4000 for a photographer to look ‘fine’ in pictures.”

His eyes went wide. “Hold up...we paid HOW much for a photographer?”

“Shhh. Don’t worry about it. Don’t tell Kai I said anything.”

Right on cue, Kai came barreling up the stairs from the basement. “Ok, that’s it! I can’t take it anymore, I want to see my… oh.” He stopped short when his eyes landed on Damien, dressed in his best plum suit, the one he’d worn to the gala way back when they worked together to save the president. Kai on the other hand was all black everything, from his shirt to his tie to his jacket to his shoes.

“You look amazing.”

“You do.”

Kai ran at him, almost knocking him over with the force of his hug. Damien wrapped his arms around Kai in return, holding his close, not wanting the simple, quiet moment to end. “I love you so much,” he murmured, his lips against Kai’s throat. “I love you so much it makes me crazy.”

Kai let out a happy sigh, kissing Damien’s forehead. “...Hard same.”

He pulled away laughing, shoving Kai gently back. “Moment ruined. Get out of here.”

“No! It’s time. We’re supposed to walk out there together.”

“We are? That doesn’t seem traditional.”

Kai smirked, linking their arms together. “When have I ever been traditional?”

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

Riley snuggled into Liam’s side, feeling more relaxed than she had in months. She felt a little silly that they were the only ones wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day -- did they do anything to obscure their identities, anyway? -- but Bastien and Mara had insisted they follow their security instructions to the letter, and that including goofy sunglasses. Oh well. Being anonymous felt good, anyway.

As they waited she snuck a granola bar out of her clutch and quickly scarfed it down, hoping not to attract any hungry birds. Liam chuckled warmly next to her. “Baby needs a snack?”

“Constantly,” she answered, tapping her open palm on her bump lightly. She surveyed the other guests as they all started to take their seats. “I don’t know anybody. Is it weird that we came?”

Liam shook his head confidently. “They invited us, right? I’m sure we’re not the only people here who don’t know the other guests.”

“I don’t know…” She looked around at the other guests all speaking to each other animatedly in rapid spanish, embracing and clumping together in large groups. “It seems like everyone here is related to Damien.”

“Hmm…” Liam scanned the crowd himself, looking for exceptions. “There. They look every bit as lost as we do.” He gestured subtly towards a couple in the back row, a beautiful but nervous woman in an elegant dress and thick glasses with a shorter man looking surprisingly dapper in a salmon pink suit and a man-bun. As they watched, a young boy came sprinting up to them, crashing into the man’s arms and squeezing him tight. All three of their faces lit up with unbridled joy, the woman’s obvious discomfort melting away as she reached out to ruffle the boy’s hair.

Liam’s grip on Riley’s hand tightened, and she looked up to see his warm smile still gazing at the little family. “Soon, love,” she whispered.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a family like this?” He gestured at the smiling, laughing group that had formed all around them, children and adults alike. “Just to be surrounded by love all the time.” A little girl in front of them shoved a boy to the ground over a struggle for a toy dump truck. The boy stood up and hit her in the face with the truck. A young woman, clearly not the mother, maybe just a teenaged cousin, got between them, shouting at them both until an older woman came and ushered them all off to the side, scolding them quietly.

“Wonderful, you say?” Riley smirked up at Liam, who still looked blissful.

“Wonderful,” he repeated, letting out a small sigh. “The memories of being tortured, teased, and tormented by my brother...they’re all warm and fuzzy now. The highlights of my childhood. The memories that hurt are the ones of absence. My mother’s death. My father being too busy governing to even eat meals with us or be there to say goodnight at the end of the day, much less play with us.”

“Will it be like that for you?”

He shook his head. “Never. My father feared the loss of power. I embrace it. The more people can share the responsibility of rule, the better. I know that we’ll need nannies and we don’t be with our children every hour of the day, but we will be the ones that raise them. You and I.”

She leaned in to kiss him, but something else caught her eye just as the music started to change. “Here they come,” she whispered.

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

The ceremony passed in a blur. Damien was nervous, shaking and shy. Kai was also nervous, talking too fast and too loud and laughing at everything, no matter how mundane. The little old lady who officiated just beamed at them, certainly having seen her share of awkward and slightly terrified couples in her day.

At the end they kissed and they thought it would be weird in front of their families and friends, but instead the world melted away and the whole thing immediately felt right.

It was in the receiving line after the ceremony that Damien first noticed them. He saw them coming, losing his focus on the beloved great-aunt in front of him as he started to mentally scramble for what to say.

In all Kai’s rushed etiquette lessons, staying up late every night reading him silly and dated advice for how to behave at one’s own wedding, there was nothing about how to face your two royal exes.

Thankfully, Liam had spent his whole life learning how to handle himself gracefully in social situations. “Damien.” His whole face lit up when he saw him, wrapping him in his arms before he could even register what was happening. “That was beautiful. I’m so happy for the two of you.”

Riley stepped in and did the same before Damien had even managed to speak. She stood on her toes to press a firm kiss to his cheek while she squeezed him enthusiastically. “I knew you two would figure it out someday. You’re perfect together.”

Damien finally snapped out of his surprised daze, taking in the warm and surprisingly friendly couple in front of him. “I can’t believe you came!”

Kai’s arm was around him suddenly, squeezing him into his side. “I told him you were coming! He had no faith in the online RSVP system. I’m Kai, by the way.” He shook Liam’s hand enthusiastically before turning to Riley for a quick hug.

“Yes, I remember you, Kai. You’re the guy my ex-boyfriend was transparently in love with the whole time we dated.” Riley punched him playfully in the arm, smirking.

“My apologies for being so distractingly hot. You seem to have done OK for yourself though.”

“Thank you for noticing!” Riley answered, squeezing Liam’s arm. “And I loved your online RSVP system. We had to travel the countryside and personally corner every potential guest and demand to know if they’d be coming, but nobody wants to hear that story.”

Liam nodded. “Yes, that was not one of our more interesting adventures.”

Damien’s great aunt was apparently a fan of Nadia’s art, and was holding up the line gushing over her. He looked back to Liam and Riley, glad to have an extra moment with them. “Wow. It’s been so long, and you two...you look so happy.”

It was true. Now past the stage of pregnancy where her face was blotched and purple from bursting blood vessels with the force of her vomiting, Riley was settling into a lovely glow. Liam was a little softer around the edges, a little grayer at the temples, but somehow only got more handsome with age. ‘Distinguished’ might be the word, but Liam had always been that, anyway. They were dressed down for the wedding, blending in as well as two extremely attractive people could, but still fashionable and put-together. For a moment, Damien wondered how he had ever really believed these two were his peers.

And then Riley belched, a foul-smelling, terrible thing, and both their eyes went wide with terror before they dissolved into laughter, Riley letting out a string of smaller burps as she struggled to pull herself together. “Oooh my god,” she croaked finally, “The acid reflux is killing me, guys.”

Liam rubbed her back lightly, still chuckling. “I suppose that’s as good a send-off as any. We unfortunately need to take off before the reception.”

Kai frowned, patting down his pockets. “Then you won’t be in any of our photos! One second…” He tapped Nadia on the shoulder, whispering frantically to her until she produced Kai’s phone from her clutch. “Here we go. Selfie?”

“Of course,” Liam answered, smoothly stepping behind them while Riley crouched slightly in front. He snapped several photos, giddy with excitement.

“Thank you so much!”

“Thank you for inviting us,” Riley responded, hugging both of them together. “And congratulations. It was beautiful.”

“Thank you,” Damien said again, a blush rising in his cheeks as he was crushed into a group hug. “If you can...I’d love it if you kept in touch.”

“Of course, D,” Riley assured him. “We’ll talk later, OK? I promise.”

“I’d like that.”

And with that they moved down the line, Sloane and Khaan following close behind and whispering dozens of questions about what they just witnessed, Hamza nearly falling asleep on his father’s shoulders from boredom as Nadia squealed and shrieked, realizing who Liam and Riley were. Damien tried his best not to look after them, but he kept stealing glances, tracking their progress down the line until he looked up one last time to find that they were gone.

[umccall71]

The Arrangement/This just gets better and better

Book: The Royal Romance

Characters:King Liam x (mc) Queen Sexy

Rating:mature(nudity,talks of infidelity and pregnancy, violence)

Word Count:2312

Disclaimer: All characters used are sole property of Pixelberry. I am simply borrowing them for entertainment purposes.

Warning:The contents of this series includes nsfw, profanity, adult content, talk of sexual harassment and drugging. By reading this post, you acknowledged you are 18 +.

The next morning, Queen Sexy arose and slipped into her robe and slippers.She glanced at the clock… 5am. She made the trek to the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. She glanced at her image in the mirror, took a deep breath, and muttered to herself, “today will be better than yesterday.”Sexy walked to the door of her bedroom and opened to start her day. She glanced down seeing her broken king lying on the floor, past out. She rolled her eyes, and stepped over him making her way to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee.Sexy tapped her fingernails on the quartz countertop waiting for the coffee to start the slow drip.Once the drip began, she pulled down her favorite mug and placed it on the counter. Queen Sexy pulled the belt or her robe tightly until she reached the nursery door. She smiled down at Princess Emelia starting to stir as Prince Liam still was resting peacefully. “Good morning my beautiful girl”, she whispered picking up the precious baby girl.Sexy placed a kiss to her forehead and collected the necessary supplies to dry and swaddle her baby girl. Sexy took a seat on the chaise lounge , undoing her top to nurse Emelia.

“Moments like these make it all worth it my baby. I live to love you and your brother , your my world. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. God blessed me to be your mommy, to see your face and smell your scent,to hear your voice… it’s all worth it.”Sexy grazes her fingertips over the soft head of dark curls.Her index finger playfully flipped the soft tendrils between fingers. “It all seems like a distant memory.” After Sexy finished nursing Emelia and lulled her back to sleep, she stepped out of the nursery for a cup of coffee. Once Sexy went back to the nursery, it was time to dry and nurse Prince Liam. “My precious baby boy… did you sleep well?I see your hungry this morning… it’s okay, I’m here as much as you need to be comfortable.I love you so much.. you make my heart so full baby.”

King Liam made it to the nursery after hearing his wife over the baby monitor.He stood silently in the doorway unnoticed watching on in sorrowful awe, regretting the wall that was put up with this wrecking ball taken to his life. “ I feel the exact same way about our children and you my love.”Silence as Sexy ignored his words focusing on her son being held in her arms.Liam walked over and stroked the head of his son gazing at his Queen lovingly. He felt at a loss as to what words would allow the him opening to start the dialogue. How can you begin to fathom a means to pour out your heart and make recompense for harm caused, he thought. “Sexy, I love you and I would really love an opportunity to sit down and talk things over with you.Things are not as they seem and I need for you to fully understand what happened.” Sexy stood and laid Prince Liam in his bed as he had fallen back to sleep.She picked up her coffee mug and left making her way back to the kitchen, it was now 6:20 as she rinsed her mug and made her way to the bedroom to shower and get ready for the day.Sexy walked by Liam as if he were a ghost, she turned on the steaming water and shed her clothes.He paced the floor not knowing how to approach his love, her hurt was evident on her face and in her body language. She stepped into the shower and began shampooing her hair when she heard the footsteps growing closer to her in the bathroom.

Liam stepped into the shower and ran his fingers in her hair trying to help get the suds freed. He held onto her from the back as if he would cease to exist if he let go. He had a need for this woman that bared his name and his children.Sexy recoiled from his touch, she couldn’t get the images out her mind seeing the love of her life in bed with another woman. Liam could not see the tears that began to escape her eyes as they were mingled with the water from the shower. Normally having this beautiful being that was her husband standing , sharing the shower stark naked would excite every nerve ending in her body. To feel her head beneath his chin, his hands dancing on her breasts , feather light kisses down her abdomen,feeling his warm tongue doing a sexy seduction of her clitoris and core. This time would be spent devouring every single inch of each other’s bodies, tangled in between pleasure and warmth. Now she felt like there stood a stranger coveting her body, but it was the man she swore I do to in front of the world.Liam turned his bride around to face him, pleading with his eyes,”listen to me.” She reached for the fragrant shower gel when Liam fell to his knees, burying his face sobbing into her stomach, holding tightly hoping to be granted an audience with his Queen. Sexy heard this monarch sniffling and sobbing into her , begging to be heard. She couldn’t allow herself to succumb to his pleas.She felt his heart reaching to meet hers, but she pushed his arms away. She showered, he sighed out, “please… Sexy don’t leave me.I can’t lose you to such a huge misunderstanding.” Her eyes were shifted from loving to disgust with him having the gall to call his betrayal a misunderstanding.She glanced down and then stepped out of the shower leaving him on his knees.

Sexy wrapped a towel around her body and one around her hair. She entered the closet to chose an outfit for her day. She picked out a black pencil skirt just barely past her knees, a double breasted jacket top with a waist cinching chunky belt that accentuated her curves. The top opened a path dipping down leading to her cleavage and showing off her neckline. She paired the outfit with a pair of Jimmy Choo black patent leather stilettos. This pair made her legs a statement showing them off .Sexy pulled her hair into a tight chignon bun.The Queen did her face with natural undertones and popping red lip color.

Liam appeared behind her looking like he lost his best friend. He couldn’t find the words to say to break through the barrier she had erected. He simply went to his closet and dressed in his casual uniform. He aches to kiss her and pour every ounce of love into her, begging for her touch, but he decided against it. He turned as she stood from her vanity and made her way to the door.Sexy made her stride to great room as the nannies were arriving for the shift with the babies. Liam acknowledged them both and walked over to his wife to place a kiss on her cheek. She smiled and bid them both goodbye . Sexy was met outside the door with her security detail, “let’s go.”She set the pace down the hallway toward her study.

___________

Queen Sexy greeted her assistant Eli, she gathered her notes for her scheduled meetings and entered her study. The queen strolled over to her desk reviewing notes and called her assistant,”Make sure I am not disturbed, under no circumstances is any calls from the press to be put through. As a matter of fact, forward them to king Liam’s office, let him handle this shit show.” A short time later her door opens to Bastien and Duchess Olivia. “Thank you for coming Olivia, I appreciate your time.Bastien, I’m going to need to be briefed on everything that transpired in Shanghai up to yesterday. That is an order. I am your Queen and damn well better behave like it.Am I making myself clear?” He nodded,”yes your majesty.” He opened his laptop and bought up all security notes from the trip and manifest of activity within the recent months.Olivia smirked watching this grown man that has taken down assassins shrink himself to suit his queen.

Bastien spent the next hours breaking down every detail of the trip , the information from his Shanghai contact, the breakdown of how the photos were emailed , the suspicion of the king possibly being drugged, the text from Hana along with the threats of exposing them, finding him on the yacht and now having Hana in custody .Sexy paused for a moment, picked up the phone and advised her assistant to get the palace doctor in the line.After three trills, the doctor answered, “your majesty, how may I be of service?”

“Dr. I need to get in to see you soon to be tested for STDs and any other possible diseases that can be contracted. I’m sure you’ve seen the news, I can’t risk anything affecting my health. I suggest making time to check out the king fully as well, any diseases, also test for any illicit drugs, it’s possible he may have been exposed to a drug that caused him to not be in control of his actions. We need to rule as much out as possible.I don’t need to stress the importance of discretion and handling this situation in a timely manner.”

Bastien left the office and both the ladies made their way down to the cells of the palace. The guards bowed as the Queen entered with the duchess in tow. The dark haired guard, Tyler led the ladies to the cell housing Hana. “Leave us alone with the prisoner, I will take full responsibility Tyler. I will call you when we are through talking to Miss Lee.”Sexy glared at Hana, “have a seat bitch, it’s time to get a better understanding. For some reason you seem think my life is up for grabs.”

Hana smirks, before it can fully form Queen Sexy slaps her face and grabs her by her throat digging her well manicured nails into her skin. “Why did you hit me?, she ask as if there was truly a question what could be the cause.Hana figured she perfected the wounded child persona, but it was not working. Olivia tried to talk Sexy down from choking her out and plaguing her future with this nightmare. “Sexy, she’s not worth it, think about your children. She will be dealt with… even if I have to do it myself.”...Olivia rolled her eyes and whispered to her queen and friend in desperation. “Olivia… you can leave me alone. I’ll be fine… I assure you.My children are always at the forefront of my mind, even when other don’t deem it necessary to be respected.”Olivia turns to walk away, but glimpses back briefly to check in with her without a further word.Olivia disappears around the corner of the cells, but her eyes are met with a pair of blue filled with despair. “Lady Olivia… What brings you down to these parts? This is no place for a lady.”She acknowledges her king, “My king.. this is no place for your Queen.” The Duchess walks out shaking her head.

Liam quickly makes his way to the cells where he watches Sexy lock eyes with the woman that has caused her so much pain.The silence is deafening with the exception of heavy breathing trying to restrain herself from ending this woman right here. “My Queen, let me deal with it!I know your angry and want nothing but to end her, but we need to go about this the right way.”Liam tries without success to have Sexy look at him and past the pain. Nothing but fierce determination in her eyes, her heart pounding in her ears. Liam gently but firmly removed her hand from Hana’s neck, blood streaming down from her wounds. “Hana, you need to tell the truth… stop this madness … this is my family your fucking with so cavalierly.You will stand trial for treason, blackmailing the crown and drugging the king.” Sexy looks down to her face and spits in her eyes turning to walk toward the cell door. “Come my Queen… guards!”... Liam leans over and whispers pleadingly, “can we go home and talk?” As the two are walking off as Tyler locked the cell, they can hear the whimper from Hana. Their former friend shouts,” “Liam!, you will listen to me now! … or when our baby comes!”

The Royal couple stop dead in their tracks.

“What did she just say Liam?”Sexy’s eyes bulge and she turns to her king in slow motion , locking eyes before her fist connects with his face, wedding ring ripping his flesh. Queen Sexy snatches her arm that Liam had grabbed onto in fear of her walking out. “Take your damn hands off of me… now.” Liam’s face sports a look of defeat, the queen walks out followed by Liam, “do not fucking follow me.” She makes her way up the stairs and down the long hallway back to her study where she is met by Olivia and a stiff glass of whiskey.Sexy walks over to her desk, adjust her top, sits in her chair before placing a call. “You need to get on the next plane to Cordonia, there is a matter that requires your attention. If you don’t , I can’t guarantee that you won’t be affected… not that I care.” The phone call ends quickly and the Queen gulps down her drink with the burn evident. Liv… this day just gets better and better…..

@annekebbphotography @romanticatheart-posts @hopefulmoonobject @silviasutton1989 @ownworldresident @indiacater @elles-choices @carabeth @3pawandme

[bobasheebaby]

This Time I Mean It

Pairing: Rashad x Lennox

Word count: 1,270

Warnings: angst

Summary: Flashback to the beginning sorta. This Time I Mean It by Mayday Parade and this prompt from @cocomaxley Best friends to lovers #4 for Lennox x Rashad (maybe coworkers to lovers? Or employee/boss to lovers?)  “you deserve better. it doesn’t have to be me, but you deserve better.” are responsible for this mess. Prompt will be bolded. 

A/N: @cocomaxley is to blame for this mess! @katurrade gave me the series title, thanks babe!

Let me know if you want to be tagged.

Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters, I’m simply borrowing them for a bit.

Oh, Florida, please be still tonight

Don't disturb this love of mine

Look how she's so serene

You've gotta help me out

And count the stars to form the lines

And find the words we'll sing in time

I wanna keep her dreaming

It's my one wish

I won't forget this

The kiss had happened days ago, maybe even weeks, Lennox seemed to lose all concept of time. Her pulse quickening every time she was near him. She had been handling her feelings before, they were contained. Now they were strewn across the ground out for the world, him to see.

I'm outdated, overrated

Morning seems so far away

They hadn’t spoken about the kiss, both too afraid to voice their feelings out loud. Both thinking if they ignored it that maybe it would just go away. It was easier to pretend it never happened than for either of them to open their heart up again, both fearing ending up with a broken heart yet again. Neither could handle going through the pain ever again.

So I'll sing a melody

An hope to God she's listening

Sleeping softly while I sing

And I'll be your memories

Your lullaby for all the times

Hoping that my voice could get it right

So they ignored what happened, keeping the proverbial elephant in the room locked away in the corner of their minds. Ignoring the truth seemed easier than speaking it out loud. How do you voice to your boss you fell for him years ago when you first met? How could Lennox allow her Pandora’s box of feelings to be truly opened? Letting it out, letting him in would mean exposing herself in a way she hadn’t allowed since Liam. She was over him, but the scars he left behind when he broke her heart left a lasting impression deep in her soul. It seemed to have changed her on a cellular level, she no longer believed that true love existed. She knew she was better off alone than ever risking that kind of pain ever again.

If luck is on my side tonight

My clumsy tongue will make it right

And wrists that touch

It isn't much but it's enough

To form imaginary lines

Forget your scars

We'll forget mine

The hours change so fast

Oh, God, please make this last

Lennox couldn’t allow herself to believe that this time really truly would be different. She’d suffered enough pain the last time she wore her heart on her sleeve, she couldn’t ever risk her heart ever again. She wished she was strong enough to take a chance, once more put her heart on the line. She wanted to allow herself to love and be loved, but she didn’t have the strength she needed to allow herself to be so open and vulnerable once again.

'Cause I'm outdated, overrated

Morning seems so far away

It was easier to close that part of her away forever, just completely give up on ever having love. Lennox had a job, a career she loved, that could be enough. Couldn’t it? It had to be. She couldn’t ever allow herself to be in a position to have her heart ripped from her chest ever again. She’d learned a tough lesson trusting that a prince could love her, someone common. She couldn’t allow anyone in ever again. It didn’t matter how many times her heart screamed at her mind ‘this time it will be different’,  she never listened, never believed. She couldn’t let her mind listen to her heart, she couldn’t dare to dream it might be true.

So I'll sing a melody

And hope to god she's listening

Sleeping softly while I sing

And I'll be your memories

Your lullaby for all the times

Hoping that my voice could get it right

Could get it right

Rashad had felt his wall he built around his heart come crumbling down the moment her lips met his, his heart singing a beautiful melody. The second they broke apart he felt the wall come back up, he was too broken. Lennox deserved someone better than he could ever be. He slammed the door on his feelings, locking them up tight to never be seen again. It was better this way, better to hide them away, ignore the feelings she stirred in him he thought had long since died. He wasn’t good for her, for anyone—he worked to hard, too much. She’d do nothing more than break his heart once again. It was better to act as if nothing happened.

You could crush me

Please don't crush me

'Cause baby I'm a dreamer for sure

And I won't let you down

I swear this time I mean it

Rashad listened to his brain, allowing to drown out his heart, believing ignoring it was for the best for both of them. He was getting through, he wasn’t truly living, but his heart would remain intact and that’s all that mattered. Wasn’t it? It’s what he told himself over and over until he believed what he was saying was true.

Somewhere something changed, something inside Rashad snapped. An executive started showing interest in Lennox, his heart ached watching him flirt with her. The pain blinded him, he couldn’t see that she was staving off each and every one of this other man’s advances. His mind was clouded, panic setting in that she could have been his if he’d been brave enough to let her in.

And I'll sing a melody

And hope to God she's listening

Sleeping softly while I sing

And I'll be your memories

Your lullaby for all the times

Hoping that my voice could get it right

Rashad soon saw the other man for who he truly was. Watching him flirt with someone else in the building, he felt his heart fill with a burning rage. His heart and head once again warring with each other, his heart telling him to say something, his brain telling him it wasn’t his place.  

Jealousy blinding him, unaware of his actions the first time in all his life. Working together like they had been since the beginning, more awkward since the kiss, both blindly ignoring what was before them. Thoughts of the kiss started swimming in his head, his heart taking over for his brain. “You deserve better. it doesn’t have to be me, but you deserve better.” The words fell from Rashad’s lips before they registered in his head.

Rashad felt his face grow heated when understanding set in. He wished more than anything he could the words back, shove them back to whence they came. It was too late for him to backtrack, the words were hanging heavy in the air.

Lennox’s head snapped up at his words. She sat in stunned silence, thoughts running through her head trying to make sense out of his words. Her breath caught in her throat, why had he said that? She wasn’t even interested in anyone—well anyone but him. Why would he be under the impression that she was seeing someone? Her heart raced at the implications of his words. You deserve better. it doesn’t have to be me, but you deserve better. His words echoed in her head, turning them over end over end trying to make sense of them. Had she been wrong? Did he feel the same way about her? Was there a chance that things could be different, that things could actually work out in her favor this time? All it would take is a leap of faith and trusting that this time things would be different.

Law of Love Masterlist

Masterlist

Tags: @imafictosexual @speedyoperarascalparty @liamxs-world @mrsdrakewalkerblog @annekebbphotography @tanyaschoices @hopefulmoonobject @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @riseandshinelittleblossom @cocomaxley @ao719 @carabeth @blackwidow2721 @furiousherringoperatortoad @sarwin85 @fullbeaumonty @leelee10898 @katurrade @stopforamoment @darley1101 @jared2612 @pixieferry @zaffrenotes

[pieceofmyheart8]

Truth Untold | Shawn Mendes Fan Fiction | Chapter Three

Truth Untold | Shawn Mendes Fan Fiction

Chapter Three

I got on the bus the next morning with the intention of distancing myself from Shawn again. Liam wouldn’t take too kindly to the idea that I was being all buddy-buddy with him.

Was I going to let a few smiles and jokes between us really shape what I thought about Shawn? Change what I knew to be true about him?

Emily said he broke her heart, and that’s what I chose to believe.

So, why was there this nagging sensation in my chest, this ominous feeling that things weren’t as they seemed?

“Hey babe, I’m just getting on my bus now,” Liam was saying to me over the phone. “I hate that I don’t get to see you as often.”

“I know,” I said, sighing. “I knew they would never pair us together. We would never get any work done.”

He laughed that beautiful laugh I loved.

“Oh yeah? What would we be doing instead?”

“We’d be —”

I cut off quickly, as I heard the bus door open and watched Shawn climb up the stairs and onto the bus.

“Alex?” Liam asked.

“Uh, sorry,” I stumbled. I didn’t know why I was all of a sudden so clammed up around Shawn. Like I didn’t want him to know I was talking to Liam.

“It’d be that dirty, huh?” Liam asked, teasingly.

I nervously let out a laugh. “Yup. You got me. Look, the first few kids are about to come on the bus. Gotta go.”

“Love you,” he said.

My cheeks burned. “Love you.”

I hung up quickly.

“How freakin’ adorable,” Shawn said, monotonously beside me. I rolled my eyes, facing frontwards so I didn’t have to look at him.

He looked over at me, seeing if I would take the bait. But, I didn’t. And he didn’t pursue the line of teasing. I closed my eyes, until we got to the next house.

He was probably confused because we had left on such good terms yesterday. If only he were in my head, he’d know that I’m trying to commit to distancing myself from him. Because I don’t trust him.

I had to remember — Emily was broken because of him. He cut her out, froze her out. He could do the same to me. At any time. So why get invested in some sort of friendship?

As we brought more kids on the bus, the less we had to talk to one another. Until one of our campers, Harry, piped up. He was a chatty kid.

“Hey, Shawn,” he said from the back of the bus.

“Yeah, Harry?” Shawn asked, leaning down to get to eye-level with this kid.

“We all want to ask you something, but the other kids are too scared to ask,” Harry said, boldly. His cheeks were chubby and his eyes were bright.

“What’s that?”

“Are you crushing on Alex?” Harry wondered, turning his baseball cap backwards on his head.

The nerve of this eight year old. My stomach twisted for some reason.

“Oh,” Shawn said, laughing. “No, no. Why do you think that?”

Harry shrugged and rolled his eyes. “I dunno.”

Shawn looked over at me briefly, in disbelief at this kid. And I couldn’t help but crack a smile. We both started laughing out loud, nervously.

“Love isn’t funny!” one of our other campers, Hannah, piped in.

“No, it’s not. We’re just definitely not in love,” I said to Hannah.

As we got to camp, the kids found another topic to discuss other than our love lives. Shawn hung back to chat with me, as the kids started running to the Main Hall.

“So, we’re definitely not in love, right?” Shawn said, nudging me slightly. My stomach twisted again.

I laughed. “Oh definitely not.”

“So definitive.”

“Well, I know what I want.”

“And clearly, I’m not it, eh?” he said, jokingly. But half of me thought he was serious.

I didn’t answer that. I saw Liam getting off his bus, and I edged away from Shawn instantly. I think he noticed.

“I’ll catch up with you in the Main Hall,” Shawn said, walking away.

From behind, I heard my name. I looked around and saw my two best friends from camp, Lily and Jess. Lily had fiery red hair that was always pulled up into a ponytail, and Jess had curtain black hair — perfect no matter what she did to it.

“So, did I just see the two of you getting along?” Lily asked, crunching on a granola bar.

“Maybe,” I admitted.

“See? He’s not half bad,” she teased.

“We’ll see,” I admitted.

“I thought Emily said he just cut her out,” Jess chimed in.

“Yeah, he did! I don’t know, I’m still not warmed up fully to him,” I said. “Plus, Liam would hate it if I got along with Shawn.”

“Ugh, he would definitely punch Shawn out,” Jess responded. “Anyway, enough drama talk. Did you hear about the party Malcolm is throwing at his parent’s house tonight? They went out of town.”

“Trying to rekindle their romance?” Lily asked, laughing.

Jess rolled her eyes. “Who cares? All that matters is Malcolm is throwing a party and we need to be there.”

Malcolm was one of Liam’s friends, and someone Lily was pretty interested in. We were definitely going tonight.

“You know, Malcolm is also pretty tight with Shawn,” Lily said. “He’ll be there.”

“Goodie,” I said sarcastically, as to not give away what my mind was really thinking.

Because strangely enough, I really wanted him to be there.

*

The party started at 9:30 PM, and we strolled in forty-five minutes later. I was wearing my high-waisted jean shorts and a white t-shirt. I always opted for the more casual look. Like, an “oh, I just threw this on, but still kinda look cute.”

Jess and Lily had their arms linked with one another and mine as we entered.

Everybody was crammed into his house and spilling out into the backyard. Music was blaring, as the beat roared through the room. Red cups and bottles lined the tables, as we walked through.

“Hey Alex!” I heard from behind. It was Liam.

I went over to give him a kiss.

“Hey Liam,” I greeted.

“I’ve missed you,” he said.

“I’ve missed you more,” I replied.

“Ew,” Lily said, sticking out her tongue. “I’m going to go mingle with the single pringles to see if I can get away from all this gushing.”

We laughed.

“I’ll probably go join her to keep her out of trouble,” Jess laughed.

“Go,” I said, smiling.

Liam had his arm around me, and I looked up at him. He gave me another long kiss, and I couldn’t help but melt into it. But another part of me just wanted to see if Shawn was here. We broke apart for a moment, and my head wandered around to see who else was here.

“Who you looking for?” Liam asked.

“Hm? Oh, no one.”

I kept trying to steal glances at the crowd, until I saw the familiar wave of brown hair. My heart jolted. What was this feeling? Stop, Alex, stop it.

I saw him disappear out the back door. Looked like he was trying to follow someone.

“I’m going to go get some fresh air,” I told Liam.

“Sure. Want me to grab a drink for us?” he asked.

I nodded. I’m not sure what compelled me to do this, but I took the same path as Shawn and bee-lined for the back door.

As I opened it, I realized there weren’t very many people out there. I walked a little further out, until I heard tense voices at the back near the fence. One of them was Shawn’s.

I decided to stay behind a large plant near them, to see if I could hear what was happening.

“Emily, stop. I don’t want to do this right now,” he was saying.

So, the other person was Emily. I pressed my lips together and listened.

“Shawn, please,” she pleaded. “I need to talk to you.”

“I don’t want to hear what you have to say.”

“Please, Shawn, please. It was a mistake. A goddamn mistake,” she said, her voice thick with tears.

“Some colossal mistake,” he murmured.

“I still love you, Shawn,” she was saying.

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes I do —”

“No, you don’t! You don’t love me, and you never have,” he retaliated, loudly. “You wouldn’t have — you wouldn’t have just…”

He trailed off, lost for her words. He sighed with frustration, and I couldn’t help but feel my heart ache for him. I was confused. 

“I need you. I’m so sorry,” she said, quietly. “But, I need you.”

“Em, I can’t do this. I loved you. I loved you so fucking much, but I can’t go back to that. Okay? I just can’t.”

“Shawn —” she called after him.

But, it was too late. He was already walking away from her. Towards the plant I was standing behind. Shit, shit.

I tried to shuffle away, but it was too late. He had walked in my direction and saw me. We locked eyes, and I know I looked ashamed for eavesdropping.

“Jesus,” he said when he saw me, visibly upset. His eyes were red from tears. “Great, I’m sure you heard all that.”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Shawn —”

“Forget it. I don’t want to hear anything right now. Go tell Liam I made his sister cry,” he said, roughly.

“I won’t,” I said, quietly. “Shawn —”

“I gotta go,” he mumbled.

He pushed past me and into the house. I watched him disappear, left to stir in my own thoughts. Something else happened here, and I was going to get to the bottom of this.

__________________

What did you think of this chapter? Send a message in my ask or comment here :) Thank you for all the lovely messages so far! Makes my day! 

Read chapter one

Read chapter two

Look out for a new chapter this coming Sunday! 

[niallsstainedcoffeecup]

An RA Love Story

Harry and Y/N are feuding resident assistants, but Y/N has a plan to bring both floors together.  Feedback and Request are welcomed.  Enjoy!  Lots of Love!

          Harry skimmed the weekly university newsletter.  He grabbed the steaming mug, sipping the boiling coffee. Harry hissed as the liquid burnt his throat.  Harry’s tired eyes attempted to focus on the Dean’s advice.  Last night,  Harry’s roommate, Zayn, ditched his RA duties.  Even though last night was Harry’s only night off, Harry watched over the third floor.  Did Harry enjoy working in a dormitory filled with the annoying freshman?  No, but Liam stole the last spot at the posh senior apartments.  A shrill scream from upstairs startled Harry.  Harry’s mug sloshed, spilling coffee on Harry’s sweatpants.  Harry cursed, standing abruptly, escaping from the burning pants.  Harry grumbled, knowing who’s fault this was.  Y/N, the fourth floor RA.  Harry despised Y/N for many reasons.  Y/N and Niall ran the fourth floor with a carefree attitude.  The freshman upstairs threw parties, which woke Harry from his slumber.  Y/N filled the third floor’s bulletin board with flyers about recycling.  Harry always threw away her flyers because nobody in college cared about recycling.  Y/N was like a pestering fly that wouldn’t stop bothering Harry.   *  *  *  *

          Niall jogged down the hall, knocking loudly on the decorated door. The young freshman unlocked her door, glaring at Niall.   “What do you want?” She hissed. Niall smiled, “We heard a scream come from your room.  Is everything okay?” The girl huffed, “Do I look okay?  My boyfriend dumped me after we slept together.” Niall wanted to roll his eyes at the naïve girl, but that would be against RA policy.  Instead, Niall swapped the grin for a frown. “I’m sorry.  That must be rough.  Would you like to talk about it?” Niall asked, praying she said no. The girl grinned, “Are you asking me out?” Niall’s eyes widened, “No.  I am not allowed to date anyone from this dorm.” The girl pouted, “Life is unfair.  I’ll be fine, but I can’t promise I won’t scream again.  He won’t stop posting pictures with my best friend.” Niall nodded, “I understand.  Maybe you should delete the app.  Have a lovely day.” Niall walked to his room, waving at everyone. Niall unlocked his door, stepping into the room.  Y/N sat on her bed, typing up another research paper.  Niall exhaled, falling onto his bed. “Why did I sign up for this job?” Niall complained, rubbing his aching knee. Y/N giggled, glancing up from her screen, “You are a good friend, and applied so I wouldn’t have to do it alone.” Niall nodded, glaring at her, “You promised me loads of beer.  Do I even get a beer?” She rolled her eyes, “Will you stop being an old man and read my paper?” Niall nodded, sitting up to grab her whirring laptop.  Y/N grinned, watching Niall’s facial expressions as he read her thesis.  Y/N didn’t know where she would be without Niall. *  *  *  *

           Harry stirred the ramen, reading the textbook’s small text.  Zayn stumbled into the messy room, grinning from ear to ear. Harry looked up at Zayn, glaring at the lovestruck man.   “Guess who slept with senior RA, Gigi?” Zayn asked, wiggling his eyebrows. Harry scoffed,  “You are the worst.  While you were getting laid, I took care of the floor.” Zayn smirked, “You did an amazing job. Would you like a night off?” “I don’t need a night off.  I also don’t need you leaving every night,” Harry grumbled. Zayn nodded, “Okay, I promise to work harder. Why are you so grumpy?” “Y/N’s floor won’t shut up.  One girl screamed and made me spill my coffee.” Zayn chuckled, “Why don’t you just sleep with her and get the tension out of the way?” Harry flicked Zayn off, leaving the kitchen.  Harry locked his bedroom door, needing space and silence.  Harry laid on his bed, closing his drooping eyes.  Noise from upstairs kept Harry awake.  Harry grumbled, deciding that tomorrow he would complain to Y/N.   *  *  *  *

           A loud knock rattled Y/N’s room.  Y/N shot up, wiping the sleep from her eyes.  Did Niall forget his key again, or did someone need her assistance?   “I’m coming,” Y/N called out, slipping her pink robe around her freezing body.   She shuffled, opening the heavy door. Harry waited until his clock passed midnight before he strolled down to Y/N’s dorm.  Since Y/N’s floor bothered Harry, he decided to interrupt Y/N’s slumber. Harry smirked once he saw her tired eyes staring back in confusion. “Harry, what’s wrong?  Did someone on my floor bother you?” She wondered. Harry nodded, “Your freshman constantly annoy me.  Do you ever follow the rules?” Y/N frowned, “Harry, Niall and I run our floor the best that we can.” Harry ignored the guilt gnawing at his heart, “Well, you better try harder.  My floor never breaks the rules.” Y/N nodded, trying to calm the anger boiling in her blood.  How dare Harry accuse her of not working hard enough.  It wasn’t easy to tend to thirty students.  Harry strutted off, proud of his speech.  Y/N didn’t understand why Harry disliked her.  Whenever she first met Harry, she fell head over heels. Harry would pop up in the laundromat, and Y/N would spill detergent everywhere.  Harry would ask her a question during RA meetings, and she would stutter over her words.  Y/N recently moved on, sensing the increased tension between Harry and her.  She hoped one day they could be friends.   *  *  *  *

           Niall arranged the pizza boxes, greeting everyone that entered the common area.  Y/N scheduled an emergency floor meeting tonight.  Niall planned on grabbing dinner with Liam, but Y/N offered to write Niall’s paper if he helped.   “Welcome, I’m sorry to call an emergency meeting on a Friday night,” Y/N cheered, grinning at the scowling faces. Niall stood up, wrapping an arm around Y/N’s shoulders, “We decided to buy everyone pizza.” “Yes, help yourselves to free pizza.  We have a fun idea for everyone,” Y/N giggled. “Lately, the third floor has complained about our floor; we cannot sit back while they insult us.  Y/N came up with a plan,” Niall mumbled. “We will have a prank war.  Whoever shall forfeit first will clean our bathrooms for an entire month,” Y/N stated. Niall smirked, “Is everyone willing to participate?” Everyone cheered, chatting among themselves about ideas.  Y/N chuckled, feeling excited to prank Harry.  Niall whistled, gathering everyone’s attention. “What will our first move be?” *  *  *  * 

           At the beginning of the semester, Harry handed out his number to every student on his floor.  He didn’t like the idea of his students walking alone drunk, so he offered to help anyone in need.  What he didn’t expect was a phone call at six in the morning.  Harry answered the call, pressing his phone against his ear. “Hello?” His voice thick with sleep. “Harry, this is Tim from room 301.  Have you seen our hallway?” Harry’s eyes popped open as he quickly tossed the blankets from his body.  Harry ran toward the hallway, throwing his door open.  Harry gasped, nearly falling onto the first prank.  Tiny paper cups filled with water littered the third floor. “Dammit!” Harry shouted, spinning around to call Zayn.   One by one, each student opened their door to find the cups.  If anybody attempted to leave their room, each cup would knock over another, creating a mess.  Harry and Zayn started collecting the cups with help from the other students. Harry’s phone dinged with a message from Y/N. I hope you loved our little prank.  Love, the fourth floor.  By the way, if you forfeit then your floor cleans the fourth floor’s bathroom. Harry growled, declaring war on the fourth floor.  If they wanted a prank war, then they would get a prank war.   *  *  *  *

           Y/N’s alarm blared in the silent room.  Y/N stretched, brewing her first cup of coffee. She grabbed her bathroom supplies, needing to shower before her morning classes.  Y/N opened her door, yelping whenever she ran into the saran wrap blocking her doorway.  Niall jumped awake, glancing around the room. “What?  What happened?  Did someone try to break in?” Niall slurred out. Y/N shook her head, glaring at Harry’s text, “The war has begun.” I hope you don’t miss class.  Sincerely, the third floor.   “That man doesn’t know what he just signed up for,” She grumbled.   Removing the saran wrap from her door took five minutes, but helping everyone else with their blocked doors took almost an hour.  Y/N nearly missed her first class of the day.   *  *  *  *

           Harry attended a local fraternity party, where he hooked up with a stunning sorority girl.  Sadly, she didn’t love the idea of cuddling and kicked Harry out of her room. The midnight air was thick.  The bright moon shined down on Harry’s stumbling figure.  His hooded eyes searched for his dorm.  Why did Harry drink so many shots?  Harry managed to find his dorm, tripping up the stairs.  Harry rounded the corner, groaning once he found his hallway.  The fourth floor created a toilet paper maze throughout the hallway.  Harry sighed, beginning his task of removing the maze before anyone woke up.  Harry wondered how much longer he could handle this prank war.   *  *  *  *

           Niall opened the door, cackling once he saw the floating bananas.  Y/N pulled each banana from the hanging string, presenting each room with a couple of bananas.   “Do you think they are giving up?” Niall wondered, tugging on his skinny jeans. Y/N shrugged, “Maybe they are saving something for the real deal.” Niall nodded, watching Y/N change out of her pajamas.  Niall sat on his bed, pulling his phone from his pocket.   “How was the frat party last night?” Niall asked. She winced, recalling the memories from last night.  Liam asked Niall and her to attend, but Niall couldn’t leave the floor all alone.  Y/N showed up, drinking whatever drink that Liam handed to her.  Her head ached from the loud music blaring from the living room.  She escaped up the stairs, trying to find an empty room to hide in.  Her sweaty hands pushed open one door, stumbling upon Harry kissing some sorority girl.  Y/N didn’t understand why her heart broke, but she quickly shut the door, escaping before anyone noticed her.  Tears blurred her vision as she darted out of the house and back to her room.  Whenever she came in, Niall had fallen asleep, so he didn’t hear her sobs.   “The party was amazing,” She lied. *  *  *  *

           Harry dragged his feet toward Y/N’s room, preparing his forfeit speech.  He stood in front of her decorated door, waiting until the courage bubbled up within.  He exhaled, knocking softly this time.  The door swung open, revealing Y/N dressed in a beautiful dress.   “Harry, what are you doing here?” She asked, shocked that Harry stood outside her door. Harry chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, “Do you have time to talk?” She frowned, glancing down at her dress, “I have a few minutes.” She backed away from the door, allowing space for Harry to slip in.  Harry noted the difference in sides.  Niall’s side of the dorm was neat and all about Ireland.  Y/N’s side was messy and filled with Tumblr inspired décor.   “What did you need to talk about?” Y/N asked with a short tone. Harry quirked an eyebrow, “I need to talk about the prank war.  Did I do something?” She rolled her eyes, “You always do something. You insult me nonstop.  You think you are better than me.  You are the worst.” Harry’s jaw dropped. Where was this outburst coming from?  Harry glared, she was not going to walk over him. “I’m the worst?  You and your freshman keep me up all night.  You always fill our bulletin board with nonsense.  Nobody gives a shit about recycling.  You started this prank war, so if that’s why you are mad, then you can get over it.” Her nostrils flared, “That is not what I am mad about.  I started the prank war to bring the floors together.  You are ridiculous.  I can’t believe I had feelings for you.” Harry’s argument halted after hearing her admit that she liked him.  Harry opened his mouth multiple times like a fish out of water.   Y/N rolled her eyes, “Do you want to know why I’m mad?  I’m mad because you always treat me like garbage and yet I can’t stop drooling over you. I saw you kissing someone else, but I can’t stop picturing us together.  I’m sorry for bothering you.  I won’t talk to you again.  You can do all business through Niall.  Now, I have to go.  I have a date.” Harry’s heart cracked into a million pieces. Harry’s stomach churned with guilt. The look of sorrow on her face messed with Harry’s mind.  Did he hate her?  Was he trying to hate her to push away his feelings?  Either way, he was too late.   *  *  *  *

           Harry carried the bouquet of roses up to Y/N’s room. Harry owed her an apology.  After their conversation, Harry couldn’t stop thinking of Y/N.  Harry knocked on her door, hoping she was home.  Niall opened the door, smiling widely at Harry. “Hey, what are you doing here?  Are you here to forfeit?” Niall asked, leaning against the doorframe. Harry shook his head, “No, is Y/N here? I wanted to give her these roses.” Niall stared at Harry then at the roses, smiling at Harry’s blushing cheeks.   Niall shook his head, “No, she went out with some guy.  Do you want me to give these to her?” Harry nodded, “Thank you.  Can you tell her that I’m sorry?” Niall nodded, stealing the bouquet from Harry. All week Harry attempted to catch Y/N and apologize in person.  Every time Harry knocked, Niall answered.  Niall promised to give Y/N the bouquet, but she never messaged Harry.  Harry’s plan was failing, but he had one last trick up his sleeve. *  *  *  *

           Y/N stepped into her room, groaning once she saw another bouquet from Harry.   Niall chuckled, pushing his glasses up his nose, “Loverboy showed up again.” She rolled her eyes, throwing her scarf on a nearby chair, “Don’t call him that.” “How was your night out with Louis?” Niall smirked. Y/N huffed, “Louis and I are just friends.” “Why did you tell Harry that you were going on a date with him then?” She glared, “Who’s side are you on?” Niall shrugged, “I’m on Harry’s side.  He may have been a jerk, but he changed. He’s sorry.” Y/N ignored Niall’s comment, focusing on changing out of her clothes.  Was there a chance between her and Harry? *  *  *  *

           The freshman sobbed, blabbing on about her cheating boyfriend.  Y/N rubbed the girl’s shoulders, listening to her heartbreaking story.  Nights like these reminded Y/N of why she signed up to be an RA.  She loved helping people, and college students needed all of the help they could get. Y/N remembered crying to her RA about one night stands and dates gone wrong.  Y/N stayed with the freshman until she fell asleep.  Y/N left, loudly yawning as she checked each room.  Y/N noticed the common area light was still on, so she walked over to flick the light switch.  Harry sat on the couch, reading his textbook.  Y/N nearly screamed, startled by Harry’s figure.   “Harry, what are you doing here?” She hissed. Harry looked up from his book, grinning widely, “I am reading about biology.” Y/N rolled her eyes, “What are you doing on my floor?” Harry nodded, standing up to straighten his outfit, “I am here to forfeit the prank war.” Y/N smiled, “Are you giving up already?” Harry smirked, “I had many plans, but I figured you needed it more.  I’m sorry.” “What are you sorry about?” Harry frowned, “I treated you horribly. I talk about being kind, but I didn’t follow my advice.  You are doing the best that you can.  You are amazing at your job.  Our floor is best friends with your floor, and that wouldn’t have happened without the prank war.  You tied us together, and I was wrong to call you a bother.  I’m also sorry that you caught me with that girl.  I didn’t think that I liked you until I realized why you bothered me so much.  I didn’t want to date you because I was afraid to fall for you.  Now, I know that I am a fool to run from you.  You are amazing, and I’d be lucky to date you.  Can you give me a chance?” She blushed, “Harry, you are the absolute worst.  You bother me all week, and finally, sit out all night to ask me out?  What makes you think that I will say yes?” Harry stared wide-eyed at his shoes, “I don’t know.  I guess I was wrong.” She laughed, “Harry, I’m joking.  I will go on a date with you but don’t think you are out of that punishment.  Our floor likes our bathrooms cleaned with lemon cleaner.” Harry rolled his eyes, chuckling at her comment, “We will get started right away.  First, I have a girl to kiss.” She smirked, strutting up to Harry. Harry reached forward to tug her closer, but her arms wrapped around his neck, pulling his rosy lips to her waiting plump ones.  Harry was thrown off by her taking the lead but quickly wrapped his arms around her waist. The kiss sent chills down Harry’s spine and sent Y/N’s heart into a frenzy.  Harry had a feeling that the two floors were going to get even closer.  

[jarienn972]

La Sirena -  Chapter Five

Captain Swan Supernatural Summer

Apologies for the delay in getting out the latest chapter of my @cssns​ story. With my kids back to school, I'm finding a bit less time to write so updates are running a little behind. I am still working diligently to keep the updates coming though!  Thank you @kmomof4​ for helping me fix a couple of minor roadblocks that I had with this chapter!  And thanks again to @courtorderedcake​ for her incredible artwork!

After leaving off with the major turning point of Killian learning the secret that Emma had been concealing, this chapter will pick up in the aftermath. Will cooler heads prevail once Killian awakens or will their budding relationship be tarnished? And of course, there's still no where else for him to go...

Read from the beginning:  One  Two  Three  Four  Also on AO3 and FF.net

Putting the Pieces Back Together

A faint tickle of a breeze caught the torch flame behind Emma's back casting uneven shadows across the cavern walls and sending delicate tendrils of smoke into the already heavy air. She was kneeling in the sand with Killian's head resting atop her thighs, not daring to stray from his side as her slender fingers combed idly through his tousled dark hair. She watched the rise and fall of his chest as she patiently awaited his awakening.

She'd frightened him. That hadn't been her intent but that damage was done and she was dealing with a relatively new emotion: guilt. Perhaps she truly was little more than a monster at her core. All of these decades of trying to suppress her innate urges and desires may have been for naught. All of her years of self-isolation hadn't changed who - or what - she was. She was still a siren. Still a threat to mankind.

Perhaps Regina was right. She'd never be able to change her nature.

But if she really was nothing more than a coquettish, evil siren, why did she have such a strong desire to protect this human? It went against every element of her being, every native instinct she'd trained and developed before turning her back on her kind. She scarcely comprehended these feelings.

Siren emotions were already complicated enough. She knew anger and indignation. She also knew emptiness. She'd been living here in solitude for nearly two centuries, give or take a decade, yet she'd never really experienced loneliness. She'd just felt that something was missing from her meager existence. She'd just never allowed herself time to think about what that void might entail.

All of that had changed the moment she confessed her true nature to Killian and he'd rejected her. Now she was overwhelmed with a barrage of new emotions - guilt, fear and something else that she couldn't yet name. For a nanosecond, she contemplated leaving him there in the subterranean cavern, doubting that he'd ever be able to accept what she was. But then she heard it again - the same tiny voice inside her head that had compelled her to save him from drowning now also compelled her to stay.

He was an intelligent being. Her revelation had been too much of a shock for someone recovering from the trauma he'd suffered. When he'd had time to process the news, he would hear her out, wouldn't he? She took a glance back over her bare shoulder at the beam of light streaming through the crack in the earth above the spring. The midday sun would soon be directly overhead and the ambient light would fade quickly within the lava tube once the sun's rays crested over the ridge.

Regina's arrival had backed her into a corner. She didn't feel as though she could adequately protect him if he wasn't aware of the scope of the threat, but now she worried he wouldn't trust her. In hindsight, she knew she hadn't handled her reveal well. Even though he didn't really have anywhere to go, she feared he'd run and the thought of that stung worse than even the most toxic jellyfish she'd ever encountered.

When at last he stirred, her siren heart nearly leapt with anticipation - another entirely new sensation for her. With a deep inhale, he raised his right hand to massage his aching skull, making incidental contact with her knee in the process. He yanked his hand away as if he'd touched a flame, his eyelids popping open in surprise as he struggled to regain coherency.

At first, he saw nothing more than darting shadows cast by the flickering torches but as his sight adjusted to the relative darkness, images gradually came into focus, becoming clearer and familiar. And then his peripheral vision captured the contour of a woman's soft, rounded ivory-skinned thigh and instantly, he was fully awake, recoiling in terror as he pushed away from the woman he no longer believed was real.

"What manner of demon are you?" he demanded, his voice pitching higher as he scrambled to take cover behind one of the aging sea chests, squeezing his eyes closed for a moment as he dared not stare at this unknown creature's naked, feminine form. "Are you some malevolent trick of my mind? Here to drag me to the depths of hell?" He couldn't fight this monster if he couldn't see her though so he reluctantly opened his eyes, focusing intently on her lovely beguiling face. Was this how a siren killed a man?

"Killian, please… Do not be afraid. I have no intent to harm you." She made an attempt to shift closer to him, to try to assure him that she wasn't a threat, but she feared she may have already done too much damage. The terror and betrayal she saw reflected in his eyes cut straight to whatever soul she had left as he continued to shy away from her.

"Don't come near me, demon!" he cried as he fumbled for the sword at his hip, sliding the blade free of the scabbard and brandishing it with an instinctive flick of his wrist. "Stay back… or I'll…" Both his voice and hand trembled at the same timbre while he held the weapon directed at her throat.

This scared human wasn't even the slightest threat to her. She could overpower him barely lifting a pinky finger, yet she was awash with that lonely emotion and it took control, leading to an unplanned action.

"Do it," she dared him, leaning into the blade. "I am a monster. End me!"

A glint of torchlight flashed off of the polished steel, illuminating her face which was etched with determination and his resolve began to waver.

"Wait… What…?" He shook his head in disbelief at her unexpected demand. His gaze locked with hers as she pleaded for death and his tenuous grip on the cutlass' pommel loosened. "No… no…" He may have been bewildered and perhaps a tad angered, but he couldn't take her life. She'd saved him.

"I am a siren, Killian. I have lured countless men like you to their demise, but while this is what I was created to be, it is not what I desire to be. I deserve to die for what I have done in my past…"

"But you saved me…," he stated as he allowed the sword to slip from his hand onto the dark, sandy cavern floor. His tone was softer as he relaxed and exhaled a deep sigh. "Whatever you are, I owe you my life…" He plopped his weary body down to the ground and drew his knees to his chest while lowering his chin in defeat. "I've no expectation of what will become of me, but I'll not harm you. If you intend to leave me here to perish, then that shall be my fate…"

"I don't wish for anyone to perish," she replied. "That is what brought me here all those ages ago. I had no desire to harm those seafarers any longer."

"But if you are a siren as you say, are the myths not true? Does your song not lure men like me to certain death? How did I arrive here still breathing?"

"At one time, I did use my voice in that way. I watched many a human plunge into the sea, transfixed and bewitched by the hypnotic spell of my siren song, at least until I could bear it no longer. Until you arrived, I'd not even used my voice in eons."

"So a siren can have a conscience?" he asked quizzically, raising one eyebrow as he awaited her answer.

"Apparently some can - at least this one, as I've been told," she said with a faint smile curling the corners of her lips, although it didn't last long as she switched the direction of their exchange. "But Killian, if we are to survive, there is much you need to know. You need to hear more of my story just as I must learn more of yours."

"How so?" His eyes narrowed as he sought to make sense of the statement. Part of his brain still questioned the veracity of any of this nonsense, but the adventurer within him remained intrigued.

"Do you recall, before you struck your head, how I had mentioned that my sister came here because I had used magic?" The memory was vague and somewhat clouded by his own skepticism but he nodded anyway and allowed her to continue. "In using my powers, I unwittingly drew the scrutiny of the council, the governing band of the most powerful sirens - of which I used to be a part. I hadn't used magic in quite a long time so I never imagined that something so innocent would have far-reaching consequences."

"What magic do you possess?"

"Aside from the ability to change form, I have other powers. Those chests you're sitting amongst, they didn't wash up on these shores as I told you. I conjured them and their contents so that you would have the objects you desired. I wanted to give you those things that the cove could not provide. I had seen many similar chests float in and out with the tides over the years, but I never kept them. I used magic to create them and I didn't think about the potential ramifications."

Killian's jaw fell agape as he listened to her confession. No one - not even Liam - had ever offered such a generous gesture meant for him alone and he was at a loss for how to respond.

"Emma… you didn't need to do such a thing…"

"I wanted to," she grinned. "I had been alone for so long and after these past few days with you, I found myself desiring to do something good with my magic. I wanted to provide for you and now, that act of goodness has put you in far greater danger…" He quickly averted his sight as she pushed herself back to stand up before starting to pace nervously along the precipice of the hot spring. "I must ask this - when I found you, you were clinging to a slab of splintered timber. Were you in a shipwreck?"

Still concentrating on focusing his gaze on the bounce of her golden locks rather than her feminine physique, Killian was taken aback. Of course, he'd been in a shipwreck…

"Aye," he replied. "Not my own ship though. I'd been taken prisoner aboard a pirated vessel that inexplicably ran aground. By the time I was able to crawl out of the flooding brig and reach the safety of the top deck, those rapscallions had all debarked, likely to an island off the distant horizon. No one was left in sight and I scarcely escaped with my life as the vessel broke apart and sank into the depths."

"You saw no one at all? Was the vessel sinking that slowly?" Emma asked curiously, pausing her pacing as she awaited his answer.

"It seemed to be taking on water quite rapidly to me so I assumed they'd taken off in the skiffs, but to answer your question - no. I saw no other men, not even my fellow crew who'd also been imprisoned, although if I'm to be honest with myself, they were likely already dead by the time the ship went down. I was the ranking officer, thereby the most valuable prisoner."

"So that's it…," she mumbled as she hovered to his right, fixated on the sparkling surface of the spring. "That's how Regina knew they may have left a survivor… Killian, don't you see? You didn't see any others aboard the ship because they'd already succumbed to the song of the sirens. The ship ran aground because no one was helming it."

"How is that possible?" he queried as he raised his head in renewed curiosity. "I heard no singing, only the cracking of aging wood and the slap of the waves on the hull."

"You heard nothing? No song?" She spun around to face him, bewildered by his statement. "If the sirens attacked the ship, you would have heard their song."

"I swear to you, I heard nothing out of the ordinary, at least not until the vessel struck the rocks and began her unraveling. Are you certain that your kind assailed that vessel? It's highly likely that the pirates merely strayed off-course."

"No," she insisted, shaking her head. "Regina specifically mentioned that a ship had sailed into siren waters… In the condition I found you in, you could not have traveled far from the wreck so it must be the same vessel she spoke of. None of the sirens would have waited around to watch the vessel disintegrate but some of our ne'er do well fellow sea-dwellers reported rumors of a survivor in the wreck and those rumors reached the council. That's the reason they became suspicious of me when I utilized my magic… You must be that survivor."

Killian's head was suddenly spinning again and this time, it wasn't from the concussion. Sirens were a part of maritime history and mythology that he'd been educated in. He'd entertained countless yarns about ships that strayed into uncharted waters, never to be seen again. All manner of sea monsters had been attributed to these vanishing vessels but tales of sirens had always been particularly beguiling. Demons taking the form of beautiful women were said to lure unsuspecting sailors into the sea where they'd devour their unfaithful hearts.

But they were all only mythical… Until now…

"According to the legends I grew up hearing, sirens preyed upon lonely sailors far from home and family. The siren song was said to enchant the unfaithful amongst them, luring them into the depths of the sea where they'd be devoured. Is that how it really happens?"

"That isn't entirely true, but it is very close," Emma explained. "The song does lure the unsuspecting sailors, but only those deemed unworthy of passage through our realm by the gods. The unworthy are not allowed to travel through our seas and the song puts them into a trance. The men will then leap from their ships into the sea and sink to Triton's lair. I honestly do not know what becomes of them after they drown, what Triton desires of them. It never mattered to me, not then and I certainly did not dwell upon it after I departed the council."

"Until you found me?" he offered, shivering at the fate he'd narrowly avoided. "This may be a pointless query, but has any man ever been found worthy?"

"Well, long before my creation, there was a single human whom Poseidon deemed to be worthy to pass. That man went on to become a great leader of his land and for a while, there was peace between the realm of man and that of the gods. Unfortunately, that man's successors were nothing like him and the years of peace ended. Triton ordered all of the creatures in his command to defend our realm from the evil of mankind. Poseidon unleashed innumerable monsters including dozens more sirens, including myself and for many years, I followed the orders of the gods…"

"I've heard many tales of these legendary gods of the sea. Never in all my dreams did I imagine they were real and that they alone determined the worth of a man."

"I broke away from the council when I began to suspect that the gods harbored more of a vindictive grudge against these men of the sea. I could no longer be convinced that there weren't good men among those we had deceived. Not every man could be so evil."

"Indeed, there are men with good hearts out there but I shan't deny that there is evil in the world. I've encountered those who might barely be described as human, yet most folk are just going about their lives and wish no harm. It would seem that the same might be said of the legendary siren as there is at least one who possesses a good heart… But if we are to circle back to the pirate ship I escaped from, how did I come to survive? Was it because I was secreted away in a cranny of the cargo hold? Was I too far below deck to hear the songs?"

"No, it doesn't work like that. The siren song resonates through every inch of a vessel and carries for several leagues out to sea. It is intended to be heard by every human ear that ventures into our realm."

"That makes little sense to me then," Killian countered. "Why didn't I hear the siren voices? I hear you speaking to me just fine as I am not deaf and despite my injury when you rescued me from the water, I had been fully conscious just prior to the ship's grounding."

"I… I do not know," she stammered. This was another first for her and she had no response. She honestly did not have any inkling as to how he'd resisted.

"Do you still possess the ability to sing?" he asked her bluntly and she found herself ill-prepared to answer.

"I am not entirely certain…," she told him, her voice trembling at the possible implications of the question. "It has been centuries… I believe I am still able to sing, but I cannot predict the outcome. There may be ramifications that you aren't ready for and it may hasten Regina and the council's return…"

He tried to avoid the darkening of her olivine eyes as she pleaded wordlessly for him to reconsider, but it was the only way he might discover how he'd managed to remain alive.

"Emma, you must," he pressed. "It's the only way I'll know… That we'll know. You would be able to tell right away if the song has the desired effect, correct?"

"Of course, I would know. I just cannot promise that I can stop it as I've never tried…"

"Then consider this your chance to find out," Killian stated bravely, although inside, his stomach was churning at the huge risk he was taking. "I must learn why I was spared, Love. Please, indulge my curiosity and desire to solve this one mystery…"

"Killian…" She didn't want to do this. She'd vowed to never sing again and she certainly didn't want to endanger this man she'd become so fond of. Could she deny him the answers he so desperately wanted? She'd know within a few notes but even if the song ended abruptly, would she be able to reverse its effects if he wasn't immune?

[ziallshippingislife]

Reminiscence

Seeing him in the flesh in the middle of a loud bar. The person I loved unconditionally for so long standing in front of me who had vanished years ago without explanation. So familiar in all senses.

“Niall.” My name slipped from his lips. My heart cracked inside of me.

“Zayn.”

________________________________________________________________

“Niall, you going to meet me there?” Harry said over the phone as I was running my fingers through my wet hair.

“Yeah, head out soon, I’ll see you there.” I said and then hung up.

Once again it was Friday night and Harry was ready to drag me to another loud bar to try and get me laid. I smiled to myself knowing he was the only one getting lucky again. Picking up guys was never my strong suit. Yet, every weekend I made my way to the bar to watch one of my best friends pick up these hot guys while I sat drinking by myself.

I heard the front door open and I sighed. I looked myself over in my mirror once again deciding this was the best it was going to get. My brown hair ruffled and my blue button down slightly unbuttoned so my chest could peek out a little.

I heard a soft knock on my door and gently turned to see Liam standing in my doorway.

“Hey Ni.” His voice was soft.

“Hey Li, how was your exam?” I asked, knowing he had been studying hard all week for it.

“It was good, yeah.” He said, smiling at me now.

Liam was working towards finishing up school this year while the rest of us had been out a year before already. We all received full time positions after graduating last year and now Liam was on his way to do the same. Harry and Louis recently moved in together while Liam and I continued to live in the house we had all began living in just before college started.

“What’s up?” I asked, watching him stand in the doorway watching me closely. Liam’s face looked tense, as he tapped his fingers against my door frame.

“I just haven’t heard from you all day and I wanted to make sure you were okay. “

“I’m fine Liam.” I sighed out.

He was quiet now, his fingers coming to a halt and the room falling quiet. I knew he was going to approach me at some point eventually. It had been five years ago today that Zayn had left.

“I’m sorry.” He said gently, opening the door wider so he could walk up behind me. I heard his body rest upon my bed and the squeak from the springs rang throughout the room. “I just want you to be safe tonight. Don’t do anything you’ll regret and call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks.” I replied, my eyes never meeting his. He sat for a couple more seconds in the awkward quietness before he stood and left the room.

Liam was always worried about me, more than anyone else. He always knew when there was something wrong with me. Even today I couldn’t fool him.

I grabbed my wallet from my bedside table and headed for the bar.

My heart was heavy today there was no denying that. But instead of bothering the boys about it I planned on drowning myself in liquor until I couldn’t feel the pain anymore.  

Tonight, I knew my mind was going to reminisce. Keeping my thoughts of him out of my brain was going to be impossible. It used to be so difficult not to think of him, but as time went on it got easier. Certain days were harder than others but now it’s not so often I think of him.

At first it was so hard all I did was cry and think about how much I missed him. For weeks and months, I cried every day wondering why he left me and everything he knew behind. It was the worst point in my life. Remembering myself so broken shakes me up still. My friends were so worried about me doing something stupid they would take turns watching me.

I was in love, and I thought he was too. We were ready to start a new life together. But before it even began, he split. I called and texted him for days but I never received a response. He had removed himself from all social media so he had vanished entirely.

He had completely left me in the dark. Not knowing why made it even harder to get over him. I couldn’t eat, sleep or move. All I did was sit in my room and cry. Until one day I realized this pain wouldn’t last forever.

You see I’ve learned time is the only treatment for pain. It may never go away completely, but getting used to the feeling of the despair in your heart sets in and becomes familiar. Not only will it fade but you will accept it and learn to live with that scar.

Pictures and videos will haunt your memory, but will also be bittersweet. It’s the memories that wrap themselves around the heart and brain that make you weep. Never able to forget the reminders that find their way back to you.

Zayn left without a goodbye. Not a single word. We haven’t spoken or seen each other in five years. A relationship so beautifully perfect which was broken so suddenly with no explanation or warning.

How does one move on from losing someone who was once so precious? It fades, but never disappears. There will be no cure. Love is a tattoo on the heart.

I finally made it to the bar and walked inside. I waved to Harry seeing him chatting up some short blonde laughing at one of his jokes if I had to guess. I didn’t want to interrupt so I quickly headed to the bar.

I headed to my usual table after ordering and taking down a couple drinks and a shot to help get my head buzzing.

As I was getting ready to sit down a face I recognized moved to stand right in front of me. After years of repair, which proved to be so difficult, just one glance had ripped that scar on my heart open again to bleed and ache.

Seeing him in the flesh in the middle of a loud bar. The person I loved unconditionally for so long standing in front of me who had vanished years ago without explanation. So familiar in all senses.

“Niall.” My name slipped from his lips. My heart cracked inside of me.

“Zayn.”  

Our eyes were connected, the nostalgic feeling washing over me. We stood staring for what felt like hours but in reality was merely seconds before his lips began to move again.

“You look great.” He smiled at me as his eyes were glancing at my body now, up and down, the flicker of gold hitting the lights.

My chest was tight and my eyes began to burn. My insides were boiling and I began to clench my fists so tight I felt my skin begin to tear from my fingernails.

“S-So do you.” I choked out, unsure of what I should even say. My mind was racing. I was confused and unsure if this was even real. The music was loud but his voice was the only thing thumping in my ears.

“It’s been a long-“

“I have to go.” I rushed out and quickly turned on my heel and headed for the exit. I slammed my drink down on the nearest table top and ducked out past the bouncer.

I heard him call my name but I continued to run.

My vision was blurry from the vodka and my steps were shaky. The familiar severe pain I felt throughout my chest was getting heavier with every step I took. I felt my eyes fill with tears as I slowed down to rest my back against a fence.

I reached into my pocket and quickly began to dial the first person who came to mind.

“Niall?” Liam answered quickly. I tried to speak but I was choked up. “What’s going on?” He questioned again. I took a deep breath and swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Zayn’s back.”

 _______________________________________________________________

 The ride home was a lot quieter than I thought it would be. Liam picked me up on the corner of some street I couldn’t even remember and I climbed in without a single word. We were silent, straining to listen to the radio which was turned down low.

When we pulled in the driveway he shut off the engine but continued to stare straight out the windshield not looking at me.

“You’re kidding me, right?” He asked then, his voice dark.

I saw his hands gripping the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were turning white. I bit at my thumbnail trying to keep the tears settled inside of me. I still couldn’t speak.

“What the hell.” He breathed out his grip loosening and his shoulders slumping. “What did he say to you?”

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing?” He asked bewildered. “He comes back tonight of all nights, catches you at a bar, and he says nothing?”

I felt a tear slip past my eye and I breathed in deeply.

“I think, I should just- I need to get some sleep.” I barely whimpered out. I could feel Liam’s concerning eyes on me.

“Are you sure you don’t want to talk Niall?” He asked carefully. I knew he wanted to talk. Zayn leaving not only hurt me but the rest of us as well. But the cut on my heart was aching so much I could barely breathe.

“I can’t.”

I opened the door and stepped out of the car leaving Liam behind me.

 ________________________________________________________

My eyes cracked open as the light was shining through the slits of my shades onto my face. My nose felt stuffy and my eyes were heavy.

I didn’t want to let myself cry all night but the sobs shook through me without hesitation. There was nothing I could do to stop them. Seeing him was unbelievable and I felt broken all over again.

I kicked my blankets off and headed for the door hearing voices coming from the living room. I knew Liam was home today, but I didn’t think he would be up so early.

I walked down the hallway and turned the corner only for my heart to skip a beat and plunge itself into my throat.

“I really don’t think-“ Liam cut himself off when I entered.

“Niall.” He said, but I was not looking at him at all. Beyond him standing at the door was Zayn.

It was quiet then. My eyes locked with his once again. His hair was strewn across his forehead and the sweater he wore was mine. My heart began to pound and I ran my shaky fingers through my hair, hoping it wasn’t too rough from my horrible night sleep.

“It’s eight in the morning what do you want?” I gritted my teeth, tearing my eyes away and walking to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee.

“I was hoping we could possibly talk.” Zayn said to me, but my back was facing him so he couldn’t see my puffy eyes. I poured my sugar into my coffee and stirred it while clanking the spoon against the mug multiple times.

I heard footsteps walk away and a door shut gently. I sighed knowing Liam went to his room and now I was alone with him.

“About what?” I asked blandly. My fingers loosely holding onto the end of the spoon.

“Listen.” He breathed out gently, his footsteps getting closer, but my back was still turned. “I know you’re probably wondering why I’m back. And I’m also guessing you want an explanation.”

I threw the spoon in the sink then, the rage coming at me full force. I turned around to face him his eyes were pained and stained red like mine.

“I don’t need you to explain yourself.” I seethed.  

“Well, I just wanted to apologize-“

“I don’t need your apology either.”

Zayn nodded carefully but continued to step closer to me. I tried to move back but the sink was already pushed into the bottom of my spine.

“Look, Ni.” He reached out towards me and I smacked his hand away immediately.

“Stop.” I warned him, watching his eyes skate back and forth between his hand and my face. I could feel myself burning bright red and the tears were welling back behind my eyes. I didn’t want to let them fall though. I needed to be strong here.

“There’s never been a day that went by that I didn’t think of you.” He admitted, and I felt a pain shoot through my body so intense I thought I was going to pass out. I tried to ignore it though by trying to numb myself from his words.

“I don’t care.”

“I mean it. I want you to know.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“You can say it doesn��t matter all you want but you know it does.” He stepped even closer, our eyes connecting and our noses almost touching. My breath hitched in my throat and I wanted to push him away so bad but I couldn’t bring myself to move.

“Don’t you even dare tell me what matters and what doesn’t.” I whispered out, my body starting to tremble.

“Niall, I know I hurt you but-“

“You can’t even come close to understanding the immense pain I felt Zayn!” I screamed then while finally finding my strength to push him back. “You don’t get to come back after all these years and throw this garbage at me and tell me how to feel!”

I felt the tears falling down my face. Containing them was too much for me to handle. I was angry. I felt so much pain looking at him standing in front of me. He looked different. He was thinner, his hair was longer. I could see an unfamiliar tattoo poking out underneath the rolled-up sleeve of my gray sweater.

His face looked upset. His eyes filled with distress. He was staring at me as the tears continued to roll down my red cheeks.

“Niall I’m sorry, okay I needed to get away. I wasn’t myself anymore. I was afraid if I stayed I would hurt both of us.” He explained, trying to get closer to me again. I just closed my eyes and let my head fall towards the ground, unable to look at him anymore.

“You broke me anyway, Zayn.” I choked out. “For weeks, for months even, I cried every damn day thinking and asking myself what did I do that was so wrong that you couldn’t even talk to me.”

His hands rested on my face then. His thumbs brushing at my tears. My heart was racing and my heart was aching. My hands came up to grab at his wrists as I continued to sob.

“Niall, it wasn’t you.” He tried to explain but I shook my head.

“I felt so abandoned by the person I loved and trusted the most. You need to understand that I was so fucking broken!” I yelled, gripping his wrists tight and pulling his gentle hands off my face.

“It wasn’t about you Niall!” He screamed back and I winced at the pain I heard laced in his voice. “It was about me and what I had to do.”

I glared at him then and he stared back with tears welling in his own eyes now. I rolled mine then, letting go of his wrists and turning my back on him once again.

“We were together. It was about us.”

“I’m sorry Ni, please-.”

“I can’t listen to this anymore. You need to leave.” I cut him off.

“Don’t do this.” He pleaded, but this was too much for me. I needed it to stop.

“Get out.”

“Ni-“

“I said get out!” I yelled and it was quiet for a minute. Then I heard footsteps leaving and the front door slammed shut.

I sobbed then, my face leaned over the sink and my tears were landing heavy on the stainless steel. Even after all this time my heart was still in so much pain.

________________________________________________________________

Thank you

ZIALLFOREVER

[ziggypop]

ANGST (drake/liam x mc)

so i reread new moon today in the span of a couple hours– and let me tell you, that book is ANGSTY AS SHIT. yall know how I LOVE a good angst fest and edward, at one point, tells bella that he it was only a matter of time before he “showed up at her window, begging her to take him back.” course, I immediately thought of my most angsty ship– king liam pining for mc (named Emilia here) after she chose Drake.

get ready, its a long one: 2,013 words

She had made her choice. And she had chosen Drake.

It was excruciating, to say the least. Liam still couldn’t get Emilia’s tear-stricken face out of his head as she could barely choke out, “I-I’m so sorry Liam, I’m so sorry,” over and over again, her slender shoulders shaking with guilt. His chest felt like it was being ripped apart from the inside out, like an invisible hand was yanking out his heart and his lungs.

He couldn’t breathe without Emilia.

Of course, he comforted her; hugged her lightly as he assured her over and over again that it was alright, that it was okay, that it was fine that she had fallen in love with his best friend. “Emilia, it’s okay,” he said repeatedly, his own words a faint hum in his ears as he held the only woman he would ever love in his arms for the last time, as he tried to keep the gaping hole in his chest from collapsing and ruining him.

When she finally left, he sat on his bed for a moment, a feeling of numbness spreading from the wound in his core all the way to his fingertips. And then the tears came. He allowed himself five minutes to mourn over his lost love, a love that would have been the anchor in a life full of obligations and responsibilities. A love that would have made it all worth it, made it all tolerable. The hard, thrashing sobs rocked his body. Liam could only remember one other time he cried so hard he couldn’t talk, couldn’t breathe— it was when his mother died. After his allotted five minutes, after he had composed himself once again into King Liam of Cordonia, the misery set in, the hole in his chest aching deeply.

It was worse when he saw them together.

How had he not noticed it before? His surly, perpetually unsmiling best friend had been transformed into a teasing, cheerful (or as cheerful as Drake could be) guy. And while Emilia had flirted back with Liam occasionally, it was nothing compared to how she acted with Drake.

Liam had thought that her lack of physical affection was because they were never alone. He never fathomed that maybe Emilia’s affection was reserved for someone else. He never noticed the lingering glances that Drake threw at Emilia, or Emilia’s mutual gaze whenever she laid eyes on Drake. He never notices how attuned their bodies were, Emilia shifting every time Drake did. His heart, which rested in Emilia’s hands, was mangled every time he caught Emilia’s fingers trailing inconspicuously down Drake arm, or their hands brushing against one another, or Drake’s hand tracing her lower back. Once, he walked it on a tender kiss between the two, Emilia’s face flushed pink and caught between Drake’s hands, eyes heavy-lidded, perfect, bow lips puckered. Drake’s nose against her cheek, his lips wet and going in for seconds. The pair jumped apart as if they had been electrocuted at the sound of Liam’s soft gasp; the feeling of passion in the air turned into embarrassment.

They tried to make it easy on him. They tried not to touch whenever he was around and kept the banter to a minimum. Liam could have made it easier on himself, but every time he saw Emilia, his heart (throbbing in her absence) sang. He sought her out, accepting that in order to feel whole, even for just a second, to remember what happiness was (how happy his life could have been with her), to be able to smile again, to be able to breathe without feeling like breaking— he had to pay the price of anguish. And so he suffered in silence, watching how Emilia, his true love, fell deeper in love with another man.

And then, he had enough.

For the first time, Liam was being impulsive, stealthily shedding his guard as he escaped through one of the many secret passageways of the castle that he had found with his brother during his youth. He didn’t think— he just sprinted to the small two-story cottage home that his best friend and his fiancée shared.

Like some schoolboy visiting his crush, he found a couple of pebbles on the pathway and threw them at the second story window he knew was Emilia and Drake’s room. He didn’t allow himself to think of anything in that room, or anything they might have done in it.

He wasn’t afraid that Drake would open the window. He knew from their countless sleepovers with Drake and Maxwell that an earthquake couldn’t wake Drake. Once, it had taken Liam and Maxwell screaming into two megaphones to get Drake to stir.

After a couple of pebbles, Emilia appeared in the window, her dark hair disheveled, her brown eyes sleepy but wary. The eyes he longed to gaze into widened in surprise when they saw the King standing awkwardly with a handful of dirty rocks in his hand, light sweat on his forehead.

“Liam?” Emilia whispered. “What are you doing here?” She threw a worried look over her shoulder, at Drake, no doubt. Her voice was rough with sleep. It was marvelous; a beautiful, musical sound to Liam’s ears.

“Emilia—please come down. Please.” Liam’s begging sounded pathetic to his ears but he had to try. He had to.

Emilia threw another worried look behind her before she looked down at Liam and nodded, her features distorted with a mixture of sadness, guilt, and pity. She closed the window and a few moments later, the front door opened noiselessly and Emilia stepped out, clad in a long black robe with green hummingbirds flitting around colorful roses. Liam met her halfway as she padded down the stairs of the porch of her home in pink slippers.

“Liam?” She questioned, looking up at him with a concerned look, tightening the belt of her robe before she crossed her arms across her chest.

“Emilia—“ his voice broke with her name before the words tumbled out of him, barely giving Emilia a chance to register as he rushed his words, fervent with feeling, out.

“I’m not as strong as I would like to be—I’m not. Before you, my life was bearable and I tried to fill my free time with friends. I accepted that I would have to marry out of obligation. But then I met you, and you ruined me, Emilia. You ruined me for everyone else. I don’t mean that as an accusation, just a fact. At first, I could survive a week without you, then I had to force myself to live through the day, and now I’m talking myself into making it through a single hour. It was only a matter of time—and not much of it, I know— before I begged, Emilia. It was only a matter of time before I showed up at your window and begged you to take me back.”

Emilia’s lovely features are twisted downward, tortured. Her eyes brim with tears at learning at just how much pain her friend is.

“Please don’t,” she whispers, her mouth turned down and her eyebrows scrunched up. But before she can say anything else, Liam is on his knees, ruining his expensive pair of pants without a second thought. He crawls over to Emilia, hugging her thighs, his head coming up to her stomach.

“Please, please, please, Emilia,” he chokes out. “Please take me back. Please love me.” Emilia doesn’t hear his tears, but she feels the painful sobs as they rack his body, sending tremors through her own figure. The guilt at causing Liam so much pain, at hearing the anguish drip off his words is too much for her too bear and her own cheeks become wet from her tears. Overwhelmed, she sinks to her knees as well, stretching her arms around Liam in the process.

“I’m so sorry Liam, I’m so so sorry,” she says, hugging him tightly. Liam desperately embraced her back, grasping for any form of contact with the woman who had held his heart. His hands clutched her satiny robe in his hands, his body pressed firmly against hers, his face to her hair. She smells of strawberries, she smells of strawberries, he thought, trying to memorize the scent of her shampoo. He knew this affection from her would only hurt him more later, but he was willing to suffer the consequences for her. He would walk through fire for her.

Finally, both Liam and Emilia’s sobs faded into nothing. Emilia was the first to pull away, slowly, as if she were unsure whether Liam was done breaking. But he would never be done, not if he wasn’t with her. She held his face in his hands and he melted at her touch, leaning into her soft palms. She could heal him. She could make him happy.

Unwittingly, he met her gaze; his eyes tight with pain, hers filled with sadness.

“Liam,” she breathed. She needed to say no more. The look on her face was enough to tell him that being with her with never go as far as this, it would never go as far as watching from a distance as she married and loved and began a family with a man he considered his brother. Emilia would only be his in his fantasies. Their life together would only exist in his wildest dreams, or in an alternate universe where Liam’s greatest wish was granted.

“I know. I know.” His chest heaved. His agony radiated off his body. Emilia would do anything to alleviate the suffering of the man who had led her to the truest of true loves.

She lifted his crestfallen face up with a finger on his stubbly chin, looked into his eyes, tinged with rejection, emphasized by his sallow pallor and the dark shadows under his eyes.

“I do love you, Liam. I will always love you. I’m sorry that it’s not in the way you need me to. I’m sorry. I love you.” And then Emilia gifted Liam with a kiss filled with pain that she couldn’t return his feelings and guilt at causing him such tremendous suffering (and what would surely wound Drake, as well, when she told him) on her end, and a flying joy on his, relishing deeply in a moment that would only last so long.

Emilia pressed her lips to Liam’s urgently, as if she would change her mind if she didn’t do it quickly. Liam quickly returned the kiss, meshing his lips with hers as his hands drifted to her waist and held her closer. His tongue coaxed her lips apart, her mouth acquiescing. Her lips opened and Liam knew to seize this opportunity— her deepened the kiss as Emilia’s fingers tangled in his hair. She tried as hard as she could to give him something to live for, at least until time healed the wound that her absence had formed. Liam could taste the mint from Emilia’s toothpaste.  

It was tragic, really, how short the time passed for Liam. He knew Emilia’s kiss would be both his salvation and his torment. He knew he would die with the memory of this heated kiss on his mind. Emilia pulled away, pecking Liam on the cheek as she stood, wiping away a few remaining tears.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated, before she turned and walked back to the small but undoubtedly warm home she shared with Drake. She didn’t look back. Liam stared at the dark wood as the door closed gently behind her. His body was filled with warmth. As he began to walk back, drunk with passion, he looked ahead into the night. 

The night was peppered with bright stars, the trees of Cordonia lush even in darkness. The pebbles and branches that covered the dirt floor crunched under his feet. He stared into the darkness, his eyes searching for the light of what would be a chaotic castle, as well as for the day that his feelings for Emilia would fade.

[swanderful1]

A Cold Awakening: Ch 20/25

Summary: Modern crime AU. Twenty years have gone by since Storybrooke was shaken to the core by a gruesome crime that went unsolved. Sheriff David Nolan and his partner, daughter Emma are forced to revisit the crime. At the same time, Killian Jones and his older brother Liam have been drawn back to the town they had longed to never see again, struggling to find their own answers. As taunting notes and clues show up they are taken on a journey to finally bring justice for the Jones family. And Emma Nolan finds herself caught in a situation more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

Notes: Hello all! First, once again thank you to @shady-swan-jones for the lovely banner for my story!!!!! Still hype about it. Time for anotha chapter! Took me a while (again). This update in particular is brought to you by: your continued support as readers, an entire box of cheez its, and my 90s hits playlist on REPEAT.Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy!

Read the whole thang on AO3 or FFnet 

Disclaimer: I own nothing, all rights to OUAT

Rating: M

Word Count: ~9100

Emma’s limbs were like spaghetti noodles. Loose and limp from spending the night with Killian. One would assume that meant waking up the next morning she wouldn’t still have the urge to go another round but… that assumption was wrong. There was something very intimate to her about spending a morning laying naked in a bed with him. An indulgence she hadn’t allowed herself with nearly anyone else. In fact, if he were anyone else she would be scurrying to dress and leave before the other person woke. Not wanting to deal, at all, with the messiness of a morning after. But Killian wasn’t anyone else, he was him. And that was enough for her to stay. Especially after the events of the past few days. Killian’s ex-girlfriend having turned out to not be who she said she was, Emma was feeling particularly defensive of the man sleeping behind her. She had actively done almost all she could to protect him and his heart that he had so trustingly given to Emma, but there were was only so much she could do.

There was a faint trace of light coming through the drapes over the windows, so it was some version of morning. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand it read 5:00 am. Too early. But her body was warm, thanks to the man sleeping behind her with his arm draped comfortably over her waist. Killian’s even breathing indicating he was still fast asleep. Another part of him, however, was wide awake. Digging into her bare backside she felt his hardened member up for the day.

She had a few different routes she could take with this. Either she could lay there and (attempt to) fall quietly back to sleep until it wasn’t so early. She could wake Killian so she wasn’t just lying there by herself, painfully aware of his arousal, gaining one of her own. But then she had another idea. Excitement running through her, Emma sank down beneath the covers, sliding out of Killian’s arms slowly so as not to wake him just yet. He stirred a bit once she was fully out of his grasp but otherwise remained asleep.

Now completely under the covers Emma took hold of Killian’s erect cock. The vein beneath her fingers, the soft feel of his flesh. Without much more delay Emma licked a stripe up the length of him. Slowly, deliberately, excitement and adrenaline fueling her as she wondered how long it would take before he woke. Swirling her tongue around the tip she felt him move a bit, still asleep, hopefully in the midst of a filthy dream about her. She often dreamt of him, though she never really told him that. Mostly because a lot of that dreaming had started occurring well before anything sexual actually happened between them in real life (i.e. the one where her subconscious had depicted him as Captain Hook, tying her up. Fucking her with his mouth and metal hand extension).

Taking a deep breath she brought herself back to the moment, if she kept allowing her mind to wander to those places she would come before Killian did. Slowly, her mouth covered his cock, taking almost the full length. Nearly bottoming out at the back of her throat, she began moving her head up and down, her tongue drawing circles along the surface as she moved. Her lips taking in the taste of his skin, wet mouth dragging. It’s after a few seconds of this that she feels Killian’s entire body stiffen. He was awake.

“Emma… what are you-, love...” he moaned. The sound of her name never sounding so good as it did coming from his mouth. Emma herself stiffened a bit, realizing how aroused she was as well. It only fueled her more, her mouth worked more aggressively now. Not quite so scared to wake him she wasn’t gentle, taking his cock as far into her mouth as it would go. Alternating between licking, sucking, rubbing. The more she did the shakier his legs became, giving into her touch she herself moaned and reached her hand down to take care of herself as she took care of Killian.

His cock began to pulse, impending release near, making Emma even more aggressive. Her teeth coming out to scrape the sides of his shaft, causing his legs to convulse and his hand to tightly grip her hair. Her other hand works the dripping wet folds at her center. The affect she has on him feeding her own desires. She’s close, so is he. And within a few more movements of her tongue and mouth he’s coming. Hot, wet, salty release moving down her throat as she sucks him dry of his seed. Not long after she crests and has a euphoric orgasm, all the while keeping her mouth attached to him until he’s finished.

When Emma emerged from underneath the covers she looked at Killian. His face a mixture of bewilderment, satisfaction, and something she’d rarely seen in a sexual partner before. Love. She gives him a smirk as she wipes his seed from the corners of her mouth with the back of her arm. And then one by one licked her fingers clean of her own release. The mix of the two in her mouth causing an interesting taste. One that she wants to share with him. His eyes never stray from her, even letting out a groan as he watches. Leaning down over top of Killian, straddling her bare body over top of his, she meets his mouth. Her tongue moving with his so he can taste as well. What they tasted like together.

“Good morning,” she whispered against his mouth as he growled in response.

“Now what in the world did I do to deserve that?” he mumbled, a dumb smile on his face when she pulled her head away from his just a few inches. His dark hair pushed from his head standing on all ends. There was an almost youthful glow to him in the moment and Emma couldn’t help but smile.

“Do I really need a reason to wake you up that way?”

“Of course not, love.” His eyes were still heavy, presumably both from just waking up and what he woke up to. “You won’t hear a complaint from me.”

“I would hope not.”

“Unless of course you’ve deemed that a ‘one time thing’?” His eyebrow went up expectantly. Though it certainly wasn’t a one time thing.

She answered him by kissing him again. Simply savoring in the morning with him where she could do whatever she wanted to him. His hands reached up to cradle the sides of her face and she ached at the touch.

“What do you like to eat, Emma?” he asked between kisses. It seemed highly off topic given the activities of a few minutes ago. She didn’t say anything for a while, her hands moving around the hair on his chest, playing with it as she continued to kiss him.

“Besides grilled cheese and my cock?” He was so ridiculous but for whatever reason Emma completely enjoyed his flirty and sometimes obscene remarks. He was clever, she loved that about him.

“What if that’s all I like?” she whispered against his ear, nibbling on the lobe, getting whiff of his hair. Jesus he always smelled amazing. Particularly this morning when he smelled like the lavender bath oils they had used the night before...

“Because. I meant it when I said I’d like to take you on a proper date. And I want it to be something you enjoy.”

She was stunned, pulling her face away from his to look into his blue, blue eyes. Sincerity. That was all she saw now. Well, and how handsome he was but that was a pretty consistent thing. The mention of a date, a real live adult date was intimidating. She hadn’t been on one she actually enjoyed in so long. But there was a large part of the idea that excited her. Getting to go out in public with him, sitting across a table from him, tasting each other’s entrees, sipping overpriced glasses of wine. She could picture it, and in her mind could hardly suppress the grin that came from the image. Killian seemed to release a breath, as if he still wasn’t sure if she would run or not at the mention of moving forward together.

“I’m not picky,” she said, reaching out to touch his cheek. Savoring in the warmth of his face beneath her palm.

“Good.” He smiled back. Pulling her hand from his face and beginning to caress it with his lips. “How about Thursday night then?”

She relished in the touch of his lips, her stomach filled with butterflies she almost forgot to answer him.

“Thursday for what?” she groaned, obviously distracted.

“For dinner…” he continued kissing her, licking, nipping at her skin. “And dessert.”

“How could I say no to that?”

“Please don’t,” he whispered, his accent thick between tongue movements.

“Let me think about it…” she teased. And when he jokingly bit a part of her neck she let out a giggle. “Okay, okay, Thursday. A real date.”

He stopped his nibbling to look into her eyes. Quite possibly to see if she was still toying with him. She wasn’t. It was only Monday morning, and Thursday night was so far from now. Any host of things could happen between now and then but she didn’t care about any of that.

“After all, you are quite persuasive…” she said, biting her lip. Back to teasing. He softened, taking her chin in his hand and pulling her face toward his.

“And devilishly handsome,” he said before diving in again to plant bites and kisses all over her body.

They went on like that for a while. Rolling over top of each other, switching dominant positions. Taking their time playing with one another. It wasn’t long before Emma felt her core ache for him, more urgently than it kind of always was, and she clenched her thighs together to keep from getting too carried away. But when once again she found herself on top of him she kissed down the soft skin of his neck, she noticed he had stopped nipping at her and remained ultimately still. Though his hands still rested on her hips.

“Killian… what’s…?” she began to ask pulling away from his neck, following his gaze to where it rested. The mirror. The floor length one across from the bed. Which from this angle gave a perfect view of her on top of him from behind. Her legs straddled across him, her ass bare, hair hanging down her back. He was watching her.

“There isn’t an inch of you that I don’t find alluring, Emma,” he whispered. Still not taking his eyes off of hers in the reflection of the mirror. She blushed, knowing he was telling the truth. And that she felt exactly the same way about him. He was so verbal during sex, or even just building up to sex. It was all the more stimulating to her.

“Why don’t we try something new…” she whispered, knowing he had his eye on that mirror. And fucking to her own reflection was something she had all but avoided her entire life. The idea of watching herself in the throes of passion not necessarily a sight she was comfortable with. But with Killian… she was open to it. And if she were able to focus on him instead of herself, maybe it wouldn’t be so odd.

“What did you have in mind?” he asked, turning her head away from the mirror and back to face his.

“I was thinking… that I could watch you fuck me…” Emma licked her way down his chest tasting the salt and lavender on his skin. It was enticing all on its own. His chest. “In the mirror.”

He hesitated, his breath catching in the back of his throat as Emma caught one of his nipples between her teeth and tugged. “Emma… love, are you certain that’s how you want it?”

She sat up again, trying to ignore the shake in his body as she released her mouth’s clutches on him. Emma fluttered her long lashes, cheeks and skin flushed with arousal, hair messy from both the night before and this morning, her bare center wet with desire and resting on his erect cock. She rolled her hips over him, causing his eyes to close as he winced. Emma’s eyebrow went up.. Knowing he would probably love nothing more than to fuck her as they both watched in the mirror’s reflection, knowing she loved that idea as well.

“Do I look like I want anything else?” a dirty grin on her face lighting a fire inside Killian that she could physically see come to flames behind his eyes. Before she knew it he had flipped her off of his lap, now she was on all fours, staring at herself in the mirror. He rose to his knees behind her so she could see him as well. A predatory look on his face like he could pounce at any moment, Emma felt her arousal grow the longer she met his eyes in the mirror.

“I’m going to take you from behind…” he said in a smooth and even voice. As if he wasn’t as affected as she was. Meanwhile she felt his already hardened cock pressed firmly against her, teasing her entrance.

“What exactly are you waiting for?” she asked in an almost breathy tone, trying to keep calm but realizing she became more and more turned on with each passing moment.

Without saying anything else he swatted her ass with his palm. Waves of both pleasure and pain coursing through her. It wasn’t exactly great incentive to behave if that was the punishment. A smirk was on his face as his hand moved from her ass to her slick, wet folds that were now even more so.

“Eager for me, as always, my darling.” In slipped one finger followed quickly by another, she ground her back into his front needing more. Needing absolutely all of him to fill her. “I can hardly call myself a gentleman if I keep a woman waiting.”

Emma let out a chuckle. Thinking of Killian right now as anywhere near a gentleman was almost comical. He had his moments of chivalry, but any of those were often canceled out by the brutal and passionate sexual encounters he and Emma engaged in.

She was so lost in the feel of his fingers hooking inside of her, hitting the spot that would eventually be her undoing, that she didn’t realize her eyes had closed. In fact, they remained that way until Killian removed his fingers when she was just about to climax and her whole body shook with disappointment. Until the rough feel of his beard on her shoulder brought her back and she opened her eyes again to face the reflection in the mirror.

“Remember, love, eyes open. I want you to watch,” he whispered before moving her hair to one side and taking a bite out of the back of her shoulder, rising up to his knees again. “God you’re so gorgeous like this.” He mumbled before lining himself up with her center.

“Ohhh…” she moaned as he slid into her, he did it slowly. Tortuously, not like the night before when they had been so desperate for the friction. She looked up at his face, very serious but also there was a level of caution there. He had never taken her from behind this way, and without another word she gave him a look to indicate she was okay to continue. That she had adjusted to his size and he could keep going. She wouldn’t break. At that, his grip on her hips tightened and he eased into her, taking his time before getting into a smooth rhythm. Emma moving her body along with his in fluid motions, causing her whole body to pulse.

“So tight like this, Emma,” he urged, quickening the pace ever so slightly the more his cock dragged against her inner walls. Emma’s back arched to keep him inside of her just a millisecond longer.

“Killian…. so good. Please…” The closer she came to her peak the more hooded her eyes became and the more frequent she felt her lids falling. Each time though she remembered to reopen them, to look at Killian. To experience the excitement of watching as he fucked her from behind.

“That’s it, darling. Beg,” he cooed in her ear followed by a slew of filthy promises that fell from his lips as Killian continued to grind in and out of her. With each thrust she came closer to her release, feeling herself become full with him. It was unlike anything else. To experience the throbbing heat resulting from their connection. It could only be compared to magic, the way they knew how to please each other so expertly and so intimately. Almost like they had been doing it for years as opposed to months. In another life perhaps they had been lovers in the same way, drawing the most exquisite of pleasures out of one another.

Emma felt her limbs grow weak with exertion the closer she was to her climax. Killian must have sensed this because at the last moment he pulled her up to him and supported most of her weight. Barely keeping her eyes open, she watched as Killian held her to him, not ever losing his place inside of her, and thrusting in and out as her walls clenched around him. She could see his handsome face in the mirror, looking dangerously close to his peak as well. His eyes hooded dark with desire for her. Her confidence surged and she pushed back against him, giving them both more leverage. Their bodies coated with sweat, his breath in her ear, his name on her lips. Their breath so ragged and abrupt their brutal pace followed along with the tempo of it.

“Emma….” he moaned. “Fall, love. I’ve got you.”

His rough hands beneath hers tightened around her hips, they fell together. Physically and metaphorically. Emma’s heart raced as she pushed stray hair off of her face.

In the wake of their passion, Emma could hardly contain her now shaking body. It was still so early, the sun had not even fully risen yet. But she was already thoroughly fucked. Killian’s warm body behind her felt limp as well and before Emma knew what was happening they had both collapsed to the bed. Sweat covered bodies and limbs tangled together, the two laid on the soft down comforter.

“I can’t seem to get enough of you, love,” Killian whispered as he peppered kisses down her body. Emma’s core tensed knowing if he kept up with this they would end up going at it with minimal break time. Again.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” she said, turning in his arms so she faced him now and his mouth ceased the kisses just to steal a glance at her. His hand moved from her waist to her hair, wrapping strands of long, blonde curls around his fingers. Weaving them in and out, all the while looking at her like she had hung the moon.

“It’s hard to fathom that when I first came back to town I found you to be an astoundingly irritating lass.” He rolled onto his back, folding his left arm underneath his head and leaving his right arm in Emma’s hair.

“I know,” she said, Emma had felt similarly after first being reunited with him. The dark, infuriating, uncooperative man he was. The day they fought right in front of everyone’s view in the conference room. Her blood had boiled, and in an entirely different way than it did when they spoke now. “The feeling was mutual. I couldn’t stand you.”

“I can’t imagine why.” His eyebrow went up. He knew why.

“In fairness the first actual encounter I had with you was when you drunkenly hit on me in a bar… I wouldn’t exactly consider that behavior to be boyfriend material.” The second she said the word she realized it had never come out before in reference to him.

He smirked, obviously noticing the implication as well, “I see. And when exactly did that change for you?”

The question caught her off guard. The resentment they had felt for each other at the beginning of the investigation felt so, so long ago. And to be honest now, as she was naked on his bed wrapped in his arms, it was hard to imagine a time when she didn’t feel the way she felt now. Which was enamored with affection for the complicated soul, whose hands felt like heaven running through her hair.

“The day you took me to your father’s old car that he wrecked.” She was certain it was that time. Killian’s vulnerability coming out, his willingness to help her instead of halt her in the search. “How about you?”

He paused for a long while, the silent bedroom engulfing them. Emma thought perhaps his day was the same as hers, that he had begun feeling differently about her when he decided to show her a part of his past that had never been brought to light. Finally, he said, “That day in the book shop.”

Emma remembered that day, but it hardly been anything overwhelmingly groundbreaking. At least not for her. They had agreed to a truce. Her mother had met Killian. The whole thing had seemed so… ordinary compared to the excitement and dramatics that had occurred in the months following that day.

“It was the first time I thought perhaps we could get along.” He rolled back over to face her again. “Without being in that police station and the investigation and returning to a town I hated growing up, in that bookshop we just felt like two people meeting under normal circumstances.”

His fingers moved from her hair to her face, brushing a soft touch across the flesh of her cheek. His thumb rested just below her bottom lip and he smiled ever so slightly when she eased into his touch.

“You have to remember, darling, I’m used to being the boss. My career, I call all of the shots. I oversee hundreds of people. Having someone in charge of me, and demanding things of me, especially about such a deeply personal thing… I just didn’t take to it well.”

They were two alphas, both used to being in some sort of control of everything. Of course they buttheads at the beginning. Until they both learned how to be around someone else as similar.

“I know.” Emma reached out and brushed the stubble on his face. The rub of the hair massaging her fingertips and palm. “I’m not used to anyone challenging me. Especially not at work.”

“We’re awfully stubborn.”

“Yeah. To a fault even.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, love. I’ve grown to find it quite attractive in you.”

“Really?” Emma was surprised. Most men found it to be so unappealing. Hence why she ultimately kept them out of her personal life. She wasn’t willing to soften that about herself. Well… about certain things. For all intents and purposes right now Killian Jones could get her to do just about anything.

“Really.” He smiled, a bit bashful now. Emma felt his cheeks warm underneath her lingering touch. “At a point I became so frustrated because I wanted you so badly but couldn’t have you.”

Meanwhile she had felt the same. He could have had her at any point.

“I got to know you, Emma. I mean really know you, which doesn’t strike me as a luxury you grant many people.” He smirked, as if remembering some encounter in his head that they had shared. “The glimpses you showed me of who you are… I selfishly wanted more.”

“I wasn’t all that willing to share you either, Killian. You had to have known there was something…” she laughed. “That time at Target when that woman tried to pay for your groceries… I was not having it.”

She had moved that item divider too quickly for it to pass as nonchalant.

“Aye, love. I might have picked up on that…” He winked. “Then there was that kiss…. The time you showed up here and I felt like perhaps we would both be able to accept what was happening between us.”

Emma knew what happened next, the part of this story where she ran from him.

“That day you were going on a date… I saw you at the police station and I could hardly keep it together. The idea of another man taking you out and enjoying your company. It drove me mad.”

“That was when you decided to show up at my office that night.” She almost knew exactly what he had been thinking when he surprised her that night. Toying with her, teasing her, bringing her to the absolute crest of pleasure before leaving her alone on that desk. She felt her body warm just thinking of it.

“Aye, love. I wasn’t sure you would go along with it… being as bold a move as it was. But when you did I… there was no going back for me.”

“Had you planned that for a while?”

“No. I mean I had thought of you. A lot. You’re an impossibly appealing woman, Emma. Even when you’re yelling at me. But at the thought of another man entering your life when I wanted to be there instead, well, I became a bit reckless.”

“A bit?”

“No one else has ever had this effect on me. It was something so out of character I could hardly believe myself that I went through with it… with any of this with you.” His face still looked overwhelmed, like he couldn’t fathom that they were even lying here together. Naked. On his bed.

“I know the feeling, Killian. I’ve never known anyone like you.” She could hardly believe they were in this position as well. However, it was real. She could feel his warm body pressed to hers. His fingers, moving through her long hair. His breath was so near to her face. The evidence of their most recent act of debauchery drying on the insides of her thighs.

“Quite the pair, aren’t we?”

She stilled a bit, at the mention of them being a pair. Were they a pair? Were they exclusive? Where was this going? Did it matter? Should she have him make a Powerpoint presentation? Her mind asked a thousand questions. And apparently it was all over her face because with the utmost of care Killian took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead.

“Emma you have to know, unless you aren’t already aware and I haven’t been clear enough, it’s only you that I’ve been with for a while.” His thumb stroked just beneath her lip. “Exclusively you, darling.”

She was a little surprised still that he read her so well. But really was it actually that surprising at all? “I haven’t been with anyone but you since… well since you came back to Storybrooke.”

Emma was a little embarrassed to admit it, seeing as how for the first few weeks he was here the two weren’t even on great speaking terms. But it was still nice to know he hadn’t been with anyone either. As fucking gorgeous as Killian was, it had been only her. “I was with Henry’s father for a long time, and then no one else really stood out to me after that. Until you. And anyone in between… it was simply physical.”

Killian smiled before leaning over to press a soft kiss to Emma’s lips. If for no other reason than the simple fact that they could.

“With you though, Killian it’s more than physical. It’s… chemical....”she said as he tugged Emma’s body even closer to his as the kiss grew deeper and his tongue parted the gap in her lips. The tingle reaffirming what she already knew.

“How much longer do I have with you?” Killian mumbled against her mouth. It was a good question, and for a second Emma wasn’t sure whether he was talking about this morning or forever. She decided he was most likely referring to the former but the latter was a discussion that would have to come at some point.

“Relax, it’s only 6 am.” Emma’s lips moved down to his neck, one of her favorite places on his body to kiss. Feeling the pulsing vein beneath her mouth quicken at her touch.

“It’s hard to relax, love, when you’re using your mouth like that.” His body was tense as she moved around him. Memorizing every mark on his skin, the feel of his arms on her waist, the way his lip twitched slightly before he smiled.

Emma crawled on top of him, it was beginning to be a hobby of hers, ready to get lost with him again when her phone rang.

“Christ…” Killian said as his hands stopped their movements along Emma’s bare body. Her head fell into his chest. Knowing she had to get up and answer.

“I’ve got to get that,” she muttered, extremely unhappy to have to tear herself away from the task at hand (well… mouth).

“I wagered.” Killian stared straight up at the ceiling. Eyes closed, attempting to cool himself off.

When Emma crossed the room and reached her phone the caller ID said it was her father. Her heart sank a little, knowing he probably wouldn’t call this early on a Monday morning if it wasn’t something work related.

“Hello?” she said, swiping to answer. A knot in her stomach.

“Em, I need you to come down to the station as soon as you can… it’s urgent.” Her dad sounded highly on edge. Knowing he wasn’t an alarmist she became more concerned. What could it possibly be that warranted this kind of reaction from David Nolan. “It’s Gold, Emma. He escaped his holding cell last night.”

“What? How?” Emma was a bit floored, hearing horror stories of escaped prisoners on the news before but never having actually experienced it. This man was dangerous, and he had slipped through their clutches.

“Just come down to the station. I’m about to bring everyone in for a briefing before we get to work on catching him. He couldn’t have gotten far, all of the town’s borders have been secured.”

“But time is of the essence.” Emma nibbled on her lip, anxious to get Gold back where he was best (behind fucking bars). “I’ll be down there as soon as I can. I’ve got to call mom and have her pick up Henry though.”

“Alright. See you soon.” David quickly hung up the phone, sounding just about as nervous as Emma was. Then she looked across the room to where Killian had stood and began dressing himself to take his dog out. He already knew she had to leave. Time was something that was just rarely on their side.

“I have to go,” Emma said, all urgency leaving her body when she realized she had to interrupt their morning. It was an odd feeling, one that was completely unfamiliar to her. A longing to just stay put and to savor in the excitement of wasting time with someone. “Duty calls.”

“Everything alright, love?” Killian looked concerned, approaching her as if she were made of crystal.

“Yeah, fine. Just something came up at work. I need to go in early.”

“Is there anything I can do?” Killian’s eyes sparkled with concern. She was so used to just telling him everything, that leaving him in the dark felt almost… wrong. Emma thought of all they had overcome thus far in such early stages of their relationship and decided it would be okay to tell him. The town would have to be notified anyway that there was a wanted criminal running around.

“Just, lay low for today. Gold is… well he’s gone. Apparently escaped last night. I don’t know much more. It will get out eventually but just keep quiet for now and I’ll tell you more as I can.” She hoped he would understand, wouldn’t judge her harshly for the lack of elaboration.

“Alright, Emma,” he said gently, tucking her hair behind her ear. She could tell he wanted to say more. Probably overwhelmingly concerned that she was now leaving his company to go on a man hunt for the person responsible for his parents’ death. Her whole being ached and she wished she could stay. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Sometimes I find myself so happy with you that I forget the circumstances we’re under.”

“I know what you mean.” And she did, it was so easy to forget when they were in their love bubble. “I’ll do everything I can to help you and Liam have a bit of peace with this. If that’s even possible to do..”

“I thought about hiring a private investigator… so many times in those twenty years. But the way everything was so botched the first time around with the case I was too scared. But then the prospect of answers became scarier than not knowing so I used to think I would never have closure with it. But you’ve done so much, Emma.”

“I didn’t do it alone, you know.” She remembered all of the times he had offered his help, and he would do it again right now she was sure of it. But the fact was, Gold was out there (so was his ex-wife) and the less Killian was directly involved the better. She smiled up at him, doing her best to silently reassure him that she would be okay. But he still looked wary.

“It’s not something I’m used to…” he said after a few quiet seconds. His arms were loosely wrapped around her naked body as they stood there. Too stubborn to let go of each other.

“What?”

“Normally I’m the one that has to leave abruptly in the morning for work.” He chuckled.

“Does it make you feel cheap?” she joked.

“Aye, a bit.” He smiled, and she wished it was a permanent fixture on his face. Not that the cranky, brooding smolder he had trademarked wasn’t attractive. It was just nice when he laughed.

“Well, hopefully soon this won’t have to happen anymore.”

Emma pulled out of his grasp and began to dress herself. She knew if she continued to stand within their orbit she would get too distracted, and right now she needed to focus. Gold was gone, Milah was Grace, and they still didn’t nail down the person who had been sending the clues. Somehow those two had to be connected, she knew it was too crazy to be a coincidence that the same woman who had been married to Gold ended up dating Killian for several YEARS. However, Emma lost her focus after she had put her underwear, jeans, bra, and shoes back on to realize that the tank top she had worn over to Killian’s last night was ripped to shreds from their passionate encounter.

“Um… Killian…” She held up the material, torn and unwearable. Doing her best to look pissed off but actually a bit flushed thinking of how it had come to be ripped. “I’m going to need to borrow a shirt.”

He smirked, and walked over to his closet which was lined with suits and dress shirts and business attire. She had never met a man who had more clothes than Killian.

“I appreciate the look of disgust, darling, but I don’t recall you being this displeased when that scrap of fabric was being torn from your body last night.” He didn’t even look back at her as he carded through the rows of dress shirts. Eventually he selected a plain, light blue shirt that matched his eyes and probably looked gorgeous on him. Emma held it up to her, it was a tad bit long but it might fit her enough.

“It’ll have to do I suppose,” she said as she took it from the hanger and began to slip it on. “Since a wild animal decided to destroy my shirt.” She locked eyes with him as she buttoned the front.

Killian stepped close to her, taking over the task and slowly slipping each button into it’s slot without losing her gaze. When he finished, he straightened the collar, and bent down to place a kiss on her lips, then her cheek, then her neck before reaching her ear to whisper, “I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Emma shivered, at the mere mention of him taking her again in such a heated way. Why couldn’t she just stay kept in his bed all day? Engaging in all kinds of… activities. No responsibilities beyond making each other come. But her life wasn’t that simple, and neither was his. So while she wished she could allow him to make good on his promise to rip her clothes off again, she knew she had a job to do.

“I have to go,” she moaned, pulling her neck away from his lips so she could just focus on the pools of his eyes. Which probably was not any less distracting.

“Be safe. If anything happens to you, I don’t know that I… you’re so good at your job and you’re perfectly fit to take care of yourself but just don’t forget about the people on the other side who love you.”

“Oh? And who would that be?”

“Your son… your parents…”

“You,” she whispered before planting an all too quick kiss on his lips.The mood turning serious from playful, yet again.

“Ah yes, I fall into that category of people as well, my love,” he whispered back, “Just… come back to me, Emma. In one piece.”

“Of course,” she said as his lips were on hers one last time, desperate. But quick. And he pulled away reluctantly. To let her go.

When Emma arrived at the station, it had only been about half an hour since her father had called to alert her of Gold’s escape but it had felt like an eternity. Leaving Killian’s hotel felt more painful than it should have, given the freshness of their romance but everything with them seemed to break all expectation of what a normal relationship was.

She had called Mary Margaret from the car, telling her mother to pick up Henry from his friend’s house when he awoke. After all, it was barely seven in the morning on summer vacation. He wouldn’t be awake for quite some time. And Emma didn’t know when she would be available to leave her job. Neal was all but exempt from the investigation at this point but it would hardly be wise to put Henry in the care of his father when Gold was on the loose. Extra security from Boston was currently on the way to Storybrooke to guard Neal’s apartment just in case his father tried anything stupid. If Emma had to guess though, now that Gold had gotten out of police custody he would certainly take every opportunity to leave town.

The office was abuzz with activity. All hands were on deck. The main room smelling like a mixture of coffee and stress, a scent Emma was entirely too familiar with at this point in her life.

“Em, you’re here, great.” David greeted her when she walked in, handing her a warm to-go cup of coffee. If he noticed the shirt on her back was a man’s he said absolutely nothing about it. Thank the Lord. “We’re meeting in a few minutes to lay out the game plan. First search team has already been dispatched.”

“Okay, what do you need me to do?” she was back in cop mode. It happened almost instantly when she knew an important task at her job needed to be completed.

“Just get ready to meet with the team. Grab all of your resources. Pull some ideas together to brainstorm. I’ve got a few, Graham and the Boston team do as well. We need all the points of view we have.”

“Got it,” she said, taking a sip of her coffee and making her way to her desk. David was off in a flash, presumably to alert everyone to be in the conference room as soon as possible. Emma was gathering some files she had stuffed in her desk, trying to determine the best plan of action but halted when she felt she was being watched.

Looking up from her mess of a desk she realized she was right. Ruby stood a few feet from her, an interesting smile on her best friend’s face.

“What?” Emma asked, curious to see where this was going.

“You know, women’s shirts have the buttons on the left side…” Ruby smirked.

Emma looked down at Killian’s shirt she was wearing. She had tucked it into her jeans so that it wouldn’t look like the shirt was as big on her as The buttons, indeed, on the right side. The sleeves were also cuffed revealing Killian’s embroidered initials on the interior of the fabric. He was such a diva. Emma rolled her eyes, half because of her curious friend and half because she would have to tease Killian about his labeled dress shirt cuffs later. Or whenever she saw him next…

“How is he taking all of this? First his parents then his ex turns out to be a liar. The poor guy,” Ruby asked. Not even bothering to dive further into the fact that Emma was sleeping with Killian but also sleeping AT Killian’s.

“He’s… okay. A bit worried that Gold’s out again, but that’s to be expected.” Emma’s heart tugged. The look of worry on his face she saw as she left his penthouse. The amount of lies and deception he had been fed his whole life she could hardly believe he was this trusting of her but he was. All the more reason she didn’t want to keep things from him. She must have been making a face at the thought of her morning because whatever it was Ruby picked up on her softened demeanor.

“Who would have guessed, Killian Jones would be the first guy to get you to make an actual commitment,” Ruby said. As annoyed as Emma was that this was the topic of conversation, it was hard to be annoyed with Ruby. Someone who had been by her side for as long as she could remember.

“Literally you, Ruby!” Emma remembered even before she herself knew she was interested in Killian her best friend had called her out on it. “You guessed it the whole time!”

“I did, didn’t I?” A look of pride came across Ruby’s face. They had caught up briefly on Saturday night. Watching movies and eating junk food with Henry. Ruby was, for the first time in a long time, in a very healthy and stable relationship. And the proof was all over the brunette’s face as she just seemed lighter. Happier. To finally have found someone who brought out the best in her as opposed to the worst.

“Ruby, Emma, conference room.” They were interrupted by the sound of Graham’s voice. Everyone was making their way into the conference room for the meeting.

The meeting was brief but effective. Gold was on the loose and they needed to catch him, plain and simple. Apparently during the changing of security last night was when he escaped from his holding cell. Via the use of a bent paper clip that had been hidden (somewhere on his person?). It was a grave mistake on the part of all of the officers involved. Ever since the discovery of Gold as the killer, the team had definitely softened. The idea that he was already caught so their jobs were mostly done allowing him to slip through the cracks. Emma herself was guilty of losing involvement. But right now she had to hunt for Gold. By the time she left the office the news of Gold’s escape had broken, she had to fight past all of the local news and reporters to get to her car.

Emma was beginning to see herself with Killian more and more with each passing day. And as exciting yet terrifying as that was she knew they would never truly be able to continue, he would never truly be able to heal, if his past wasn’t first taken care of. If there was no closure on the demons that had plagued he and his family for so long, Killian and Liam would never know justice to be reached for their parents. Then there was Neal, who had lost so much as well. First his mother when he was just a boy and now his father had turned out to have done such terrible things. Neal needed closure on the case as well. And if Emma was able to find Milah, and her connection to this saga, then maybe Neal could have peace answers to why his mother left him. Because Emma had a sneaking suspicion that there was more to Milah leaving than she knew. Then there was Henry who had, all his life, known nothing but kindness and harmony amongst all of the branches of his family who was now realizing that his grandfather was in no way a good man.

After the meeting the whole team was put to action. The perimeter of the town completely secured, as well as the shipping ports that led to the town. A census of all residents and ships was taken by local government. Helicopters flew above the normally quiet town in an effort to see if Gold had taken to hiding in the woods. Yellow caution tape decorated the normally all-green summer landscape. Time was so important, especially the first twelve hours when they had daylight on their side. Midday Emma had called Henry to check in, telling him she was alright and to stay with Mary Margaret until they caught Gold. By now it was out that he had gone missing, and a panic had come over the town. Worried for everyone’s safety Emma and her team did their absolute best to utilize their time.

But by nightfall no progress had been made despite the relentless search. Gold was as good as gone. Emma’s feet tired she and a few others headed back to the station to regroup and make an alternate plan for nightfall.

“I think we need to send people to Belle’s. Extra security in case Gold tries anything there,” Emma spoke up at the meeting. She had ulterior motives for the suggestion but that wasn’t important to disclose to everyone just yet.

David agreed. Looking at Emma expectantly for further suggestion.

“I can go,” she offered. “I’ll take Ruby. Give us one squad car.”

Ruby looked at Emma like she was crazy. But Emma would explain once they were underway.

“Em, we can send more than just one. There’s a few over there undercover right now for surveillance.” Graham looked skeptical, but didn’t push too hard.

“Listen, we don’t want an overwhelming police presence there. It isn’t necessary, send them home for rest. But we do need to have a few officers present at Gold’s old home to make sure Belle isn’t behind the liberation of her husband. And I think I’m pretty good at deciphering whether or not someone’s lying to me.”

After a lot more convincing, Emma and Ruby were in the squad car on their way over to Belle’s house. It had been under pseudo-house arrest (undercover squad cars a few hundred feet away) for some time now but nothing had come up that indicated Belle in anyway knew what her husband had been up to nearly 15 years before they even met. But that didn’t stop Emma from having her suspicions. Recalling the day they had found the murder weapon and arrested Gold. The discovery of the dagger coming almost entirely from Belle’s subtle suggestion. Ruby had been the only other person in the room with Emma and Belle that day. Therefore Emma thought her best to drag along.

On the way over Emma called Killian, part wanting to tell him Gold was still missing, part wanting to just hear his voice. But she would never admit that, even when Ruby gave her a knowing look from the passenger seat. Despite trying to keep the conversation as low key as possible, Emma still became a little sad when she had to hang up. But the subtle, “Call when you can and be safe, my love.” He said before hanging up gave her butterflies, motivating her to keep going.

“Emma would you mind telling me what in the world has gotten into you?” Ruby asked shortly after Emma hung up the phone and refocused on driving the squad car toward Belle’s house.

“I think Belle knew what Gold did to the Jones’,” Emma said matter of factly.

“And you think it’s urgent to handle this now because…?”

“She’s the key to finding Gold. Just like she was the key to proving he did the murder in the first place.”

Ruby crinkled her brow trying to decipher what Emma was getting at.

“Belle’s a smart girl, you and I both know that. If she was the one sending the clues and if she knew what her husband had done then she most certainly had all of her research together before she did something this bold. I’m not saying she helped him escape…. I know she wants him locked up. So I think we can get her to talk.”

“Emma that’s crazy! You’re going on blind intuition.” Ruby yelled as they pulled up the driveway to Belle’s house. The wind stilling to provide quiet surroundings. The only sound now was the crunch of Emma’s feet on the walkway.

“Is it that crazy? Isn’t that what’s gotten us this far in the first place? My ‘blind’ intuition.”

“You know it is.”

“Yet here you are, doubting me.”

“I never said that,” Ruby reached out to knock on the heavy wooden door. Not sure why they were even doing the courtesy of knocking. They could very well just barge in. But Emma didn’t want Belle to think they were against her, Emma knew she could reason with her if she approached this just right…

“You also didn’t run away when I told you.”

“She’s not going to tell us anything, Emma. We’re cops!”

“Belle’s logical. I feel like if we reason enough with her, she’ll be smart about giving us an answer.”

As the front door opened Emma caught sight of Belle for the first time in a long time. The pretty and quiet research analyst who she had worked with nearly every day looked exhausted. Bags under her eyes. No makeup on. Dark hair piled on top of her head in a pony tail. She was beautiful, but sad. The same way Killian had been when she met him. Emma felt bad about ambushing her this way, about such a sensitive thing. But it was her job and to her core Emma believed Belle would provide far more for them in finding Gold than sitting in a hidden squad car in the woods all night would.

“Belle…” Ruby started, all three women standing here were not that different in age. It was sad. The thought that the person Belle had once loved turned out to be such a monster.

“I already told the officers earlier I have no idea where he went.” She sounded tired. Exhausted, not necessarily physically (she had stayed mostly locked up in this house avoiding society since Gold’s arrest) but emotionally.

“We’re here to help, Belle.” Emma offered. Though as the quiet settled over the three women Emma heard the snap of a twig a few feet from her and perked up immediately. “What was that?”

“What?” Ruby and Belle both asked, not recognizing the sound Emma had definitely heard.

“Go inside I’ll be right back.” Emma said authoritatively, locking eyes with Ruby and telling her not to question her.

Once Emma heard the front door close, she slowly made her way down the porch steps and into the grass. Careful not to step on any stray branches. Like whomever was lurking around this house had just made the mistake of doing. She slowly moved around the bend, the surroundings too dark for her to tell exactly what was in front of her. Until her eyes adjusted and took advantage of the soft light coming from an upstairs window of Belle’s house. A figure was about 200 feet ahead of her in the dark. Hooded. Wearing all black, with a slight limp. Gold.

Un-fucking-believable. Emma took off after Gold, sprinting as fast as her legs allowed while he just ran faster and faster. The open field next to his old house providing a clear view of the back of the hood. Emma pushed harder trying to catch Gold, knowing she could. He didn’t have his cane and probably couldn’t sustain this pace for long. So she surged, taking in stride the extra few feet. She was within grasp of him now, her heart racing, pulse about to explode from within her chest. Emma’s breath ragged, she could grab his hood if she were just a foot closer. Whatever powerful source from within her took action and gave her the extra push she needed and Emma closed the gap. Tripping as she did to fall on top of Gold’s body and collapse into the field.

Emma heaved, pushing any breath out she could to calm the pounding in her chest as she secured herself on top of him, grabbing his arms to pin them to the ground beneath. But when the hooded figure turned their face toward Emma and her eyes focused on the person she had tackled to the ground she realized it wasn’t Gold she was on top of. No, it wasn’t a man at all. In fact, it was a woman. The face now so familiar to her, Emma could have sworn they met before.

“Milah.” Emma gasped. It wasn’t a question, there was no question about it. Emma knew who this woman was despite having never really encountered her before. Looking down at the wild haired, brown-eyed woman who had left Neal motherless and broken Killian’s heart all within one lifetime.

[brocolettewrites]

Mama - Liam x MC

Book: The Royal Romance Pairing: Liam x MC (I named her Mayra Knightley) Summary: A month and a half has passed since the coronation. Mayra has returned back home to New York City only to find a bittersweet surprise she took back home with her. Additional Info: I headcanon that everyone was able to spend that time at the hedge maze with the prince (whoever wanted to) and there was no diamond option. Rated: T for Teens/Young Adults

Part 1: Discovery

“Is that ramen noodles with peanut butter, Mayra?” Daniel inspected my distinctive colored bowl.

“Yeah, why?”

“What do you mean ‘why’? That’s kinda gross.” He remarked in disgust.

“Hey, don’t judge me if a girl’s got cravings!” I defended, throwing one of our hand towels at him. Thanks to Daniel, when I had come back from Cordonia he was willing to share an apartment with me until I got back onto my feet. Not only that, but I was grateful that he managed to get me a job at another local bar he also worked for. 

“You’ve been having weird ones the last couple of weeks. First tuna sandwiches with cherry syrup then grilled cheese with caviar and now this?” Daniel laughed, gesturing the breakfast in front of me.

It was odd that I was making strange mixtures of my food recently but I’m sure it’s just me beginning to savor what normal food tasted like again. Compared to…a month and a half ago.

A month and a half ago…

A month and a half ago I was practically destined to become queen of a foreign country I barely knew about. A month and a half ago I was wearing a frilly white ball gown compared to the barely clothes I own now. A month and a half ago I had realized I had fallen helplessly in love with a prince and he returned the emotions back. A month and a half ago I realized that fairytales didn’t always have a happily ever after. A month and a half ago…was the last time I ever saw him.

“Mayra!” I heard Liam call out my name to the crowd, his eyes frantically searching for me.

“Liam! I’m here– get off!” I yelped when of the guards aggressively yanked me farther to the ballroom doors. My voice was no use though as all the chaos and voices drowned me out.

I saw Liam take a step off the dais only to have guards hold their hands out in front of him, “I need to speak to her.”

My heart fluttered knowing he was attempting to at least hear my side of the story and a light of hope lit up in me until…Queen Regina pulled him aside to whisper into his ear. I fought harder against the guards and tried to grasp either Drake or Hana’s hands fighting through as well.

“Please! I need to speak with him!” I pleaded.

“Prince Liam will now make his announcement.” I heard King Constantine announce.

No…

“I choose…” I saw Liam’s blue eyes darken as he clenched his fists “…Lady Madeleine.”

I was snapped back into reality when I suddenly felt my stomach churn sickeningly. My eyes glanced at my bowl curiously and stirred the material in it questioningly. I smacked the food in my mouth slightly only for it to suddenly taste nauseating and bitter.

“Mayra? You okay?” Daniel asked with concern.

Ignoring him, my eyes widened when I felt my entire body tense up and my abdomen clench as stomach contents rose up to my throat. I ran past him and into the bathroom, throwing the seat up. I got down onto my knees just in time for the vomit to pool out of my mouth.

“Mayra! Oh my god!”

“Go…” I gagged into the toilet, gripping the sides of tightly “…away!”

“Hold on! I’m going to call my uncle!” I hear Daniel add.

I didn’t focus on that though. Instead, I continued throwing up my breakfast and last night’s dinner into the toilet. After a couple of minutes, my retching eased into a light headache. Taking a deep breath, I regained my posture but still kept my hands placed on the seat incase another wave were to come. Figuring it was done, I flushed the toilet and fell back onto my butt against the bathroom wall.

“God, that was horrible…” I muttered and placed a hand on my forehead to feel if it was hot. I was warm but nothing too severe and just a bit exhausted out of nowhere.

“Mayra, Dr. Parker is here,” Daniel informed me.

I nodded and allowed him to help me up. I swayed slightly on my feet but managed to walk back into the living room where he placed me gently on the sofa. In front of me I saw Dr. Parker, Daniel’s uncle, give me a warm smile.

“Mayra, dear, how do you feel right now? Daniel told me you were throwing up earlier.”

Trying to swallow the slight acid still in my mouth, I nodded slowly, “Yes…uh, I think it was the peanut butter and ramen.”

“No, Mayra. This has already happened three days in a row now.” Daniel said with a frown.

“All the same time of day?” Dr. Parker raised an eyebrow at him.

Daniel nodded and I slumped into the seat, groaning, “Dr. Parker, really it isn’t anything. Maybe just a stomach flu.”

“Yes but I do need to ask you some more questions, Mayra,” Dr. Parker scooted his chair closer to me. “Let me just check your eyes, ears and throat first though.”

He went on with his procedures to check me but his expression was still troubled. Being somewhat of a good reader of people I knew there was something he was trying to hold back from telling me.

“Dr. Parker is everything okay?” I asked, real genuine concern now.

He rubbed his mouth, thinking deeply and looking me straight in the eye. “Mayra, have you been having cravings? Back aches? Any delays in your menstrual cycle?”

Reflecting back, I knew I had cravings and at times my back would suddenly feel like someone was hammering into it. My period though…it’s always been late, never normal so I don’t know what he was trying to get at. “Well yeah, I have cravings a lot now and my back has had some ache episodes but my period has always been irregular so.”

“Right well…Daniel? Do you mind stepping out of the room?”

He was taken aback but nodded at his uncle, “Yes, of course.”

When me and Dr. Parker were alone, he lowered his voice to me as I inched closer in curiosity. “Mayra I don’t mean to probe but… Have you been sexually active with anyone the last two months?”

I blinked, now knowing what he was trying to tell me. No, I couldn’t be…not when he’s…oh god no. My mouth hung open as I just stared at him, frozen in place.

“Mayra…I think…I think you’re pregnant.”