#so i dialled him back a bit for you rhys

[gemkun]

@aaltoh said : " hey. " ( turns into mist and leaves )

      ⸻       he   catches   the   little   greeting   before   the   information   broker   dissipates   ,   and   in   his   own   dramatic   execution   ,   a   flourish   of   cards   unveil   the   overseer   ,   before   the   man   who   had   initiated   conversation   from   the   get   —   go.   ❝   aw   ,   you   ran   after   saying   hi.   don’t   you   have   a   knack   for   being   a   conversationalist   ,   as   a   consultant   of   the   black   shores   ?   ❞   shifting   eyes   gleam   ,   latching   to   gold   that   shimmers.   ❝   maybe   if   you   shell   out   some   intel   ,   and   let's   be   clear   :   none   of   the   boring   kind   ,   i'll   let   you   off.   consider   it   an   exchange   for   meddling   with   the   fractsidus.   ❞

[aesthetical-bucky]

Her Precious Heartbeat (One)

Characters: Dad!Bucky x Dolores Barnes x Winifred Barnes x Steve Rogers

Summary: Bucky has a nice life, a gorgeous wife and now his baby girl has finally been born into the world. But he seems to have missed something when his wife, Dolores, abandons her own family in the middle of the night, leaving the responsibility solely to Bucky.

Warnings: It’s kinda angsty, mentions of a mother abandoning her baby.

Word Count: 1.2k

Authors Notes: I wasn’t going to post this for a couple more days. But it’s been written and edited and I thought... why not. The first couple of parts are going to be a bit boring but I’m building up the story, rather than just jumping in where Bucky meets you. So I hope the slowburn will be worth it :) feedback would be great :) Please let me know if the tags don’t work!

“Oh, Dot. She’s absolutely perfect.” Bucky gleamed in pride as he held his newborn baby daughter to his chest, stroking her soft fine-haired head. He was in absolute awe of her.

“She is perfect. I’m so happy James.” Dolores smiled lovingly at her family. 

Their baby girl, Winifred Willow Barnes now completed their happy and loving marriage. Bucky still couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to get married and become a father in the past two years. He was grateful and he counted his lucky stars every night.

Little did Bucky know that two days after they brought her home, Dolores, his wife, Winnie’s mother would do a moonlight on her family. 

Dolores had her suitcases packed and hidden in the closet, then when she was sure her husband was fast asleep and Winnie didn’t need anything, she removed her wedding bands from her finger and left a note on her side of the bed, apologising that she made a mistake, and being a mother wasn’t on her agenda, she didn’t want the responsibility. Dolores gave her baby one final kiss before she left the house that night. 

Bucky went through the mill of emotions as he read the note over and over, clutching her wedding bands in his hand as he tried to understand what had happened. 

As far as he could remember, Dolores was excited from the moment she had found out she was pregnant, always smiling, suggesting names. Naming her after his late mother was Dolores idea. He didn’t understand, he was angry and upset. They were supposed to be a team, Winnie still needed to be breastfed and since he lacked a breast and milk, what was he supposed to do? Dolores didn’t even have it in mind to leave a couple of bottles of breastmilk before she left. He was completely and utterly alone. 

Suddenly the weight of work, bills, keeping a roof over their heads and being a brand new single father weighed heavily on his shoulders. 

He was still hoping Dolores would change her mind and come home. He needed her as much as Winnie did. A sickening feeling brewed in the pit of his stomach, something telling him he wouldn’t be seeing Dolores again. 

---

Winnie’s cries echoed through the house. Bucky sat up, wiping the sleep from his eyes as his legs swung over the side of the bed. Bucky sighed and checked the time, it was only 1:14 in the morning. He had only been asleep for two hours. 

Winnie’s night schedule has been this way since they brought her home. She didn’t necessarily need anything since Bucky soon learnt it was probably the company his daughter needed. 

Bucky slipped some sweatpants on and walked sluggishly to her bedroom down the hall. He peeked inside, the nightlights dancing around on the walls and ceiling. Her legs flailing in the air as her lungs screamed out an ear-piercing cry. Bucky walked in sighing and shushing her as he approached the cot. 

“Shh darling, it’s alright. Daddy’s here.” He bent down to pick her up and snuggled her into his chest, checking her diaper which was still dry. Bucky took a seat in the rocking chair in her room, positioning her head so it was right above his heartbeat. Her little cries quietened down and soon enough she was lulled back to sleep on her dad’s chest. “At least someone gets to sleep huh.” He chuckled quietly, his finger stroking her tiny head. “I don’t mind, I’m here for you sweetheart.” A stray tear runs down his cheek as he thinks about the uncertain future. 

---

“Have you considered a live-in nanny?” Steve suggested over a coffee. He often visited Bucky and help out with Winnie if he needed to desperately get caught up on sleep.

“No, I haven’t. What is one of those?” He asked as he waited to warm the milk bottle up on the stove, not even realising he hasn’t lit the gas. “And don’t laugh Steve, even the word refrigerator has lost all meaning.”

“See? You’re not functioning. I didn’t wanna say anything but you haven’t even turned the stove on to warm the milk.” Steve cackled. “Your daddy is so silly Winnie.” Steve cooed as he bounced the baby in his arms. Bucky cursed under his breath and lit the gas ring on a gentle heat. “A live-in nanny is a nanny who lives in your home and helps you take care of Winnie. You have a spare bedroom and it’ll take the pressure off you and it’ll be great company. And you never know, you might end up in a fairytale and live happily ever after.”

Bucky rolled his eyes. “I’m never dating again, knowing my luck; we’d get married, have another baby and then she’ll do the same as Dolores and leave me with two kids instead of one.” Bucky groaned at the thought. 

Steve chuckled and shook his head. “You don’t have to marry her Buck. Look, all I’m saying is, think about it. I know a really reliable girl who is desperately looking for a nanny job. She isn’t with an agency but she helped us with Grant.” 

“How much did she charge?” Bucky asked hesitantly. 

“$20 an hour. She worked 9AM-4PM and she had her own room with a bathroom and meals provided.”

“Sounds too good to be true, Steve.” Bucky was suspicious, why wasn’t this person registered with an agency? Did she have real qualifications or just learnt on the way?

“Not all nannies are with agencies, Buck. She’s genuine and I highly recommend her. She just finished another job two weeks ago and needs another. She has bills to pay too, you know.” Their conversation carried on as Steve explained what duties his nanny provided for his son and Winnie was happy to finally receive her milk.

Over the next couple of days, things didn’t become any easier. Bucky tried so hard to prove to Steve that he was coping, but it couldn’t be any further from the truth. He was reluctant to hire the nanny Steve had recommended because it was his way of surrendering and asking for help. But he didn’t know what to do, he couldn’t get any sleep, he couldn’t work and quite frankly, he was closer to having a serious breakdown.

Bucky put Winnie down for her nap and pondered over Steve’s idea. A live-in nanny would certainly be helpful. He opened up google and started to research about their duties. Steve was right, this would take a lot of pressure off him. He was just a bit worried about having to pay the $140 a day since the money had to be tightened up right now in reserve for the bigger bills.

There was no harm in negotiating a little, right?

Bucky pulled his phone out and dialled Steve’s number. A couple of rings and Steve answered.

“Hey, Buck?”

“Hey, Steve. Can you put me in contact with the nanny you used?” 

“Absolutely. Just want you to know buddy, hiring the nanny doesn’t mean you’re weak and incapable. Her name is Y/N Y/L/N.”

Yikes well here it is! Please let me know what you think!! :)

Permanent Taglist: @criminal-cookies @hailmary-yramliah @jobean12-blog @marvelgirl7 @godofplumsandthunder @nano--raptor @the-wayward-robot @becs-bunker @littleredstarfish @liam-rhys @evanstanwrites​

Her Precious Heartbeat Taglist (open): @tt-nikithakppr @ladifreakingda @ketzelmine @mc225g @white-wolf-buckaroo@thefamilybussiness @numwoon44 @stankbootybaby @agirlwhoneedalittlelovingtonight @fab-notfat @sergeantrosabellaswan​ @rebelfleur22

[msjr0119]

One Shot

Come Home

Congratulations to @ravenpuff02 - 💯 followers, YOU GO GIRL! 🙌🏼

I decided to do one of the prompts that you asked for- we both had the same idea about who would be suitable for this prompt 🤣

Book: The Royal Romance - based around the beginning of the second book.

Characters: Drake Walker, Riley Brooks, Maxwell Beaumont, Bertrand Beaumont (mentioned), Liam Rhys (mentioned) - *All characters belong to Pixelberry*

HIMYM Prompt: “Hey baby, it’s me. Can you bail me out of jail? I thought I saw big foot in Central Park so I tackled him. But it turned out to be Russell Brand.”

Word Count: 2100ish

Warnings: fluff, slight smut, swearing, bit of comedy, drama nope sorry not this time 🤣

Tags: @pedudley @kacie-0156 @loveellamae @annekebbphotography @kingliam2019 @bascmve01 @yukinagato2012 @i-bloody-love-drake-walker @queenjilian @texaskitten30 @kimmiedoo5 @axwalker @lodberg @rafasgirl23415 @cordonianroyalty @burnsoslow @desireepow-1986 @rainbowsinthestorm @hopefulmoonobject @cmestrella @nikkis1983 @ladyangel70

*****

Drake arrived in New York City, debating whether or not he would prefer to be here or on the engagement tour. Not knowing how she would react to his unexpected visit. That was if he could locate her. Not knowing if he would succeed in bringing her back to Cordonia. After all the Beaumont’s failed, when she was abruptly dragged out of the palace at the Coronation Ball. Thinking back to Maxwell’s words before he left for the airport- he felt like a failure. Not supporting his best friend during the most possible worse time of his life. Being engaged to Madeleine Amaranth- Countess of Fydelia. Or the worlds most; cruel, manipulative, snarky bitch within court- as Drake and others would describe her. To put her in a positive view, she was ambitious- which was an advantage for a future Queen. But Liam, hell anyone would deserve a chance at love rather than be forced to be with her.

“Hey dude. I’ve been thinking. You know because you’re like a nobody.. no one will notice that you’re not on tour. Why don’t you go to New York and try and get little blossom to return.” Fucking nobody, cheers for reminding me Beaumont!

“Liam needs me more now than ever. Brooks chose to not return. If her sponsors couldn’t persuade her to stay, I’ve got no chance.”

“We all need little blossom here. This is where she belongs. What ya say? I’ll tell Liam where you are, he will be forever grateful.” Providing Drake with puppy eyes, he couldn’t be bothered with Maxwell pestering him. Taking the risk, he packed a bag and headed to the airport. What’s the worse that could happen? He thought to himself.

Being back in the Big Apple brought back memories of Liam’s ‘bachelor’ party- the night that they had met her. Riley Brooks. The girl who had stolen everybody’s heart in an instant. Drake, as well as everybody else assumed that she would have been chosen as Liam’s choice at the end of his social season. As much as it hurt Drake to believe this, he was happy for the two of them. However things never go to plan.

“I choose, Lady Madeleine.”

The Beaumont’s tried their best at the airport to convince her that everything would be fine. As much as it could be. That she had the support of everyone including, Liam. Even if it didn’t seem that way. When they arrived back to the palace without her, Liam’s and Drake’s hearts sunk. Both feeling that they had failed her.

****

After hours of sightseeing, Drake decided that now was the time to get his arse into gear- somehow, some way- he needed to find, Brooks. Avoiding ringing or texting her due to her safety, he decided to go back to where it all began. The Dive Bar. Neither Riley nor Daniel that was there that night was working. He was at lost cause. Having a few drinks, there was a slight bit of hope that Riley would be on the later shift. But she wasn’t. Deciding to return to the hotel via a stroll through Central Park, he considered if it would be a better idea to look for her the following day. If the worse came to the worse, he would go to a shop and buy a SIM card- hoping that she wasn’t one of those people who would ignore unknown numbers.

Sitting on a bench, he did what he did best in Cordonia- people watching. There was a few joggers, a few people just having a walk, young teenagers meeting up with their friends.

“What the fuck is that?” He murmured to himself, wondering if his drinks at the dive bar had been spiked. He could drink whiskey as if it was water. Hearing two young women scream as the figure approached them, Drake’s superman ability kicked in. Running over, he noticed that the figure that had startled the women, was bare footed and extremely hairy. Almost impersonating big foot. Hearing a grunt, Drake tackled it to the floor. Not knowing why.

“What the fuck, man?” Drake looked at the man, soon realisation hit him. It wasn’t ‘big foot’ as his crazy imagination believed.

“I’m so sorry....” seeing the man look at him with anger in his eyes, Drake panicked- thinking about how to calm the situation down.

“Cause baby you're a firework...Come on show 'em what your worth...Make 'em go Oh, oh, oh!...As you shoot across the sky-y-y..... I love your wife’s songs.”

“Mate, she’s my ex wife... the bobbies are here. Thank god.” Bobbies? What is he on about? Turning around he muttered to himself. Fuck.

****

“Okay Walker, you have one call. Make it worth your while.” Drake shook his head, it was a mistake. The NYPD was treating him like a piece of shit stuck on the end of their shoe, as if he was a common criminal. Blaming the jet lag for his inconsiderate actions, he had hoped that there was no press following him around from Cordonia. This is all Liam needs, I can just see the headlines now. “King Liam’s best friend, the commoner Drake Walker has been arrested for attacking the British actor and comedian Russell Brand, in New York City.” Dialling the number, he was praying that she was available to answer. If not he was unsure as to who to ring.

“Hello?” Hearing her voice, he was relieved that she had answered.

“Hey baby, it’s me. Can you bail me out of jail? I thought I saw big foot in Central Park so I tackled him. But it turned out to be Russell Brand. Before you say it, no I wasn’t drunk. Well, I had a few drinks. But we all fuck up at times.”

“Drake?” Pausing, she was unsure as to why she questioned who it was. She would recognise his voice anywhere.

“Yup. Are you gonna help me or what Brooks?”

“What are you doing here? Is this some practical joke?”

“I wish it was... listen... I’m tired as fuck. This is something that Maxwell would probably get himself in to. Please, Brooks. Bail me out, somehow.”

“Fine, but you and I need to talk. If and when they let you out.” Hanging up, he had faith in her. Or so he hoped.

****

The officers allowed Drake to come out of the cell the day after. They explained that the charges had been dropped unexpectedly- if he was to do anything like this again, they wouldn’t be so easy on him. Lucky. That was the word they described him as- especially as he did what he did to a celebrity.

“Hey, marshmallow.”

“You’re a sight for sore eyes.” Hugging her, he was grateful to be out- even if she took her time getting him out.

“Why did you call me baby?” Randomly asking this, he had forgotten calling her that.

“I... Erm... I wasn’t thinking. But now that you’re here... pack your bags. I’m taking you back to Cordonia. Liam needs you.”

“Liam needs me? Is he the only one that needs me?”

“You know how I feel about you, Brooks. But Liam deserves you. Cordonia deserves you.”

“But I don’t need or deserve them....”

“Listen, the scandal... we are all figuring it out. We are all clearing your name.. then you can be Queen. The rightful Queen.”

“I don’t care about being Queen! I love Liam. I do. But....”

“But what? No buts. Stop being so stubborn and pack your bags- come home. To your real home.”

“My home is where you are...”

“Well then, Cordonia it is... stop stalling. The longer we take the further in to the engagement tour it will be.”

“Will you just shut up?” Drake was taken aback by her tone of voice.

“Please, just shut up Drake. Jesus, what happened to the man who would throw out a few sarcastic comments then remain silent? During my time in Cordonia, I fell in love instantly. I was going to return, I just needed time to think - away from everyone...”

“Okay, well why didn’t Bertrand and Maxwell explain that then?”

“Because I pleaded with them not to. It’s going to be hard going back... not just because of the scandal. But because of this whole situation... I love you.”

“You... love me?” After their kiss in the Beaumont study and at the Coronation Ball, he just assumed that there were slight feelings from her end. He never expected for someone like her to love someone like him.

“Yes. I love you, my grumpy marshmallow.” Liam’s going to kill me. Kill us. Why can’t I be happy for once? No. I can’t betray Liam.

“I... Brooks... I love you too, Riley.” Desperate to kiss her, he held off from doing this straight away. Instead he pulled her towards his chest. Holding her tightly, he believed that his heart was skipping beats- finally he had a girl return his feelings. Kissing her on the forehead, he inhaled the sweet scent surrounding her. His inner thoughts were battling against each other- wondering what future they could have together. Would Liam actually hate them for falling for each other? Even though they had said those three words, deep down he still needed confirmation from Riley about what she wanted. How they were going to break their friends heart. Would they return to Cordonia? Or would they make a new life for themselves in the states?

“So what now? I don’t know what to do, Brooks. Liam’s going to kill me... Maxwell said he would explain where I was and what I was doing.”

Riley laughed, knowing full well that Maxwell wouldn’t have informed Liam of the truth. The full truth anyway.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Maxwell has told Liam that you are in Texas, with your Mom. It’s a good job that you rung me rather than Liam... At the airport before I boarded the flight, they came up with an arrangement, for me to come back once they had found Tariq.” Opening her mouth she was about to elaborate on the arrangement, however they soon had company.

“I give you one task to do. Bring little blossom back. Not get arrested! And they call me the dopey one.” Hearing his friends voice, he immediately parted ways with Riley leaving a short gap in between the two of them.

“Max. What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be on the engagement tour?” Hence why you insisted that I came!

“Lord Maxwell Percival Beaumont is here in the flesh.” Dramatically bowing, Drake wondered if he was on drugs. “You can thank me for bailing you out. They are still at Fydelia. I won’t be missed. Have you both kissed and made up yet?”

“You know?” Drake questioned, wondering how many other people knew. Feeling like the shittest friend to Liam - in a way he regretted falling hard for Riley.

“I’m not stupid, Drake. You never smile. Ever since this one entered our lives you couldn’t stop smiling even if you tried to hide it by being a jerk towards her. I was just waiting for the two of you to confess it...Little blossom confessed her true feelings at the airport...” Riley blushed, her baby blues sparkled as she looked at him adoringly. Pulling her into his embrace, he knew that Maxwell would advert his eyes or maybe not. The Lord was a sucker for a love story. Drake’s hands drifted towards her hips, as they settled he pulled her closer to him. Leaning down, he kissed her softly to begin with. Before they knew it, their lips were in perfect sync and the kiss became more passionate.

“Aww you two... put each other down.” Breaking the kiss they both witnessed Maxwell wearing a goofy smile before pouting his lips towards them. Drake rest his forehead against hers as he cupped her cheeks. Both gazing into each other’s eyes, they were hypnotised- both hearts fluttering inside of their chests.

“Guys, sorry to break up the romance... but we need to figure out how we are going to tell Liam.”

Fuck.

[illyrianwingspans]

Do Not Go Gentle: Love More

Link to song: Love More by Sharon Von Etten

Synopsis: Feyre is stuck.

TW: Dark thoughts, mentions of abuse.

Ao3 Link

Chapter 13: Love More

Locked me in.

He locked me in.

I could still hear his footsteps in the hallway meandering towards the elevator.

“Tamlin!” I yelled, voice cracking beneath the weight of the immensity of what he'd done. Outside, beyond the door which I was pressed upon, the chime of the elevator sounded. More footsteps, another chime.

Then silence.

Trapped.

I was—

The breath escaped my lungs as I stared back at the four corners of the office. Just like in that car, where I'd been stuck for hours amidst the blood, shattered glass and concrete—

A scream tore from me. My hands, peppered with cuts from the night before, reached for the closet door handle. No matter which way or the other I turned it, it remained stubbornly shut, unwilling to submit to my insane efforts. That doesn't mean I stopped trying.

Fingernails, frail and brittle, cracked beneath the metal. Blood was trickling down my hands from the torn cuts, just like the ones on my thighs—

He did this to me. He did this to me.

I stood up, unwilling to admit defeat, unwilling to believe that my fate had been sealed in an executive floor's janitorial closet. With all the force and adrenaline in me, I slammed myself against the wooden door. After a few fruitless tries, I gave up and finally looked to my chair, picked it up, struggling for a few moments with its awkward weight, then threw it against the door.

It didn't budge. Not a single bit.

No matter how hard I tried, no matter what I did, I was trapped.

His pet. His supposed obedient wife, forced to keep quiet. Stay in line.

I'd done everything for him. My hands had bled more times than I could count in the name of our love. But here I still was, fighting tooth and nail for everything I was.

Which wasn't much, because he'd diminished me to nothing.

He made sure that I was nothing without him.

I shook with the burden of the realization. Like an earth quake, my fault lines trembled, and everything came crashing down.

I screamed.

I let go of everything I'd kept trapped for the last 2 years. I released myself, so wholly and completely until my voice was hoarse and my fingers were numb from clawing, banging at the door, trying to break free, hoping to any god listening to me that a miracle would occur. When I couldn't bare it anymore, I slumped against the wall, slid down until I met the cold tile floor. Something material like blocked my way, though, and through the mess and blur of tears, I looked over and saw—

My purse.

Like a starved wild animal, I lunged for it, rifling around it until my fingers wrapped around my cellphone.

My eyes closed. I sobbed for a few seconds, clutching it to my chest.

Further within one of the side pockets, a piece of paper, crumpled from being crammed against lip balm and tissues, held my only reprieve.

I punched the number as quickly as I could.

On the third ring, a gentle, familiar voice answered full of concern, “Feyre?”

“Alis,” I choked, bracing myself against the cement wall, “help. Oh God, please, please—”

“Where are you?” Her voice had no room for sympathy or pain. Only cold, calculating calm. I could hear her high heels clicking

“The executive floor. He's gone. He locked—” I choked on a sob, fresh tears streaming down my face I wiped away immediately. “He locked me in my office.”

“I’m coming right up.” Her voice was filled with urgency. Relief swept over me once I realized it wouldn’t be much longer until I was free. Until I could finally walk away from here for good.

“Stay on the phone, Feyre. Breathe. Big deep breaths.”

A breath rattled through me, shaking, but still enough to wash me with some sense of calm amidst the turbulent chaos. “Good. That’s good. Another one. Are you hurt?”

“Yes,” I let out with my exhale.

“Where? What did he do?”

“Um, my,” I hiccuped and wiped at the mucus collecting on my nose, “my head and he dragged me so my arms too—”

In the hallways, I could hear the chiming of the elevator. I sobbed with relief, and not caring that there was blood all over my hands—probably all over my face—not caring that nausea swept through me or that the room felt like it was spinning. I just needed to get out of here. I just needed to get away from him.

The line went dead. Distantly from the hallway I heard, “Feyre? Where are you?”

“I’m here,” I croaked, voice weak from sobbing, “I’m here!”

Footsteps thundered down the hallway until they were just outside the door. I kneeled before it, still unable to stand, hands clutching the bloody doorknob.

“Let me out,” I pleaded, “let me out.”

“Fuck,��� I heard from outside. “No!”

“What is it?” The door made her voice distant, muffled.

Frantically, desperately she cried, “It isn’t a slide?”

“What?”

“I need a key. I don’t—” A sharp intake of breath. This time, when she spoke, I could hear her desperation creeping through. “I don’t have a fucking key!”

“No,” I moaned, sobs contorting my body once more “no, no, no you have to let me out—”

“I’m gonna call the police,” she swore and I heard her dialling from beyond. My eyes widened with panic and I could feel my stomach bottoming out.

“No. You can’t. Alis, I need to leave him. He can’t find me. If the police is involved, he’ll get out of it and he’ll find it—”

“Feyre, you’re not making sense.”

“Alis, if you care about me, you won’t call the police, because I will end up right back here. Please.”

Silence. The walls were closing in. I needed to think, I needed to—

“Rhys,” I choked out, “Call Rhys.” There was nobody else I trusted, nobody else I knew that would help me—truly help me—right now.

“What’s his number?”

I read it out to her, and Alis began frantically speaking into the phone, but at that point I couldn’t even listen anymore. There was nothing else to focus on but the tight quarters around me pressing down, the fact that the love of my life, the person I trusted more than anything could do this to me—

Outside the door I heard footsteps fading away. Panic seized me, and I cried out, “Don’t leave me!”

Alis came back and said assuringly, “It’s okay, Feyre I’ll be right back. I need to buzz them in from downstairs.”

“No, please, please don’t—” I begged, but she left.

Left, like everyone else in my life had.

Not knowing how or why, I backed myself into the far corner of the room and hunched my legs up to my chest, then covered my head with my arms. Everything hurt. I was a pulsing, throbbing organism of pain, my mind reeling with the madness threatening to consume me whole.

“Let me out,” I whispered under my breath, the only anchoring lifeline I could hold onto. “Let me out. Let me out. Let met out…”

All the while, flashes of images circulated through my head.

First meeting Tamlin out on the greens of the university. He’d run into me full force, and we nearly got into a screaming match—my friend had to haul me away from him. Little did I know he was the guest lecturer for my intro to business class, and I was sitting in the front row.

The charm in his smile when he asked for my number. That despite our first impressions, he told me he had to stop himself from staring at me the entire lecture.

All the dates, the flowers, the nights we spent together wrapped up in an embrace, wrapped up within each other. He gave me everything.

And he didn’t care that I lived on the south side. He didn’t care that it was nearly a half hour commute to each other’s places, and whenever we were at mine we never stayed for too long. He didn’t care that my bedroom could barely fit more than a single bed, or that my sisters and father were either never home or in a bitter mood.

Then the accident happened. And everything changed.

He asked me to move in with him. I said yes, because I didn’t know what else to say—I was in shock. I was devastated. A part of me died that night, stuck beneath the overturned car. But whatever else was left of me, I gave to him. I loved him. Wholly and completely.

Eventually, he also swayed me to drop out of school. I wasn’t doing well—I was on academic probation—and an art major, business minor degree wouldn’t do me much anyways, so what was the point? I could work. I could live with him, and I didn’t need to worry about money. Not like I used to. So I got the job at Hum’s. And for a while I was so happy. Until I wasn’t.

Until the dull threat of life spent in ease, comfort, without purpose loomed before me and I began to lose myself. Until I began to feel stifled within my own home, my own skin.

Until I found the box of pills. Until I fired those four rounds and bodies dropped to the floor.

Until Tamlin first put his hands on me, and siphoned the rest of my being through the very touch I thought had healed me.

And now, hunched over in the office, I mourned my life, because I knew there was nothing left after this. Nowhere else to go. I was done. Finished.

Let me out. Let me out. Let me out.

A loud crash sounded from the corridor. I didn’t even look up. I just curled further in on myself, whispering, wishing it could just be over with here and now.

Let me out. Let me out. Let me out.

Light flooded through the space, but I didn’t look up. There were voices shouting at me—I knew those voices. I knew these people. They couldn’t touch me, though—I was dirty. Blood stained my hands, my clothes, everything.

I nearly protested as warm, calloused hands took mine and peeled them away from where they clutched the back of my head. Slowly, a face came into view, and Cassian’s shattered gaze met mine.

“Come on, Fey,” he coaxed gently, “I’ve got you.”

Carefully, awkwardly, I wrapped my arms around him, and he manoeuvred me so that his elbow sat in the bend of my knees, his other at the small of my back. Then I was being lifted, up, up—

At the familiar scent, familiar embrace, I burrowed into Cassian’s chest, stifling my sobs into the crook of his shoulder.

“Her purse,” Alis’s voice said. Cassian’s arm shifted to take it in his hand, “and her coat. Where are you taking—”

“Somewhere safe. She’ll be alright, I promise.” Cassian’s voice was cold and deep as he spoke to the woman.

“Okay.” Alis sighed. I felt her hand on my shoulder, but I didn’t have the strength to look up from where my face was hidden. “Take care of yourself, Feyre.”

We began to move, and more light met me—I was out. Finally out.

“Hit P2, it will take you right down to the lot. I locked the elevator doors temporarily so no one can get on.”

“Thank you,” Cassian rumbled.

The whoosh of the elevator door was the only warning I had before we descended. I was shaking, and I was so, so cold—

Cassian held me tighter against him. He murmured softly, “It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ve got you, Feyre.”

The doors opened some time later, and the damp, cement smell let me know we'd taken the elevator straight to the parking garage. A car door opened, echoing across the wide space, and Cassian quickly manoeuvred me into the SUV's back seat. I finally opened my eyes, only to see another familiar face before me.

I wept at the sight of Rhysand, and his gaze was one of pure and utter anguish. Anguish, and the threat of a thousand burning fires glowing in his eyes, most likely for the man who put me in this position in the first place.

Rhys looked past me and said to Cassian, still braced against the side door of the SUV, “Azriel’s behind us. I need you to go with him and surveil their apartment.”

“Got it,” Cassian nodded, and before leaving, stretched his fingers out to gently squeeze my shoulder. Without another word, the door shut, and the driver hit the gas. When I saw a flash of blonde hair, I knew it was Mor who floored the pedal, tires screeching beneath us as we exited the parking garage.

I looked out the back window, watching as Spring Corporations building grew further and further away.

I left. I actually…I actually left.

Without anything but the clothes on my back, the purse Cassian had slumped at my feet, and a few hundred dollars to my name.

He was right. I was nothing. Without him, I was nothing.

My attention turned back to Rhys, who was still watching me intently. I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, but it came out in a sob.

“You’re free,” Rhys said, hands reaching up to cup my cheeks. The sincerity, the gentle determination in his eyes made me believe him. “You got out. You’re free.”

I collapsed into him, and Rhys held me against his chest as I wept with relief.

[myotishia]

In the air part one

Fandom: Torchwood. Trigger warnings: None I don't think but tell me if I've missed anything. Characters: Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato, Jack Harkness, Ianto Jones, Gwen Cooper, Elise Carter (oc) Rating: Teen and up

Blurb: A relaxed wedding dress fitting turns into a new case for the team as the streets are suddenly abandoned.

“How does your leg feel?” Asked Owen as he pulled on his gloves.

Elise shrugged and pulled up the side of her skirt to show her bandaged thigh. “Sore as hell, but no more than I’d expect. How long until I can put weight on it properly?”

“You were lucky, it didn’t hit the bone or any major blood vessels so you can maybe put your full weight on it again in a week or so. I was more worried about the chance of infection.”

“I tried to keep it away from the mud.”

“You did pretty well, but gunshot wounds are a bitch. Even clean shots that are treated immediately can get infected and that’s how you end up in surgery.” He removed the bandage and dressing as gently as he could, happy that the wound looked clean.

“How is it?”

“Your leg’s going to drop off.”

She rolled her eyes. “Asshat.”

“It’ll be fine, just keep it clean and dry. I’ll redress it for you this time.”

“Thanks. How are you?”

“Me? There’s nothing wrong with me.”

“A guy almost killed you.”

“And you shot him in the hip. Keep still.” He continued treating her thigh, knowing that it must be hurting. “It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had a gun pointed at me.”

“That’s scary in itself.”

“Tosh said your watch was broken.”

“I’ll fix it after we’re done here.” She took it from her wrist, turning it over in her hands. “The casing and screen look fine. The fall probably just knocked a wire out of place.”

“I didn’t think you’d still need it.”

A short silence filled the room, neither party wanting to speak about her missing friend.

“I’m still going to have the dreams or whatever they are. My weirdness isn’t completely gone.”

“You sound sure of that.”

“I am. Time travel comes at a price. I’m ok with that.”

He looked up from his work. “You think you can still time jump?”

“Only twenty four hours either way, at most, but it’s something. I don’t know the distance I can go yet.”

“You shouldn’t use it. You don’t have someone who knows how to control it anymore.” Owen had never looked more serious in his life. “Just let it go and be human for a while.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course I am!” He snapped, throwing his gloves into the bin.

Elise sat up and reached out for his arm. “Owen… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to …”

“Just leave it... You’re going to be on desk duty for a while. You’ve got to write up your report about the Pharm anyway.”

“Owen… When I’m all healed up would you mind training me to be a proper field agent?”

“Me? You realise I’m the Hub fuck up. You might want to go to Jack for that.” He smirked.

“You’re reckless, stubborn and trigger happy... but that’s what makes you good at what you do. I know I run into things and just say fuck it to the risks but I wouldn’t even be here if I didn’t.”

“We’ll talk about it once you’re healed, for now you’ve got paperwork to do. And tell Tosh her girlfriend’s crazy.”

“Will do.” She smiled.

Ianto placed Elise’s morning coffee on her desk. “I hope you’re going to be better than Owen was on desk duty.”

“Oh?”

“Have you ever seen the shining?”

“Really? That bad?”

“Luckily an axe won’t put a dent on most of the doors here. It only ended when he cut the cast off his leg and told us that if he didn’t go out soon he’d start posing bodies around the Hub out of boredom. I believed him.”

She laughed into her mug. “I promise I won’t go posing bodies around the place.”

“If you want to get some fresh air tomorrow I’ve got a wedding dress fitting to get to. You can come along if you like. You’ll probably do a lot of sitting around but it’s better than being stuck here.” Smiled Gwen, finally able to think about her wedding in the quiet moment.

“Thanks. That sounds fun. I’ve never even seen a wedding dress in real life before.”

Both Ianto and Gwen looked a little shocked.

“What? I’ve never been to a wedding and we didn’t have a bridal wear shop anywhere near where I lived.”

Gwens look softened, returning to her previous excitement. “You are going to have so much fun. I’ve got some cake samples to pick up too.”

“What makes wedding cake different than other cake? I know it’s fancier but what makes it specifically a wedding cake?”

“Normal cake goes off after a week. Wedding cake seems to last forever and can be used to build bomb shelters.” Ianto said drily before returning to his duties with a smile.

“Oh, don’t listen to him. It’s mostly just because it’s fancy but I really want it to actually be edible.”

“How is Rhys?”

“He’s fine. Taking everything in his stride as per usual. He’s not as paranoid now he knows what I actually do.”

“That’s fair.”

“Though I think he’s still a bit iffy with Jack.”

“Also fair. I don’t think he knows the difference between casual conversation and flirting.”

“Sooo, how’s things between you and Tosh?”

“Good. Really good.”

“She does seem so much happier than before. It’s nice.”

After a very entertaining dress fitting that reminded Gwen that she needed to eat even if she was stressed they headed out. Elise being a little slow as she moved with one crutch. On the street it seemed eerily silent. As it was lunch time it should have been bustling but only the birds made a noise. Workers from the surrounding shops looked out of their windows, just as confused. Gwens police instincts kicked in when she saw a car with its doors left open, shopping bags left abandoned in the road.

“Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Said Gwen before rushing across the road to one of the opposing shops to talk to one of the staff. They seemed in shock.

“What happened out there?” She asked, trying to seem like just any other person walking onto the scene.

The worker, a young man who wore a lanyard around his neck emblazoned with the stores name, just shook his head. “I… I don’t know. Everyone just started walking down the street. All at once… They just turned and walked off like zombies.”

“Did you hear anything strange? See anything?”

“No. I was putting the new posters up in the window and it was like someone flicked a switch… Is it one of those flash mob things do you think?”

“No idea… Thanks.” She returned to Elise who was leaning on the bridal stores wall.

“He see anything?”

“Apparently everyone just turned and walked off down the street.”

“Should we follow?”

“Get in the car. We can call it in on the way.”

Elise took her phone from her pocket and got into the car, dialling into the comms line for the Hub.

“Having fun ladies?” Jacks voice rose from the device.

“Having a blast, just a quick question, is the rift doing it’s happy dance?” Elise asked.

“We’ve had a few spikes, why?”

“Well, everyone on the street got pied pipered a few minutes ago.”

“Any idea where they’re heading?”

“We’re following now.”

“Don’t get too close. We’re on our way.” He hung up the call.

Ahead of the car a large crowd walked in unison, seemingly in a trance. Gwen repeatedly pressed the horn but they didn’t even flinch. She parked up to the side and took her comms earpiece from the glove compartment.

“Wait here. I’m going up ahead.” She said, not waiting for a response.

Elise opened her door and pulled herself out. “You shouldn’t go alone.”

“I’ll be fine. I’m just going to look.” She rushed off ahead of the entranced people.

They all seemed to be converging on a car park outside a large garden centre. Due to it being closed that day there were no cars but as Gwen managed to push her way through the sea of people she saw where they were all going. A large sinkhole had formed, dropping into darkness. The people around her stood around the edge, unmoving. No matter what she did she couldn’t wake anyone.

As sudden as it had began, it ended. All at once people began looking around, confused before a panic broke out at being that close to the edge of the sinkhole. People scattered in all directions and Gwen had to admit she was a little thankful for being on the inside so she didn’t get trampled.

Jack looked over the edge of the now sixteen foot wide sinkhole, light hitting a perfectly flat obsidian surface below. The whole car park had been cordoned off with temporary plywood walls, usually used to keep people out of construction sites, much to the displeasure of the Garden centres manager.

“At least it’s stopped.” Jack turned away from the hole. “What do we know?”

“Fuck all.” Owen began.

Tosh interjected, “Noone remembers anything. One moment they were in one place and then they woke up here. Though whatever it was didn’t seem to affect anyone in a building when it started. There was a spike in rift energy but nothing big enough for this.”

“How far did it span?” The captain stepped away from the edge.

“A mile radius of the holes centre.”

“Sounds like we’re going to have to get down there.” He picked up a nearby rock and tossed it into the hole. It landed with a light tap and skittered across the obsidian surface as if it were ice.

Ianto and Elise had been sent to speak to the Garden centre manager and sat in the womans sparse office.

“This is all I need. This whole place has been falling apart since last Sunday.”

“Falling apart?” Asked Ianto, keeping detailed notes as the woman had spoken chaotically before and it was easier to keep up with what she was on about in bullet points.

“Yes! First every last fuse in this place blew. Even the ones in the plugs. Then my staff start calling in sick. They didn’t sound bloody sick. Then we had a new palette of apple tree saplings just shrivel and rot overnight for no reason. Same day we had a flock of pigeons slam themselves into the building in the middle of the bloody day. We had kids screaming and crying and noone wanted to clean that mess up. Then! As if it couldn’t get worse the water has to be turned off because some bloody thing’s in it. Do you know how much water a garden centre needs to keep running?!”

“Ma’am… Can we see the water please? And the apple trees if you still have them.”

“As long as you get that sinkhole filled in you can do what you like.”

“Well, if you could show my colleague here I can gather my things to get some samples.”

“Yes. Yes. Maybe you’ll get more than that useless plumber did.”

The manageress lead them down to the main warehouse and Ianto quickly walked back to the SUV to grab some gloves and sample jars. When he returned the manager was still complaining at Elise.

“It’s everywhere in the building and god the smell!”

“I’m sure we’ll find the source ma’am.” Elise droned, barely paying attention.

“Oh good, you’re back. Here.” The woman turned the tap and a black, oily looking liquid started pouring out. Ianto had just taken the sample when the smell hit them. It stank like rancid meat with a heavy tint of iron. The manageress ran off to throw up in one of the bins.

Elise turned off the tap. “Jesus. Did something die in their water tank?”

“They don’t have a water tank. This is from the mains.” He held the small plastic jar up to the light but even the relatively bright sunshine couldn’t permeate the liquid.

“I don’t now if it’s the water or the bigass hole out there but this place gives me the creeps.”

He had to admit the place, though otherwise completely mundane, did make him nervous. A creeping dread that rose up his spine and made him want to jump at every sound. He looked around for the dead saplings as the manageress was still hunched over a bin. In the corner of the warehouse, nearest the loading bay, sat a palate of potted saplings. Each was withered and mould had started to develop on the surface of the soil. Using a set of clippers and a hand trowel he took samples from one of the pots, the same smell that came from the tainted water oozed from the cuts on the plant. Ianto stood back as his stomach turned.

Elise made her way over to the exhausted looking manageress. “We’ve got what we need. We’ll contact you as soon as we know more. Why don’t you head home. It’s not safe to work around tainted water.”

The poor woman nodded.

Outside, Ianto took a deep breath, appreciating the fresh air. He still couldn’t shake the nervous feeling.

“You feel as out of sorts as I do?” Asked Elise, sitting in the back seat of the SUV with her arm over her eyes.

“Do you think it was the water?”

“We didn’t even touch it.”

Ianto paused before an idea came to mind. He leaned over to one of the computers, setting up a sound sensor to monitor all frequencies.

Elise pulled her arm away from her eyes. “What’s up?”

He looked over the levels on the screen. “Infrasound.”

“Huh?”

“It’s very low frequency sound, anything below 20Hz. Not audible by humans. It’s usually used for underground monitoring because it doesn’t disperse the way higher frequencies do.  It can cause nausea, paranoia, nervousness and in the worst cases, hallucinations. A lot of ghost sightings come from it.”

“Is that why we feel like crap?”

“Looks that way. It doesn’t explain the water though.”

“Do you think that’s what made the birds dive into the building?”

“Maybe but I don’t think so. It can mess with their directional mapping but it doesn’t make whole flocks suicidal… I’m going to go and tell the others.”

“I’m gonna stay here and rest.” She put her arm back over her eyes. “So much for desk duty, eh?”

Owen stepped down onto the obsidian surface, double checking his safety line just in case it collapsed. Jack had already ventured down into the sinkhole but Owen had been fooled before by Jacks oddly catlike grace. The sinkhole was unusual in that the walls didn’t have any kind of overhang. It had fallen away and left what looked like carved walls of earth. Walking across the glasslike surface it became clear that whatever it might be was hollow.

“Can you see any sign of a hatch?” He asked, finding it hard to focus his vision on the light absorbing stone.

“Not a thing.” The captain crouched down, running his fingers over the surface, hoping to feel more than he could see. He suddenly pulled back, a sharp pain shooting through his fingertips. A thin line of blood dripped from each finger and down onto the floor where it was absorbed. A loud rumbling filled the area and Jack turned to run back to the ladder.

“Out now!” He ordered.

Owen did not need telling twice, clambering up like a frightened ape. As soon as his feet were on secure earth he turned to make sure Jack was right behind him. The previously flat surface was becoming an upside down pyramid made of many steps. Starting at the centre each layer descended, threatening to pull Jack down to what he guessed would be a very nasty, if temporary, death. He reached out and grabbed the ladder that was thankfully secured from above and wrenched himself up. His cut fingers sliding but thankfully not dropping him. Ianto and Owen took a wrist each and pulled him up and out of the sinkhole.

“The fuck was that?!” Asked Owen, looking back at where he’d been standing.

Jack looked down at his hand, at the paper fine cuts that decorated his fingertips.

Owen took a swift trip back to the hub with Elise, wanting to test the samples that Ianto had gathered. He could only do a certain amount in the field and the this had stopped being an oddity and started being a very dangerous case.

The ‘water’ sample showed traces of blood, grey matter and microscopic bone fragments, all slowly rotting. The blood, though decomposing and tainted did present as a mix of human and animal. The apple tree sapling cuttings were rotten on the outside but the very centre showed new growth, soaking up the tainted water from its soil. Even the mould sitting on the surface of the soil showed signs of death and regrowth.

“The thing is drinking people?” Asked Elise from a safe distance.  

“It looks more like the liquid’s being pumped into the plant to change it.”

“That still sounds like a vampire plant.”

Owen suddenly stepped back from his work, switching on his comms awkwardly with his shoulder. “You all need to get away from there. It needs to be quarantined. Everything that’s been tainted already needs to be quarantined too. That includes you Harkness!” He turned to Elise. “Did you touch anything?”

“No. Ianto took the samples and he was wearing gloves. But the garden centre staff did.”

“Shit! Get a list of their staff. They need to be isolated. Call it a possible biological weapon. We’ve got a building we can use as a hospital. I need to know how many people have already been infected.”

When Torchwood is in a full outbreak alert they work shockingly quickly.  They’d already rounded up many of the staff and they did not look healthy. Owen tested himself for infection before the others even got back and after a very fast decontamination shower he pulled on a hazmat suit and got to work on his team. Elise, Ianto, Tosh and Gwen were all clean and had to go through the same process. Jack was not so lucky. His fingertips were already showing signs of infection. Owen suspected it was working faster on him as it had infected his blood directly.

He was taken to the ‘hospital’ and given a room, not arguing as he knew Owen wouldn’t do all this without a very serious reason.

“Owen, what’s this going to do to me?” he asked, no longer able to move his hand.

“It kills its host and then brings them back with that meat sludge in the pipes. Maybe your body will be able to fight it off but…”

“It’s ok. I understand. I’m leaving this up to you.”

Owen replied with a nod and Jack resigned himself to staying where he was. The infection was spreading too fast for him to fight and he just hoped that when he came back it would be gone. He lay down and tried not to think about the burning sensation rising up his arm. At least Owen would have a test subject. Owen leant on the wall outside of the room, reflecting on what a disaster this had all become. He hated the idea but he might have to call in UNIT for help. No, not yet. They might try and blow up the obsidian structure and spread it even further. He needed to know what would happen to a mammal at the point of death and he hated the idea of using Jack.

Gwen watched the infected rat plod lethargically around its tank. She felt so sorry for the creature that was obviously in pain, its tail blackened and bone exposed. If it hadn’t been a pandemic level issue even Owen may have put it down by this point. The rodent stopped and fell onto its side.

“Owen... “

He’d asked her to call him at the moment the animal passed. Under the hazmat suit he looked haggard, trying to keep all of his patients from rioting out of fear. A screen next to the tank showed that the rats heart and brain function had stopped. It was then that it twitched.

Gwen jumped at the movement but even she knew that random electrical signals can do that to a body just after death. What didn’t usually happen was the body getting back onto its feet. The dead rat moved to the side of the tank, testing where it was before backing up and ramming the side. The tank was undamaged but the creature continued trying to ram into the side. Owen signaled for Gwen to move to the other side of the table with him. The rat changed its trajectory. It was actively trying to get to them.

“It’s a... “ Gwen began.

“Don’t say it… Make sure anyone that gets too far gone is restrained out there.”

Twenty hours had passed since the people out in the street had been drawn to the sinkhole and the virus was mostly contained but as Tosh looked up from her power nap her stomach dropped. The tv she’d left on for some white noise played a news report. It was happening again and this time people were carrying meat and livestock towards the obsidian pit. The entranced people crashed through the cordon as if it weren’t even there and lead the animals onto the steps. Each edge seem to slice through the creatures like a knife. Those caught under its spell were feeding it. She shot up to report what the news had been showing, rushing past Jacks room. She stopped for a moment and looked over at the captain. He was pale, hunched over and holding his head.

“Jack?”

He looked up with unfocused eyes, agony etched into his face. “Calling… It’s calling… Won’t stop…”

“The pit?” She dared take a step into the room.

“It wants food… powers it… Machine… Controls… us.”

“It’s a machine? What does it do? Jack?” Another step closer.

“Heart… It... a heart…”

Another step. She was pulled sharply back by Ianto as Jack lunged for her. He pulled her out of the room and locked Jack inside. Jack roared and slammed his fists against the door, unable to fight the infection any longer.

“I heard him too. Come on.” Ianto said, finally releasing his grip on his coworker.

They ran to report what they’d been told and Jacks condition, trying to think of some way to end all this.

Ianto and Gwen pulled on their body armor and respirators before heading towards the pit. Covered head to toe in kevlar they moved towards the centre, diamond bladed saw in hand. Sparks shot into the air as the saw cut into the stone. In retaliation the pit began to rise and flatten itself out again as if that would protect it from the blade. The chunk of rock finally fell through, landing with an earth shattering boom. No going back, they descended into the structure.

The walls were smooth and as black as the exposed part had been but the floor was white, like bone. Red veins pulsed around the edges of the floor. They followed the crimson vessels deeper, finding that the smooth walls gave way to what looked like cogs, grinding dryly. Any oil having long dried up. The further they walked the more machinery clanged and screeched, louder by the moment. Many of the vessels began to converge and wind together like muscles, pulsing. Even through the respirator Ianto felt like he could smell that rancid stench that had attacked his senses from the tap.

The bundles of vessels lead into a final, huge chamber. Its walls were slick and crimson, the vessels emptying down them like a fountain. Below the pools churned and bubbled. Finally in the centre, held up like a marionette was a figure. It stood over nine feet tall and its leathery skin clung tightly to its horribly emaciated form. It looked as if it had been dead for centuries until it opened its eyes, blind and milky. It began to move with a horrible creaking and a familiar grinding from its ribcage, the pools of blood being drawn towards it. The metal tubes that snaked into its head rattled and groaned.

Back at the hospital all had gone silent but only for a moment. Every one of the infected began shrieking and trying to fight their restraints, all facing in the direction of the pit. It was so loud that Owen feared some may destroy their own vocal chords. He could just hear the awful noise of joints dislocating, under the screams, as the patients pulled their restraints with no concern for their own wellbeing.

Gwen and Ianto aimed at the huge creatures head. It looked around as if something or someone should have been running to its aid but it found itself abandoned. Both agents fired at once, each bullet leaving a perfect hole through its head that poured out more of the rotten viscera. It thrashed, only succeeding in pulling the wires that held it up from its skin, before finally falling limp. Still the cogs moved. Ianto pointed up to the creatures chest that still clanked and werred. Gwen stepped forward and gritted her teeth before grabbing onto the skin of the hanging figures abdomen, pulling as hard as she could.  The membrane tore away to reveal more gears, mummified flesh still stuck to the metal. In the very centre an obsidian core sat, turning slowly.

She moved out of the way as a very angry Ianto revved up the saw, lifting it up and pushing it as hard as he could into the core. It sparked in a shower of red and white before everything fell still.

The hospital was suddenly silent, all movement stopped and Owen hoped beyond hope that whatever had happened hadn’t killed every one of the people under his care. He was almost relieved when he heard the garden centre manageress gasping and sobbing as she looked at her dislocated wrist.

After hours spent sending people either home or to local hospitals Owen unlocked Jacks room. He looked his usual self, seemingly napping quite happily. He opened one clear blue eye and smiled.

“I think I broke the door.” He pointed to a fist sized hole in the door.

“You’re feeling better then.”

“I don’t remember anything after climbing into that sinkhole. Usually when that happens there’s alcohol involved and I don’t wake up alone.”

Gwen and Ianto got back to the hub and immediately headed to shower. Their clothing, hair and even shoes stank of rot. They both felt like there wasn’t enough soap in the world to wash it away but it was worth a try. They were separated by a wall but sound travelled well in the tiled room.  

“I could sleep for days after this.” Gwen said as she ran shampoo through her hair for the third time.

“That’s the plan. My shoulders are killing me.”

“Well you did hold that saw over your head.”

“I was annoyed.”

“Remind me to never annoy you.”

The Hub was quiet for the next three days while everyone recovered from their exhaustion. The pit was filled with concrete and paved over and life went on as if nothing had happened. That was always their best case scenario. Forgotten. A myth.

Inside the Hub was different. No one was ever really forgotten, especially when their leaving happened to coincide with an injury. Elise sighed to herself, feeling the bandage around her thigh through her trousers. The quiet in her mind had become more noticeable as the days passed and it left a dark fog in its wake. She missed their quiet conversations and always having someone there. She couldn’t let herself dwell on the matter, she had to let it go.

She stood and stretched, able to stand and limp around without her crutch, at least for a little while.

“Have you read it yet?” Asked Jack, leaning on her desk.

“Read what?”

“The letter that was left for you.”

She shook her head and sat back down in her chair. “I can’t even look at it right now. I copied it onto my own computer, my phone, a USB stick so I could whenever but… Not yet. I will, but not yet.”

“You should. It might help you.” Jack looked behind her as Owen placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Mind if I borrow this?” He asked as she jumped in surprise.

“As long as you bring her back in one piece.”

Jack took his leave.

Elise turned to look at Owen. “What do you need?”

“You looked uncomfortable and I’m bored.”

She laughed softly.

“Come on, I don’t want your aim getting rusty if I’m going to be the one blamed for training you. You should be fine standing for a bit.”

“Sounds good.” She stood and slowly limped after him.

“And when you’re healed up we need to work on your running speed.”

“I’m not that slow.”

“Tosh can run faster than you in high heels and a skirt. Yea, you are.”

“It’s not my fault that you’re all related to sodding racehorses.”

“Up your game Carter.”

“Don’t use my words.” She slapped his arm playfully.

[the-wheel-comes-full-circle]

The Snowball part 7

I am late with an update again, sorry! I'm trying, I promise xx

Part 1  Part 2  Part  3 Part 4  Part 5  Part 6

Tamlin was ever so apologetic about the table incident, which was never mentioned again, although new presents would arrive daily. One morning it would be paints, the next a pretty dress, new shoes, a painting. Whatever Tamlin thought would win back Feyre's affection. Christmas passed with even more expensive gifts heaped upon Feyre, but the gifts that had meant the most to her had been on Christmas Eve after finishing her shift at Mor's.

Mor had invited her friends around to close the shop early and have what she called a 'family' dinner. Feyre sat in between Amren and Mor, and opposite Rhys. She had managed to make Amren laugh which Feyre considered a great feat, and teamed up with Cassian to tease Rhys for most of the night. Rhys pretended to be offended, but Feyre could tell he was secretly pleased that she was getting along with his friends.

After dinner they had brought out presents which surprised Feyre, as she had not gotten anyone a gift, besides Mor for employing her. Feyre had painted for her the dark interior of the shop with snow falling softly outside the window as people crowded to get in. Mor had hugged Feyre and proudly hung up the painting on the wall behind the counter.

To Feyre's horror, the gang had all gotten her a present each.

"But I don't have anything for you." She said sadly.

"We didn't expect it of you, but we wanted to show you that you're one of us now." Cassian smirked, while pushing his box closer so she would open it first.

A bit timidly, Feyre unwrapped a pair of boxing gloves. She held them up quizzically.

"But I don't know how to box."

"That's why I'm going to teach you." Cassian beamed.

"Cass is a personal trainer, one of the best really." Mor offered.

Feyre cast a suspicious look at Rhys who had his head down studiously staring into his coffee that Feyre had made for him. She couldn't help but wonder if he hadn't entirely bought her stories about the bruise on her leg, the stories she came up with for the new ones on her arms.

Next Feyre unwrapped a beautiful necklace from Amren. It was a silver chain with dozens of small diamonds suspended from it, twinkling like tiny stars as they caught the light. Somehow, the necklace meant more to her than all the expensive jewellery that Tamlin had bought for her. Then Feyre felt bad for not appreciating his thoughtful gifts as much as the people Feyre had barely known for a few months.

"Do you not like it Feyre? I knew I should have gone for the blood red rubies."

"No! It's not that at all. Actually would you help me put it on now?" Feyre rushed to reassure her.

Amren slid the cool chain around Feyre's exposed neck. The necklace hung just above the neckline of her black dress, with some of the lower diamonds drawing attention to how low cut her dress was. When Feyre looked up from admiring it, she found Rhys staring intensely at her.

Azriel coughed pointedly, while side eyeing Rhys with amusement, before handing Feyre a small package. Feyre opened it, trying to shake off the feeling of Rhys's gaze on her, to discover a small book. 'The Little Prince'. Feyre ran her hands over the cover in wonder.

"Rhys told me how well you're doing with your reading now, so I hope you don't mind, but I wanted to give you your first book." Azriel said, looking like he wanted nothing more than to disappear into the dark shadows of the shop.

"Thank you. I love it! I'll go home and read it tonight." Feyre promised.

She saw the tension leave Azriel's shoulders as he offered her a shy smile.

"Alright, my turn, my turn!" Mor yelled as she shoved another hastily wrapped package into Feyre's hands. "Az and I were talking about what to get you when he rudely stole my idea." Mor glared at Azriel who merely shrugged.

"You know mine is the better book." He said, his eyes lighting up with a twinkle that Feyre was beginning to recognise only appeared when he was around Mor.

Feyre laughed as she saw the book Mor had given her, 'How To Make Coffee, For Dummies'.

"I think Feyre makes coffee just fine." Rhys offered, only to be shot down by Amren who claimed she would rather drink cyanide than whatever Feyre made for Rhys.

"Rhys just likes to prove how big and tough he is by drinking terrible coffee." Cassian laughed.

Despite their taunts Feyre laughed as well, knowing it meant that they accepted her and teased her as one of their own. Besides, Feyre made all their coffees for them now and had never had a complaint other then when she was experimenting.

"Come on Rhys, show Feyre what you've got for her!" Mor said, buzzing with excitement.

Wariness crept in as Rhys held out a piece of paper for Feyre. She reached for it, briefly brushing her hand along Rhys's as she grabbed it. Feyre felt the eyes of everyone on her as she opened a letter. A letter from the most prestigious art academy in town. With shaking hands Feyre read through it.

"They... want to give me a scholarship. Why? How?" Feyre looked at Rhys in confusion.

Rhys gave her an embarrassed smile before saying, "I have a friend of a friend that works there. I might have mentioned you to him, how hard you work at the store, in our reading lessons, and of course what an astounding artist you are. He said he would love to meet you and that there would be a position for you there next year... if that's what you wanted."

"He was gloating about you basically." Cassian said impishly.

"When isn't he?" Amren added.

Feyre could only make an odd choking noise as she tried to comprehend what this could mean for her. Abruptly she stood from the table, causing everyone else to jump up as well. Before she could stop herself, Feyre had crossed the room to fling herself into Rhys's arms. At first Rhys seemed shocked to have a sobbing Feyre holding him, before he returned her hug tentatively.

"Arrogant prick. Always has to show up everyone else's presents." Mor said to Azriel who nodded in agreement.

In the end, Feyre hugged everyone else too, in thanks for their presents, and not at all because she was embarrassed to have hugged Rhys in front of them all.

A few hours later Feyre said goodbye as she noticed Lucien's car pull up. Near the door Rhys pulled her aside.

"Feyre, I just want you to know that if you ever need me, or are scared, please call me." Rhys eyed the bruises on her arms and Feyre shifted so they were less visible. "I won't ask questions. Not if you don't want me to. I'll be happy just knowing you're safe. You have my number still?"

Feyre's mind flashed back to when she had first met Rhys after she had hit him with a snowball, and he had handed her a piece of paper with his number. She still had it stashed in her underwear drawer so it wouldn't be found. She nodded at his insistent look, just as Cassian drunkenly called out.

"Looks like someone's standing under some mistletoe!"

Feyre in horror looked up at the same time as Rhys to find Mor had indeed placed some mistletoe above the door. Rhys flashed a menacing warning glare at Cassian, but it was too late. Feyre had already fled the shop.

"Fun party?" Lucien asked in amusement at seeing her red face.

"Great." Feyre replied glumly.

"Hey, you're the one who wanted to go." He laughed.

With Tamlin not coming home until much later that night, Feyre had asked Lucien to take her to a 'work' party. Lucien had agreed saying that it was Christmas and he was feeling generous, but warned her about not letting Tamlin know.

Lucien glanced at the presents clutched to her chest protectively, but thankfully didn't ask Feyre what she had been given.

When they arrived home, Feyre groaned seeing the house lights were already on.

"Have fun kiddo. Merry Christmas!" Lucien saluted her, leaving for his own house.

"Coward." Feyre muttered to his back.

Inside, Feyre found the living room lights and television on, but Tamlin was no where to be found.

"Tam?" Feyre called out.

A scuffling noise from her bedroom led her down the halls to cautiously peer into her room. Tamlin was sitting on her bed, a broken phone on the ground at his feet.

"What's wrong?" Feyre asked in concern.

She breezed into the room to kneel before him so she could see into his face better. Tamlin flinched when she came near, looking down on her with a look of betrayal. Unease clenched Feyre's stomach tight when she noticed a piece of paper in his hands. From the way he clenched it Feyre couldn't make out any words, but the corner of a star peeked out at her.

Feyre made to move away but it was too late as an iron grip crushed her wrist, anchoring her in front of Tamlin.

"Whose phone number were you hiding from me, darling?" The deadly tone of voice he used turned Feyre's stomach over as she heard Rhys's endearment for her.

"You went through my things?" Feyre demanded. Not just any things either, her underwear drawer where she thought she would at least have some privacy.

"Clearly I was right to. You've been hiding things from me Feyre. Whose number?"

Feyre panicked under the accusations. She futilely tried to tug out of Tamlin's grip as tears sprang from her eyes under the bone cracking pressure he exerted onto her wrist.

Looking at the broken phone on the ground Feyre could already guess what had happened. Tired of waiting for an explanation, Tamlin answered for her.

"I wondered what my darling Feyre could ever be hiding from me. Surely nothing, I thought while dialling the number. Maybe your boss, or a work friend I thought so innocently. You can imagine my surprise when Rhysand answered."

More tears fell down Feyre's face but she wasn't sure it was entirely because of pain now.

"I didn't call or text him, I promise! Tam he just gave it to me the other day. It was silly of me to keep it. I'm sorry."

A bit of pressure eased off her throbbing wrist.

"Then why hide it?"

"Because you and Lucien seemed to hate him so much. I knew you wouldn't want me to have it."

"Exactly, so why even bother keeping it?" Tamlin pushed.

Feyre shrugged.

Tamlin held out his hand. "Phone." He demanded.

Wordlessly, Feyre handed it over. Tamlin scrolled through her recent texts, then her calls. Satisfied he returned it to her. That was when he noticed the gifts she had hastily flung onto the ground when she had run to him.

"What's this?"

"I got invited to a work party and got a few presents."

"Boxing gloves?" Tamlin held them up after releasing Feyre's arm and going to inspect the items.

Gratefully, Feyre sunk to the ground clutching her arm.

"Feyre I have tolerated your little job but I think a boxing class is taking things too far. You could get hurt."

Feyre almost laughed from the irony as she looked up from her already bruised wrist. She watched nervously as Tamlin looked over the other objects, mercifully not paying attention to the slip of paper announcing she had been offered a scholarship. She would have to break that to Tamlin somehow. When he turned his attention back to her, Feyre flinched and his face softened.

"Feyre, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. But you scared me. I thought you had been seeing other... men behind my back. Let's just forget about this alright?"

Feyre nodded solemnly as Tamlin tore up the piece of paper with Rhy's number on it.

Luckily Feyre was good at remembering numbers.

[msjr0119]

One Temptation

Part 7

*This series is based on The Royal Romance characters who belong to Pixelberry - AU Plot switch*

Riley Brooks moves back to New York after leaving five years prior- struggling to get by in life she wanted to go home. After getting mugged, a woman and man come to her rescue and offer her a job at their strip club. A rich business man Liam Rhys is forced to visit the club as part of his bachelor party. What will happen that night?

Warnings: Swearing 🤬 , Smut 🍋😔, rape 😭

Tags-if you want to be removed let me know 😊: @annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan @gnatbrain @walker7519 @lodberg @cmestrella @hopefulmoonobject @addictedtodrakefanfic @angi15h @liamxs-world @rafasgirl23415 @notoriouscs @whenyourheartskipsabeat @jovialyouthmusic @nz1091 @yukinagato2012 @indiacater @seriouslybadchoices @rainbowsinthestorm @cordonianroyalty @dcbbw @qammh-blog @beardedoafdonutwagon @jared2612 @princess-geek @desiree-0816 @kaitycole

******

“How very touching Drake. Didn’t know you had it in you.”

“What do you want Liam?” Riley snapped at him.

“Oh don’t stop on my account. Go on Drake... do carry on. Do you want to go on a date with him Riley?”

“What I do with my life is none of your business! Drake, I’d love to go on a date with you.” Placing her hand into his, she looked up at him and smiled. “I better head back, I’m due at work soon.”

“Yes you’re due to degrade yourself yet again. What does a vet see in a stripper, I’ll never know.” He’s a vet?

“What does a rich man see in a ‘stripper’- I don’t dance or strip Liam, I work in the bar- so get your facts right.”

“Because I know what you are capable of. You always wanted to be a teacher, but you was a brilliant PA.”

“Life doesn’t always go to plan. You of all people should know that! Drake text me to arrange a date. I’m looking forward to it.” Kissing him on the cheek, she scowled at Liam as she walked away.

“It won’t last Drake. She will realise that you aren’t the one.”

“Oh Liam. Get over yourself. She doesn’t love you anymore.”

“But you believe that she will fall in love with you?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. At least I got her pregnant, something you will never do. See ya around BUDDY.” Emphasising the word buddy, he knew what he said was out of line - but enjoyed witnessing Liam’s face drop. Liam grit his teeth, pulling out his phone his dialled a number- hoping that google provided him with the correct number.

“Hello. Wildcats. Rita speaking.”

“Hi Rita. My name is Liam Rhys. I’m the one that caused trouble that night of my bachelor party.”

“Oh....Hello Mr Rhys. How may I help you?”

“Is it true what I’ve heard about the services you offer behind closed doors?”

“Yes it is. Why?”

“I will pay your club, $500k for me to use those services.”

“Of course Sir. I’ll organise it with my main girl Mercedes.”

“I am paying that much because I want a particular girl. Riley Brooks. I want her to have half the money or I’ll refuse to pay.”

“Sir, she doesn’t dance. She’s not comfortable doing what the other girls do, she’s our barmaid and waitress.”

“Do you want the money or not?” Rita remained silent for a bit, not knowing how to react to Liam’s now agressive tone of voice.

“I’ll organise it to be with Riley Sir. You have my word. When do you want to come?”

“Tonight.”

“Great. See you then Mr Rhys.”

Liam hung up smirking. This will put you off her Drake.

*****

Riley was saying her goodbyes to everyone- hugging savannah she faked a smile, not wanting to show everyone how she truly felt. Regret. Jealousy. Upset.

“Thank you for inviting me, but I have to go to work. I hope you have a good ending to your baby shower. When he’s born, I’ll come and see him- I’ll spoil him rotten.”

“Thanks Riley. If you ever need to talk just come over.” Riley knew what Savannah was referring to- before her eyes began to form tears, she quickly thought about how rubbish Bertrand was as a babysitter.

“I’ll come and babysit, Show Bertrand how to really babysit.”

“You’ll have to tell me the stories one day.” Savannah giggled to herself.

“It wasn’t my fault that you and Maxwell were nightmares to look after. Look after yourself Riley.” As she turned to leave, Drake arrived and pulled her to the side, urgency kissing her.

“What was that for?”

“A goodbye kiss. So now you know my secret about being a vet, you must know that I like animals. Rather than go on a date, how about you come to Texas for a long weekend with me- to my family ranch?”

“Really? You want to take me to your home?”

“Yes, really. It’ll get us away from all these morons. Arrange a weekend with your boss and we will go.”

“Okay. I’ll let you know when I get to work. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Good. I’ll ring you later.” Drake couldn’t wipe the smile off his face, as he watched her walk away.

*****

Riley nervously walked into the strip club, running up to her room- she quickly got a shower and dressed in her uniform. Hesitantly walking downstairs to the office, she knocked on the door. Opening it, Rita was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.

“Wow Rita. Have you robbed a bank? Where’d you get all this money from?”

“A punter dropped it off before. He’s coming back later. Do you need me babe?”

“I was wondering if I could have next weekend off? Friday to Monday, I’ll be back to work Tuesday night. I know it’s only a weeks notice but I’d really appreciate it.”

“Sure baby. Have as much time off that you need.” Okay that was easy.

“Thank you so much.”

“No problem. Here have a drink. I’ve got a good feeling about tonight.” Rita smiled, she had placed drugs in the drink. When Liam dropped the money off he explained it would be hard to convince Riley and suggested this. Rita cared for her girls, but she cared more about money and the clubs reputation. Riley accepted the drink, and left the office.

Hey, Drake. She said I could have as much time off as I needed. Texas here we come 😊🙌🏼x

Hey! That’s great! I’ll let my mom know. You’ll love it x

I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never been to Texas before. Do Texan cowboys really exist? X

I can be a cowboy for you? 😉 x

Are you flirting with me Walker? X

Maybe? Once we are there I’ll take you on a romantic date. Have a good shift. I’ll ring you later 😘x

I’ll try. Talk later cowboy 🤠😉😘x

*****

Riley couldn’t concentrate at work, the usual punters were in- drooling over the girls. Watching the clock, she knew she had four hours left. Now knowing the days leading up to Texas would drag. She was unsure about what her relationship was with Drake. Could they get over the termination and be a sincere couple? She hoped so. Rita had kept providing her with drinks throughout the night, she became more and more drunk quickly.

Leaving the bar unattended, she needed to find Rita to ask for cover as she was feeling too ill to work- falling over, some strong arms picked her up and held her.

“Riley are you okay?”

“Li-Liam? Wha- what are you .... doing here?” She slurred, feeling worse now than she was thirty seconds prior.

“I thought I’d come and apologise for my behaviour before.”

“It’s fine.. just accept that myself and Drake could be more than friends. Please Li.” Liam noticed Rita and nodded at her, waving at him he carried Riley over to the secluded back room.

“Riley baby I’m so sorry I’ve done this to you- but he offered us a lot of money, you are keeping half of it.”

“Why are we in this room? I belong behind the fucking goddamn bar Rita!” Still feeling dizzy, Rita passed her some water encouraging her to drink it

“Not tonight baby. This is good for us all. You’ll thank me. He’s your ex so it should be easy. Just do the deed, do what he wants you to do. Remember you owe me, I have looked after you all these months.”

“NO!”

“Riley! Do as I say! Or you’ll have no roof over your head and no job!”

“Riley, this is the closure that I need. One last time with you. Please. And you’ll walk away with thousands of bucks.”

“I don’t want you. I don’t want your money. I’m not a prostitute Liam. All those years ago, all I wanted was for you to love me. Not hurt me. Rita can you leave us alone to talk please.”

“Sure. I’m so sorry Riley. But we need this money. Please don’t let me down.” Riley grimaced at her boss, if she threw her out and sacked her she had options. Moving back in with Maxwell. Sharing with Drake.

“Riley, I’ve never stopped loving you. I regret everything that I’ve done. If you want to be with Drake can’t I just have this last time with you?”

“No liam how many times? No! Do you know how many times I wanted to forgive you? To forget what happened? I slept with Leo for god sake just to have that slight bit of fun- to forget about you for a slight bit of time. Then I come back and find out you have a daughter. I am willing to be friends with you. But you keep pushing me further away.”

“Sleep with me. One last time. Then I will leave you alone. Or a drink? We can talk about the old days to get closure.”

“I’ll agree to the drink, then you get the hell out of here and never come back!”

“Deal.” Liam poured the drink, before adding the secret ingredient. I love you Riley, and I’m going to make you mine again.

“So... why did you never go back to school? Train as a teacher. I could see by drakes expression that you never told him about your dreams.”

“I’m too old now Liam. I’m getting by in life. That’s all that matters.”

“You’re never too old to learn. You’d make a fantastic teacher Riley. You should look into it.”

“Even if I wanted to I couldn’t afford it, I used my grans inheritance to pay off debts. My life has just been one rollercoaster since you did what you did.”

“I could have paid your debts off. You should have come back to me. I’ll pay for you to go back to school.”

“Thank you but no thanks.” Riley decided to drink from bottle in front of them, needing it before hearing anymore of Liam’s bullshit fake personality. Whilst tying her hair back, Liam added more of the drug into the bottle without her noticing. They remained in silence, Liam getting closer to her every second that went by. He noticed her become less defensive and fall into his arms.

“What .... does she have.... that I didn’t?”

“Who?”

“Mad- Madeleine.”

“Nothing Riley. You are worth so much more than she is. I was an idiot, I was thinking with my dick rather than my head and heart. We are having a charity event for the company in a couple of days. I’d like you to come, you did a lot for the company. I won’t tell Drake that you are attending.”

“Sure. Whatever. Is she better.... at sex than I am? Is she... better at oral? I...I can’t ... get my head... around why I ..lost you...”

“No. She was easy. I fucked her. With you I made love. I want you back Riley.”

“Li... no... I love Drake... Drake.. he was the father of our child.... I love him... not you...”

“Riley, you’re not going to remember this. But I have had it recording since we walked into this room just in case you don’t believe me.”

*****

Riley woke up the morning after, not knowing where she was. Her head was spinning, her mouth was dry. Scrutinising the room for clues, she still couldn’t distinguish where she was. Her vision was blurred, seeing her clothes on the floor she quickly got dressed. Just in time before someone walked through the door.

“Morning Belle.” Fuck!

“You look poorly. Have you got some plasters in your bag your arms hurt. I can put it on for you this time.” Riley was shaking uncontrollably, wondering how she ended up in Liam’s bed. “Belle? Do you want me to get daddy? He said you had a grown ups sleepover.”

“Alice, do you know where my phone is?”

“It’s on the table, daddy’s been looking after it.” Storming out of the room, Liam smirked at her- holding her phone out to her. Panicking that he had been checking through her phone she was grateful that she deleted previous texts from Drake.

Hey, I tried to ring but you’re obviously busy at work. I’ll talk tomorrow x

Yes it’s really busy. Sorry talk tomorrow. X

“What the fuck Liam? You text Drake?”

“Alice is here. Don’t swear. I could have told him what happened between us. But I didn’t- so you could say thank you.”

“What happened? How did I end up here?”

“Alice, go and get dressed please.”

“Yes daddy. Bye belle.”

“We talked about the past. I offered to pay your debts off. Feeling sentimental, we had both drank a lot. I asked you to come back here and you agreed. We slept together Ri. I had my closure. I have a video of us, if you want to see it.”

“You made a fucking porno??? Are you fucking insane???? Why won’t you leave me the fuck alone? I don’t even remember it!”

“I drugged you as did Rita. I needed to feel you one last time.” Riley didn’t give a shit if Alice was lingering in the shadows-

“How dare you drug me! Show me the video now!” You son of a bitch! I’m sending this to myself, then to the police.

Liam ripped Riley’s top off, after they shared a passionate forced kiss- he tossed it on to the floor before pulling her on to him. Her body was swaying, she was still slurring her words- but at this moment in time he didn’t care. Seeing her perky breasts in front of him it was tempting him more than ever even though he felt slightly guilty about drugging her to get what he wanted. “Li, I don’t... want... this.. I need... my bed... I love Drake.” When will she shut up about Drake, he thought angrily. Pressing his lips firmly against hers, the tip of his tongue reached out- sliding across her lips. “Drake...”

“I’m not fucking Drake, Riley. It’s Liam!”

“I wa-want Drake... I’m not well...” Liam needed to ignore the fact that she wasn’t in love with him anymore- rather than kiss her he devoured her. Forcing her to lay down on the chaise longue, he was now directly between her thighs grinding his erection against her. Liam moved his lips towards her neck; kissing, biting and sucking the skin. Riley tried to push him away- but was lacking energy, barely able to keep her eyes open. “I love you Ri. I always will do. I can’t let you go.”

“Please.... please Liam.”

“Please what? I’m hard for you Riley, I want you. Do you want me?”

“Please... please don’t...”

“You’ll enjoy it Ri, like the old days when I made you moan my name all night long.”

Moving her skirt up, his hands explored finally reaching the lacy thong. Pushing it to the side, his fingers rubbed her clit hard in circles. Sliding his fingers into her core, he pumped her deep- feeling her cum made him smirk. “That’s it baby, carry on and cum for me again.” Riley had passed out, taking the opportunity fumbled with his belt, removing his trousers and boxers just enough to free his immense hard on. Running his tip between her folds, he forced his penis inside of her- tilting her pelvis up to give him a better angle. Riley was in and out of consciousness, “are you enjoying it baby?” He asked as he pounded her. “Drake?”

“It’s me Liam, Drake isn’t here. It’s just you and I.”

“Get... get off me Liam.”

“Moan for me baby. You’re so wet.” Riley tried to push him away- but he was too forceful. Continuing to roll his hips, he knew he was due to cum- slowing down his movements, he growled as he exploded inside her. Resting his forehead on hers, he kissed her on hers whilst slowing down his breathing.

“Yes, so you raped me. How the fuck did we end up here?”

“I made love to you Riley. You are my true love. I carried you out to my limo. It brought us here. We had sex again. Then I cuddled you all night.” Riley’s skin crawled, she felt dirty and ashamed that she could trust people and allow this to happen to her.

“You fucking raped me you moron!”

“What’s rape daddy?” Riley turned around to Alice, bending down she looked in to the little girl’s eyes.

“Alice, I didn’t mean to use that word. Daddy and me were old friends. That word means we aren’t friends anymore. This ‘sleepover’ was a goodbye. Look after yourself little princess.”

“Okay. Bye belle. Daddy, my nanny is here. I’ll see you later.”

“Love you Princess.” Liam bent down and kissed his daughter goodbye. Riley waiting to hear the door close.

“Stay the fuck away from me Liam! Never touch me ever again.”

“You are still coming to the charity event aren’t you?”

“No I’m fucking not! Goodbye!”

“If you don’t come, I’ll tell Drake.”

“You wouldn’t dare tell him that you raped me.”

“No I’ll tell him that the slut of a girl he is in love with, threw herself at me. I’ll see you at the event.” The jokes on you Liam, I have the video on my phone- for evidence. Arsehole.

“Go fuck yourself!” Storming out the door, she didn’t know where to go. Her boss someone she thought she could trust gave more of a shit about money. Deciding to go to the strip club, she grabbed essential items- and booked herself in at a hotel.

*****

A couple of days later it was the charity event, Riley had spoken to Drake over text- but kept texts simple. She was still furious with Liam. Considering going to the police, she knew even with the video evidence that he would crawl out of it somehow- most likely using his money to bail him out.

Leo picked Riley up with Olivia. Feeling like a gooseberry, she did however feel grateful for them escorting her to the charity event.

“You look amazing Ri. Are you sure you want to go? I can use some lame excuse.” Riley smiled at Leo, taking a deep breath- she nodded her head.

Arriving at the venue, Liam’s eyes widened seeing the trio make their entrance- his gaze mainly focusing on Riley.

“Riley you look beautiful as always. I’ll get you a drink- follow me.” Riley hesitated, Leo noticed her reaction. Even though he was now in a relationship with Olivia, he still deeply cared for Riley and always would do- he would even defend her over his own flesh and blood.

“Oh little brother, you can buy us a drink too if you are feeling generous.”

“I’d appreciate a word alone with Riley if you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine Leo. Enjoy your night with Olivia.”

“If he hurts you or anything, ring me.” Leo whispered, knowing how his brothers personality had changed since Riley had returned to New York. Knowing that Drake hadn’t been invited to the event made her feel like a traitor. Hoping that Liam would just accept friendship and her support for his company was going to be hard to convince him.

“I’m glad you decided to come.” Accepting the drink off him, he noticed her hesitantly drink it.

“Well you did bribe me! I’m not doing this for you. I worked for this company- no matter what happened between us in the past I will support the company.”

“In the past? What about the other night?”

“You took advantage of me. Seeing my bosses eyes light up wafting your wallet around- of course she would agree to your arrangement. I don’t know who you are anymore Liam, money and power has changed you.”

“I’m still me.”

“No you’re not. If you ever loved me, you’d let me go. Let me live my life. Yet you believe you know what’s best for me.”

“Drake isn’t the one for you. You didn’t even know what he did for a living until the baby shower. I can look after you, Alice adores you- all she talks about is you. We can be that family that you always wanted. You can work for me, have your old job back. Please Ri.”

“No. I’m content at the strip club, when arseholes like you don’t come in. I’m going to tell Drake what happened that night, if he doesn’t want anything to do with me - fair enough. If he does, then I am going to go on a date with him as planned. I had a family and I let my child down. Do not try and tell me what I want Liam or what is best for me.”

“We had sex!”

“It meant nothing to me Liam. I was forced into it by you and Rita. Excuse me, I’m going to find Maxwell. Please do not follow me.” Grabbing her wrist, she slapped him across the face. Immediately letting go of her, the sting still lingered. “I mean it liam, stay away from me or I’ll advertise to the whole company what you did to me. I believe I am being extremely stupid even stringing a sentence to you. Even considering to be nice to you.”

“I didn’t rape you Riley.”

“Of course you didn’t! You are fucking stupid, delusional. Get out of my face Liam. Even when I was half a fucking sleep, who’s name did I keep saying on that porno you created? Drake! Not you! Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“Is everything okay here?” Leo watched the pair since she they were on their own, keeping an eagle eye on every movement- it was now time to intervene as Riley slapped Liam across the face.

“Everything is fine. I was just saying goodbye to your brother for good. He thinks it’s acceptable to drug and rape women who he apparently loves.”

“I didn’t rape you! How many times?”

“Oh Leo, he even recorded it.”

“She was drunk, she was begging for it.”

“I was begging for you to stop. I wanted Drake. Not you. I’m leaving.” Leo grit his teeth, wanting to beat the shit out of his brother. He knew Riley wouldn’t lie about something like this.

“Mr Rhys? May I have a word?” Liam nodded, excusing himself from Leo- both brothers pulled out their phone, each sending a text to Drake.

Drake I’m really sorry, but myself and Riley slept together the other night. I’m so sorry for hurting you like this. But I think she wants to give it another go.

Drake you need to ring me ASAP! It’s about Riley and Liam.

Leo put the phone away, as he did he had a notification. Assuming it was Drake, it was a video attachment- Leo watched, and began crying.

“What’s up?” Olivia and Maxwell came over to see what the matter was with Leo- not really wanting to show the two of them what Riley had sent, he felt the need to for her sake. To get everyone on her side. Seeing their eyes widen, and their jaws agape, he was glad Riley secretly sent it to herself and forwarded it to him. It was her way in asking for help and support.

“Holy shit! Where is he? I’m going to kill him.”

“Leave my brother to me max! Go to your place, I’ll meet you there. I need to speak to Drake.”

******

Knocking on the door, Riley hoped he was in- she was going to tell him the truth, hoping he would listen to her. If she had lost him for good, there was no point in staying in New York.

“Thank god you’re in, we need to talk.”

“Riley, I’m actually busy.” He responded in a melancholy tone of voice. Receiving the text off Liam, broke his heart. Riley walked into the apartment ignoring his bullshit excuse.

“You’ve packed early. We’re not going to Texas until Friday.”

“You’re not going to Texas. I’m going there now.”

“What?”

“You heard me Riley. Live your life with Liam, I know. He text me and told me. I hope you’re both very happy together.”

“What did he text you?” Showing her the text, her nostrils flared.

“Drake he’s lying. It’s not that. I want to be with you. He means nothing to me. I was looking forward to spending time with you.”

“Maybe you should have thought about that before Riley. I’m not angry, I’m hurt that I found out from him. I thought we had something, we was going to put things behind us- move on. You both have a lot more history, I’m happy for you.”

“Drake?” Ignoring her, he picked up his bags and left the apartment. Wiping the tears that he had held in - he shook his head. Riley fell to the floor crying uncontrollably, texting Maxwell she hoped he would come back.

*****

Maxwell left the event immediately, as he arrived he saw Drake loading his truck.

“Where are you going?”

“Texas. Why?”

“Have you seen Riley? I need to make sure she’s okay. I fucking hate Liam.”

“Yes, she’s in the apartment. I’ve said goodbye.”

“How can you leave after what happened?”

“Why not? She’s with Liam now. He told me that.” Showing the text, Maxwell was furious. Asking Leo to quickly forward the video to him, he needed to show Drake that Riley was innocent.

“Just wait, Leo’s sending me something. Don’t go just yet.” Drake rolled his eyes back, the longer he stayed here the more it was hurting. “Here. Sit down. Watch it. It’s not nice. Riley loves you Drake. Don’t leave her.” Drake looked at Maxwell, who put his head down as the video began. Watching the video made him feel sick, regretting believing Liam over Riley- he abandoned the bags and ran back into the apartment.

“Riley?” Seeing her in the kitchen, he ran up to her- holding her tightly. Tilting her chin up, he placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Maxwell walked in, leaning against the doorframe- he smiled softly at the two of them. “I’m so sorry. If I see him, I’m going to kill him with my bare hands. I love you too.”

“How do you know I love you?”

“Leo, sent the video to max who showed me. Stopped me from leaving. Don’t be mad at them.”

“I’m so sorry, I let him do that to me. I don’t remember. Rita drugged me too. He gave her a shit ton of money to do it.” Unable to stop the tears, Maxwell came over to the two of them. Pulling her in for a hug, he was hoping that Leo wasn’t going to do anything stupid.

“Ri, stay here with us. We will both protect you. Leave the strip club, I’ll help you find another job. Please.”

“Max is right, I’ll provide for the two of us.”

“You could provide for the three of us with your wage packet.” Maxwell winked at Drake, hoping she would listen to their advise.

“You better be joking Beaumont, I’ll provide for her not for you too. Riley, we will go to Texas tomorrow. Together. As planned but a few days earlier. I’m self employed, so we can go for as long as you need. Besides Maxwell can spend some alone time with the new lady in his life without me feeling like a gooseberry.”

“Oh just like I felt like a gooseberry when you two fucked for the first time. I’m gonna go to sleep guys, don’t go awol without saying bye. Night besties.” Drake led Riley to his bedroom, throwing her a top to wear- he stripped down into his underwear. Turning around, the top was still where he threw it, Riley was sat up in bed naked- biting her bottom lip. God she looks so sexy when she does that.

“Are we sleeping naked now?” He asked in a seductive tone of voice. Crawling on to the bed and up towards her, he had an immediate erection. For months he was hoping to see her like this again. As he got within reach, Riley pulled him closer- placing her lips onto his chest. Providing light kisses, his hands explored her body. Arching her back, she moaned as he kissed her neck.

“Drake, don’t stop. I’ve missed you. I’m so sorry for everything that has happened.”

“Don’t be sorry, none of it is your fault.”

“The termination was my fault, I called that decision- a decision I’ve regretted ever since. Liam, everything to do with him is my fault.”

“At the time, I disagreed with that decision- I was being selfish. I wish we didn’t do it, but looking back it was for the best. Liam who? We need to erase him out of our life.”

“Can we start over? A fresh new start?”

“Sure, what I said at the baby shower- I meant it. I’ll protect you from now on, I’ll love you. In the future, if we are still as we are- we can try for a baby. It won’t ever replace the first one.” Laying next to her, she snuggled into his embrace.

“You mean if we are officially dating. In a relationship.”

“Yes. Who knows you may not be able to keep your hands off me, you may fall madly in love with me and marry me.”

“‘Maybe.” Riley giggled to herself, loosening his grip on her- they began kissing again as if their lives depended on it.

“Jesus you two! Cover up!” Both jumping, they were grateful that they had only got to first base. Pulling the duvet up to cover their naked bodies, they both turned around to face Leo.

“Leo... who’s blood is that on your hands?”