#sophia x luke

[mariailoveyou-guerin]

I love them so much y’all don’t even understand every couple of years decades really there’s a couple or on screen ship that’s so insanely good with palpable chemistry and sexual tension that my brain chemistry gets altered in way that’s not for the sane people the serotonin and buzz be so strong no dr*yg could ever make me feel that way! that even tho logically I’m my mind I know it’s just acting and they are doing their job incredibly annoyingly well I still believe it with all my heart that they are in fact dating and are happy and aren’t just saying anything because they don’t wanna let people in on their life which is fair I know it’s wrong and silly and just very dvmb bc it’s just acting very very phenomenal brilliant acting but damn and 80% of the time they were or ended up as couple later on sure few weren’t and didn’t but it all started with JD/WR BP/AJ Sandra x Keanu, Jake x Anne Kiera x James(James with anyone really Christina Anne) Anne Kiera with anyone too, Margot x Will, Ian x Nina, Sophia x Austin, Ryan x Sarah (this one hurts still bc wdym they dated longer then they was alive on the show?) sometimes the actors be doing not even a bit to much but wayyy over the board to much actually, Nicole x Micheal then came stonefiled then came Haesoo jisoo x haein and now we are here in this dilemma that should get into a psych ward next to the riddler joker and penguin with lukenewton and nicolacoughlan they are the worst too

I fight with my mind constantly telling myself it’s just acting then I be like really is it? Is it really just acting that kinda of unhinged chemistry brilliance cant just be acting it’s to much to be acting only😂! be careful the brain plays tricks on you and so the actors bc to them it’s just a job while to others(me) it’s a straight jacket signs and mental illness signs! Clear sign of breakdown

[thewritingofspencerrose]

Luke Hughes x Crossed Girlfriend (Sophie) As promised, the Luke x crossed girlfriend I promised before my midterms ended!

"LuLuuuu!" A sing-song voice is what greets the youngest two of three Hughes brothers, both freshly home from a week on the road.

"What is that- is that pot?" Jack is the one to question, his brows furrowed in confusion as he turns to his little brother. "Since when does your girlfriend smoke pot?"

"She only does socially," Is Luke's awkward answer, scratching at the back of his neck. "Like, when she's drinking with her girls."

"Are you not Lukey? Are you Jacky then?" Her softer voice calls, bringing a smile to Luke's face that makes Jack want to hurl.

"It's me Baby," Luke calls back, slipping out of his shoes and dropping his bag on top. "Just getting back."

His body follows the familiar path to the living room, used to the little routine that he and Sophie follow after every game she can't attend.

No matter how much fight he puts up, she's always sitting on the sofa waiting for him. Whether she's awake or not, now that's usually another story.

Tonight though she's wide awake, and by the looks of it, has been busy.

"Did you have a good night Soph?" Jack's teasing joins the couple as Luke squats in front of his girlfriend, tucking her stray hair behind her ear.

"Yes!" She yells out, only earning a shush from her boy. "The girls and I went to a party on campus! I hadn't been in a while, though," She continues, pausing in thought, "I think I had too much."

"Too much of what, Baby?"

"You have pretty curls," Is her distracted response, running her hand through the curls on his head and choosing one to fixate on.

"Baby," Luke is trying again, taking her hands into his own in an attempt to limit distractions. "What did you have tonight that has you so giggly?"

"I had wine," She giggles, "That one with the red fruit on the label!"

"Your cranberry fruitscatto, yeah," Luke nods, knowing it's her favorite. "But did you have anything else?"

She's giggling again, pulling him in with his hoodie ties to be closer to him. "I may have had some weed."

"I can smell it in your hair," He can't help but chuckle, turning to his brother, who is still standing amused in the entry. "Can you keep an eye on her for minute so I can grab her different clothes and stuff?"

"You mean, can I babysit my future sister-in-law? Yeah, no problem," the older Hughes assures, dropping onto the couch and throwing his arm around said girl. "So, Soph, tell me about this party-"

And while Jack is giving her a hard time, Luke knows that he cares and he knows that his little adventure for supplies that will make the morning much easier for the three of them.

And uncomfortable Sophie always leads to an uncomfortable Jack.

And an overwhelmed Luke.

Soph doesn't go out, she considers going out to be sitting with the other girlfriends and wives at Devils games, but whenever she does, she makes it easy for him.

A black and white Devil's sweatshirt (his sweatshirt) and her matching polka dot pajama pants sit neatly folded on her side of the bed, her make-up wipes on top.

He knows exactly where she keeps the aspirin, right in the same first aid bin as her Midol and the bandaids.

Luke can hear her giggles from whatever story Jack is telling, probably another one from their childhoods, but he knows they can go over stories in the morning. Right now she needs sleep.

"Jack, can you herd her in here for me?"

It takes a moment, as expected, but soon enough Jack's goofy smiling is in the doorway, an equally goofy smile on his glitter-covered girlfriend, a clear sign her dress had probably been shedding all over the apartment.

"Delivery, one crossed Sophie ready to order," Jack jokes, physically handing the girl over as she giggles.

"I'm not a pizza," She can't stop the giggles now, and Luke is positive this the most inebriated he's seen her in their 2 years of dating.

"No, you're not, you're my pretty girl and we need to get into pjs so we can go to bed," Luke answers, taking her into his arms and plopping her on the bed.

His gaze floats to his brother, no words passed between but it's written in Jack's smile what he's thinking.

This girl really will be his sister-in-law one day.

"I'll get her some water while you two change up," Jack offers, pulling the door shut before Luke can even thank him.

And he's gone.

"Pj time?"

"Pj time," Luke confirms, pulling her into a standing position. "Can I take this off?"

"You'll get glitter on you!" Is Sophie's protest, being barely able to finish the thought before giggling.

"Baby please? You'll be so much comfier."

But this time, she nods.

"Baby, a verbal yes, please."

"Yes, you can help me with pj time," She nods with a giddy smile, already trying to wiggle out of her dress.

His hands slide down her sides slowly, making her wiggle even more intensely as the dress flows down with his fingers.

"Okay, now your-" And he was about to say bra, but she beat him to it, unclipping her bra in what must be record time for someone in her state and leaving her in just her panties. "Well, that helps with our progress."

It continues like that, his soft encouragements and hands helping her with her every move. The drag of the sweatshirt over her head, the pull of her pajama bottoms up her legs and over her hips.

To the cool makeup wipes washing away everything from the night.

Just in time for the knocks on the door signaling Jack's return. "I have her water!"

"Come on in, J!"

"You boys are too good to me," Sophie mumbles out, smiling sleepily.

"It's just cause you're lovable, Kid," Jack is saying in a joking manner, although he hands her her water, other hand occupying a mug. "I brought her tea too. I know that's helped her in the past."

"Thank you, Jacky," Is her smiley reply, taking the water first and the pill that is now being handed over from her boyfriend.

"To pussy and gunpowder. Live by one, die by the other....and love the smell of both!" Down goes both the pills and the water, going down like a shot while both boys stare in shock.

"Who taught you that shot call?"

"The girls!"

"I need to spend more time with these girls," Is Jack's cheeky response, earning Luke's eye roll.

He knows these girls. They'd eat Jack alive.

"I'm going to get her into bed, we'll see you in the morning," Is the youngers excuse to kid his brother out, but Soph is already curling under the covers, arms reaching out desperately for her curly haired boy.

And Luke concedes, crawling in and pulling her tightly into his chest.

All Jack can do is smile, shaking his head at the couple and turning off the lights.

"I'll see you two tomorrow."

"We love you Jacky!"

And he can't help but chuckle.

"I love you both too, Sunshine."

[bellarkeselection]

Watch "Luke & Sophia | The One" on YouTube

[redpensandgreenarrows]

Benedict Bridgerton in Season 4:

(Yes I have canva. Yes I am utterly ridiculous. Yes I am having too much fun. The world sucks. Leave me to my nonsense.)

Simon: I burn for you.

Anthony: You are the bane of my existence and the object of all my desires.

Colin: Feelings like the total inability to stop thinking about you. About that kiss. Feelings like dreaming of you, and in fact preferring sleep because that is where I might find you. A feeling that is like torture, but one which I cannot, will not, do not want to, give up.

…

Benedict, probably: I WILL THROW ROCKS AT YOUR WINDOW THAT’S HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU

[sayoneee]

☆ PARENT TRAP

in which, a plan is devised to set the two of you up (1.9k)

contains: luke castellan x fem! reader. mortal au. baby percabeth (they are 12). percys pov. loser older brother luke castellan 🔛🔝

kashaf’s note: i think we can tell i love my music references by now. (answering requests soon!)

i. remember the time - michael jackson

PERCY HAS ALWAYS liked afternoons: sitting on the green couch in his apartment, the smell of his favorite blue cookies wafting through the air, and the constantly running episodes of gilmore girls on the tv — that you had convinced him to give a try — and sometimes the addition of grover, who was prone to start passionate tirades on climate change.

though after summer camp, his relatively quiet afternoons now included at least two mentions of “seaweed brain” and two of “wise girl”. 

percy’s trying to stay focused on rory freaking out over thanking dean for something (annabeth is almost laser-focused), but the doorbell rang a while ago, and you still haven’t returned. 

“annabeth,” he whispered, to no avail — he guessed dean really had that effect on people. he tried again, waving a hand in front of her face. she blinked twice before being lifted from the spell of gilmore girls. 

“what?” annabeth asked.

“who’s at the door?” 

annabeth’s eyebrows rose. she turned around, looking past where you were still holding the door open, one hand animatedly gesticulating, the other still on the doorknob. 

“that’s my brother,” annabeth said, turning back to look at percy. 

but percy isn’t paying attention to her right now, instead, he’s focusing on the bits of conversation audible between you and this stranger, who’s smiling very peculiarly down at you.

“— no way, me too,” the stranger is saying, grinning.

you’re saying, “deadass? prove it —” 

“— are you always so skeptical —” 

percy gets up off the couch, annabeth beside him, striding over to you and the stranger, who, for a reason he can’t quite put a finger on, seems weird. 

“hi,” percy says, looking at you, pointedly ignoring the stranger. you and the stranger seem to freeze, your hand halting mid-tuck of your hair behind your ear, something percy has only seen you do around one of your ex-boyfriends. 

“hi,” annabeth says, looking at the stranger, who smiles in response. again, weird.

“ready to go?” the stranger asks, “or are you going to take over their spare bedroom?”

“luke, you’re not funny,” annabeth grumbles, but she doesn’t look that put out by luke’s teasing percy notes. 

you’re smiling, but you’re not looking at annabeth. you’re looking at luke, your one hand still on the doorknob. interesting. 

“you’ve got your yankees cap?” you confirm as annabeth laces up her converse, as you and luke are engaged in a tiny conversation of your own. percy wordlessly hands the worn-out cap to annabeth once she’s finished, saying his goodbye.

once annabeth and her brother are long gone and you’re no longer leaning against the door, you’re still smiling widely, and percy wonders why.

ii. shoop - salt n pepa  

gilmore girls is on again, and luke is here to pick up annabeth. again. but for whatever reason, annabeth still hasn’t left, and you and luke are sitting in the kitchen, alone, conversing loudly. 

annabeth isn’t as hyper-focused on dean and rory’s argument as percy had thought she would be a week ago — he assumed that dean’s appeal died the minute he got mad in that banged-up car. annabeth is saying something about architecture, eyes shining, though he’s not sure which one she’s talking about, hagia sophia or st. basil’s cathedral. your loud laugh seems to ring from the kitchen every minute or so, and well since you’ve begun babysitting him, he can’t say the sound is unfamiliar, but the frequency is suspicious. he doesn’t trust luke. 

“annabeth,” he says, when she’s stopped talking.

“percy,” she responds in the same tone, her smile bright.

“how long has your brother been in the kitchen for?” he says, trying to sound nonchalant, but missing the mark horrifically.

annabeth looks at the watch on her wrist, “woah —”

“what does woah mean?” percy knows he’s being impolite, and his mom taught him to never interrupt people, but he can’t help it at this moment. 

“i was just getting to that, seaweed brain,” annabeth rolled her eyes good-naturedly, “we were supposed to leave an hour and half ago.”

this was bizarre. “no offense, but what does my babysitter and your brother even have in common to be talking nonstop for an hour and half?”

“no idea,” annabeth says, thoughtfully. “is she in a band? luke’s in a band.”

“no,” percy says, but he thinks he remembers your last boyfriend being in a band. “is your brother a senior?”

“yeah — does she do boxing? luke does.”

“i actually don’t know,” percy pauses, “i think we should see for ourselves,” he stands up. 

“wait,” annabeth says, “they might go quiet if they see we’re around. let’s just turn off the tv and eavesdrop.”

percy grins, annabeth was such a genius, “you got it, wise girl.” 

they’re both so silent, he wonders if you’ll notice, but with the way you’re laughing again, borderline giggling, actually — which is odd — as you say, “shut up, you know what i meant,” he doesn’t think you’ll realize. 

“erm, actually i don’t,” luke says, nasally (in what percy hopes is mockery). 

percy looks at annabeth, who rolls her eyes at him and mouths, ‘he’s being ironic’. percy stares at the patterns in the carpet, and annabeth stares at the picture of percy and his mom hung on the wall, as they continue to strain their ears — which isn’t hard because of how noisy you and luke are together.

“you’re so insufferable.”

“and you’re the one who invited me in, so.”

“i was being nice,” you sound like you’re protesting, but percy and annabeth note the amusement in your voice with another shared glance.

“you? nice? let’s be forreal.”

“i’m literally not even mean.”

“you literally are.”

annabeth peeks at him, and percy thinks he’s had enough of listening to this conversation, which is quickly becoming weird. and mushy. he can practically see how you’re looking at luke, and how he’s looking at you, which is not at all something he wants to imagine.

he nods at annabeth, and they both try to make their footsteps as loud as possible when they start approaching the kitchen, just in case. 

he’s grateful to every higher being out there when he and annabeth find you and luke in the kitchen simply sitting next to each other, no funny business involved. 

iii. doo wop (that thing) - ms. lauryn hill

you’re on the phone, giggling. annabeth is over again, and there’s no luke in sight, but percy suspects he’s on the other end of the line. 

percy sighs and turns to annabeth, who always seems to know what to do because this little situation has gotten unbelievably out of hand. 

“is that your brother on the phone?”

annabeth’s concentration on the teetering jenga tower on the coffee table lingers, doo wop (that thing) playing on the tv in the background, “yeah, i think so.”

“how do you know?” percy asks, watching annabeth carefully choose a jenga block to remove.

“they like each other,” annabeth says, looking at him, as if it’s as obvious as grass being green.

“no, they don’t,” percy pauses for a minute when annabeth raises her eyebrows at him. “how do you know?” 

“luke’s always calling her at home,” annabeth said, “and he made her a mixtape.”

“that doesn’t mean they like each other, that just means he likes her,” percy points out, crossing his arms. 

they hear you giggle in the kitchen again. annabeth looks at him as if that proves her point.

annabeth blinks, her face lighting up, “oh my god, percy, we should set them up.” 

percy stares at her. he can’t deny that for as long as he’s known annabeth, she’s seldom been wrong, but he doesn’t think this is the best idea. but, percy trusts annabeth, so he agrees.

iv. this is how we do it - montell jordan

percy’s spying on you. well, he doesn’t consider it to be spying exactly, he’s just making sure nothing happens to you because despite annabeth’s constant defense of her brother, percy still doesn’t trust luke. percy’s always thought of you more than just his babysitter, after all the attempts at making blue hot chocolate and the comforting after nightmares, you’ve turned into his sister. 

he’s at annabeth’s place now, and both of them decided to put their — what annabeth swears is fool-proof — plan into action. step number one: getting luke to invite you inside when you come to pick him up (which was so unbelievably easy, considering how luke has perpetual heart eyes when you’re around).

currently, you’re in the kitchen with luke (the two of you are always congregating in kitchens for some reason), and annabeth decided that she and percy absolutely had to keep an eye on the two of you.

you’re gasping, “luke castellan, you are such a liar.”

luke is laughing, “no i’m not.” his cheeks are red.

you’ve seemed to notice this, and percy can see your gaze soften as you look at luke, but that doesn’t stop you from making your point, “no, oh my god, you call me the mean one but here you are, talking shit about your rivals, just because they’re better?”

percy has seen you argue with your ex-boyfriends, but not like this — not bright-eyed, and smiling, and none of them have been able to just flow the way you seem to with luke. this is it, he thinks, annabeth was completely and utterly right (as she is 90% of the time). 

“you take that back right now, those motley crue knockoffs aren’t better than us,” luke says, sounding kind of angry, but percy can see his smile.

“you’re totally bugging,” you say, “what’s wrong with motley crue?”

luke looks scandalized, and almost as if he’s pleading, he says, “please tell me you’ve at least listened to guns n roses,” pushing his hands together in a namaste position.

“i don’t live under a rock, castellan,” you rolled your eyes at him, pushing his hands down. annabeth shares a look with percy.

“i mean, you never know,” he says, and you scoff, shoving him.

percy raises his eyebrows at annabeth, and she seems to know exactly what he’s thinking — time to put step two into action: set up a going-out idea.

percy and annabeth pretend to walk closer to the kitchen, to give the two of you time to spring apart, because you and luke weren’t a very pg distance right now — maybe pg-thirteen, but percy wasn’t supposed to be watching those, so.

annabeth jerks a finger at percy, as you and luke looked up at their arrival, addressing luke, “percy doesn’t believe that your band actually plays in public.”

percy’s head whips toward annabeth, trying not to glare at her, because the look on luke’s face right now was not at all amusing, but at least you were smiling, so you’d definitely stop luke from killing him.

“yeah, luke,” you say, smirking, “where do you guys even play?”

luke frowns, “the usual but we’re playing at the fair next week if you’re so interested.” the last part is aimed at percy, but their plan is going well so far, so percy doesn’t think he’ll have to sleep with one eye open tonight.

“when?” you ask, interested.

percy watches luke turn to you, surprised. “saturday — why, you wanna come?”

“yeah,” you admit easily.

percy looks at annabeth, who’s smiling and percy can’t help but feel proud of their idea.

“really? we don’t go on until like seven though.”

“yeah, someone has to be there to cheer for you so you don’t feel too bad when no one else does,” you grin.

luke turns to you, masking his smile with a fake air of irritation, “gee, thanks.”

“what are friends for?”

percy shares a disappointed glance with annabeth who begins to shake her head, as luke’s smile freezes in place, and you suddenly look extremely remorseful.

time to come up with a new plan. 

© sayoneee on tumblr. do not repost, plagiarize, translate or claim any of my works as your own.

[keerysfreckles]

omg i just rewatched mamma mia. what about luke as sam and the reader (child of apollo) as donna. like luke doesn’t turn to kronos but him and the reader break up so she disappears off the face of the earth (aka she runs off to greece). thalia’s tree somehow gets poisoned and the oracle sends luke, percy, and annabeth to go look for the camp’s former best healer. they reach a remote greek island and find the reader there, working as the local nurse/healer (and if you want, they also find out she has a little baby girl, sophia aka sophie 🤭 lmao luke and reader as teen parents). so much angst lol

the name of the game — luke castellan

pairing: luke castellan x apollo fem!reader

warnings: use of y/n and she/her pronouns, HEAVILY based on mamma mia (my fav movie ever), angst angst angst!!!!!!

a/n: i literally watched mamma mia here we go again today i love both movies with all my heart ALSO THE PJO SZN FINALE???????? HELLO?????????????

masterlist !

꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱

y/n l/n didn't plan on leaving camp half-blood.

she didn't plan on leaving her siblings and close friends, and her boyfriend. well, now ex boyfriend.

that was too complicated for her to even understand. one moment luke wanted everything to do with her. he wanted to be around her 24/7, and show how much he appreciated her. but recently he got distant, and wouldn't explain why.

y/n hated confrontation, so she decided to just ditch camp all together after the couple officially split less than 24 hours ago. she doubted anyone would go looking for her.

oh how wrong she was.

annabeth chase and percy jackson were on a hunt for luke castellan.

they were given direct orders from chiron to find the child of hermes. neither of them dared to question the centaur, making them search for luke as quick as they could.

annabeth's shoudlers dropped in relief once they came across luke. he was practicing his sword work against a dummy made out of hay and old fabric.

"do you have any idea why chiron would send us looking for you?" annabeth was straight to the point. percy was standing beside her, just as determined to get answers.

luke shrugs, "is there another new camper?"

percy shakes his head, "he seemed pretty urgent about it. you might want to follow us back to the big house."

the trio walked in silence back through the woods and through the cabins until they got to the big house. chiron was waiting for them anxiously at the end of the steps.

"thank you percy, annabeth," chiron thanks them for finding luke. "i'm not sure if you three are aware, the camp may be in danger. thalia's tree has been poisened. we aren't sure how or why, but all we need is the solution. a healer."

chiron looked towards luke when he finished his statement.

"again, i'm not sure if you're aware that y/n of apollo cabin has been missing since late last night."

all three have different expressions of shock on their face. luke however is mostly hurt. he couldn't believe y/n would just run off like that. he wondered if it was from the argument they had.

"i'm sending you three to go find her, and bring her back safely in order for her to save the tree and the camp," chiron instructs.

"we don't even know where she went," luke points out.

"yeah, she could be anywhere in the world," percy adds.

annabeth looks between the two boys, "wasn't she saying how if she could get away for the weekend she'd go to greece?" she ends her observation while looking at luke.

the boy quickly nods, "yes. she always loved the idea of," he pauses and his voice gets quieter, "running away to greece together."

after a moment, chiron speaks again. "so it's settled. you three will go search for y/n, daughter of apollo, and bring her back to camp to heal thalia's tree and save the camp. good luck to you all."

—

"we've been in this boat for hours," percy groans.

annabeth stops steering the large boat as luke stops tying a rope. they both turn to him.

"we've been on the water for maybe twenty minutes seaweed brain," annabeth teases.

"wait," luke walks closer to the younger campers, "if your dad's poseidon, why can't you just push us all under water through like an air bubble?"

"it would look a little suspicious if three teenagers showed up to an island with no boat and dry clothes," annabeth mentions, making luke's idea sink to the bottom of the ocean.

luke speaks up again, "what if y/n doesn't come back to camp with us?"

annabeth and percy don't have an exact answer for luke. that only makes him worried this quest won't work out in their favor.

"we'll cross that bridge when we get there," annabeth responds. "right now we just have to get to greece."

—

after docking their own boat at the port of athens, the trio was quick to buy three tickets for the local ferry. annabeth grabbed a map as luke and percy were trying to figure out the best method for finding y/n.

they agreed to search all the islands as quick as humanly possible. they'd ask locals if they knew of a strong healer, and if any of them were given an answer that resembled the idea of y/n living there, they'd know to check that island.

after searching through three and a half different islands, getting on and off multiple ferries, and still with no luck of finding the apollo girl, the trio was debating on giving up. until annabeth looked at the map again. she mentioned to luke and percy about one more island where y/n might be. it was much smaller so they could search more thoroughly.

it was almost sunset once they reach the island, meaning they had maybe an hour or two to find y/n in the daylight.

the trio split up as soon as they stepped foot onto the dock. percy searched the perimeter near the edges of the water. annabeth searched through the bundles of shops and hotels. while luke searched through abandoned looking buildings.

as all hope was feeling lost, luke noticed a building of to the side of the commotion. there was a dirt path leading up to it, with no shops or houses surrounding it.

he could only hope and pray that y/n would be inside.

the inside of the building did not match its exterior. the outside looked as if it was going to fall apart at any gust of wind. however the inside was much more lively than luke expected it to be. there were people inside rushing to get past one another. it seemed as if they were all rushing to get to the same person.

luke pushed through the small crowd, and all the air left his lungs when he saw y/n. she was helping someone from the island, who seemed to have a deep cut on his leg. luke could finally guess this was the hospital on the island.

"y/n," luke spoke up, making the commotion in the room subside.

y/n and luke's eyes locked. neither of them were sure what to do.

y/n excuses herself and drags luke outside by his wrist.

"what on earth do you think you're doing here?"

"i had to come and find you," luke tried to explain but y/n only cut him off.

"so you just followed me? i seriously don't want to be around you luke. i thought running away from you and camp would've gotten that through your head."

"y/n i didn't chase after you to try and fix this," he gestures between the two of them, "there's a serious problem at camp."

y/n chuckles, "what? did peter fall off the climbing wall and scrape his elbow again? or did sophie run into a tree for the fifth time this week?"

"y/n this is serious," luke tries to tell her.

"you can't be serious. you dragged annabeth and percy with you?" y/n gestures to the pair walking towards them with urge in their steps.

"i didn't drag them here, please you have to come back to camp," luke tries again.

"is he telling the truth?" she asks percy.

he nods, "thalia's tree is in danger, and so is the camp."

"why didn't you start with that idiot," y/n hits luke's arm before running back inside. she was quick to grab her things. she kind of threw everything into one bag that she might need at camp. most of her healing equipment and a change of clothes.

—

the boat ride back to long island was awkward, to say the least. percy and annabeth were both asleep in the downstairs area of the boat, while luke and y/n were dealing with directing the boat back to camp.

luke was steering, while y/n was sitting beside him. an awkward silence filled the air.

"what made you go to greece?" luke asks, not expecting the girl to answer.

"i just needed to get away," she busies herself with her rings on her fingers.

"from me?"

"from all of it. i just needed a break."

silence falls upon the two again. y/n only moves over to lean her head against luke's shoulder, instantly catching him off gaurd.

"i'm sorry i left," y/n admits, her voice as quiet as a mouse.

"you had your reasons. it just caught us off gaurd, that's all."

another beat of silence passes.

"that night, of our argument, i found something out. about us," y/n turns to face luke. he does the same to her, not caring about steering the boat at this very moment.

"i don't even know how to tell you," y/n rubs her hands over her face. luke simply takes her shaking hands into his, and runs his thumbs over her knuckles.

"i'm pregnant."

luke's world stopped. maybe he thought he was just hearing things. the waves probably distorted y/n's words.

after luke still didn't respond, y/n started explaining herself.

"i was worried you wouldn't react too well to it. so i figured not telling you would be the easiest thing to do. and coming here, to greece, was the best bet."

y/n's heart broke as she watched luke stand. he silently put the steering wheel in it's locked position, before going down the stairs where the four twin beds were.

y/n knew she fucked up. she didn't know how to fix it. or if it could even be fixed.

[tessa-liam]

Life Goes On

Marabelle Series

Chapter 15 – Part 2

Choices – The Royal Romance, AU – (cross-over with Rules of Engagement)

Series Premise – An American teenager from New York City is introduced to the world of a small European country and its society of royalty, nobility, and commoners. How will her life story be transformed? Will this new adventure bring her happiness...or regret?

Marabelle Series Masterlist, My Complete Masterlist

Main Pairing – Crown Prince Liam Rys x F!OC Lady Sophia (Sophie) Taylor

Other Pairings – Maxwell Beaumont x M!OC Daniel (from NYC), Drake Walker x F!OC Melanie Smithson

Most characters belong to Choices/Pixelberry Studios

Series Rating – M*🔞Warnings: this series will have NSFW material, drinking, crude language & innuendo, gun violence

Many thanks to @selina012 for pre-reading.

Category – Alternate universe/on-going series/angst/fluff/cross-over with Choices Rules of Engagement

Chapter Summary – Liam returns home to Cordonia to find Sophie and to address his nation about the university terror attack.

Music & Title Inspiration: Life Goes On, Ed Sheeran, Luke Combs; Run To You, Lucy Thomas

A/N1: Bethany Beaumont, Maxwell’s mother, is originally from the U.S. and is Barthelemy Beaumont’s second wife. Annabelle Beaumont (deceased) is Bertrand’s mother.

A/N2: ‘Social Season’ in this AU series refers to a traditional period in the spring/summer for royalty and members of the court to take part in Balls, dinner parties and charity events.

A/N3: Heartfelt thanks to @Selina012 for joining me in writing ideas and with dialogue/content for this chapter and series.

Aboard the Royal jet, Rashad peered outside the window and took in the white sands of Cordonia's shores passing by. Suddenly his ears popped, and the pilot spoke over the intercom, announcing the estimated arrival time was in 5 minutes. He felt nervous and helpless and could not help but repeat his fears in his mind: ‘There hasn't been any good news’.

Drake watched Liam walk away from his seat, his hand curled around a glass tumbler filled with an expensive scotch. He wondered if they would hear news before they landed. Remembering his best friend's emotional spiral downward after the past assassination attempt three years ago at the palace; this had the makings of that same pattern. This time though, Drake was not going to leave Liam alone.

The dire problem of not having any clues where Sophie was at the moment was suffocating.

As they waited to land, the minutes seemed to draw out. There was not much he or any of Liam's guards could do but wait and prepare to offer the crown prince their full support.

Liam finished off his scotch, the fiery liquid barely registering, and tried to review the notes for his upcoming address to his nation in his head while stepping into his private suite onboard.

There had still been no update on his beloved Sophie's whereabouts or circumstances.

He took a deep, long breath and turned to Bastien walking next to him with unmistakable determination. "Bastien, contact the security team back home immediately. I need all the current details on the scene and an update on the rescue operations."

Bastien sprang into action, calling the security team leader and putting him on speakerphone so that Liam could hear the conversation in real time. Captain Sean Wilson answered the call.

"Captain, this is Crown Prince Liam Rys, requesting an update on the incident at the University of Cordonia." Liam's voice came through the phone speaker, clear and strong.

"Your Highness, the situation at the scene is complicated and we have deployed additional rescue teams to help facilitate the speedy rescue and recovery process.”

The captain’s voice was tired but remained professional. "We have confirmation that multiple students have been injured in the shooting. We have increased security three-fold around the campus and are working diligently to track down the suspects."

Liam's fists clenched involuntarily, but he remained stoic as he continued. "I need a complete list of all the known casualties. I want to know about each and every one."

"Your Highness, we have established a comprehensive emergency response mechanism. At present, we are compiling the information and rescue teams are working at full ability. The list of casualties is being urgently collated, and I will send it to you via encrypted channels as soon as it is completed."

Liam nodded, and though he could not be seen, there was an unmistakable insistence in his tone: "I need this completed as soon as possible. In addition, please continue to strengthen the search and rescue efforts to ensure the safety of all students. At the same time, increase the manpower to hunt down the suspects and I demand that they be brought to justice in the shortest possible time."

Shortly after hanging up, the sound of an encrypted email rang on Liam's tablet, which he quickly clicked on; and displayed a list of known casualties on the screen as asked. There were fourteen people in the column of the dead, and dozens of names in the column of the injured. Liam took a deep breath and began to go through the list of names, one by one, each name like a sharp blade, stabbing at his heart. He searched carefully, afraid to miss any possible detail. But until the end, he did not find Sophie's name.

Liam clenched his fists, his eyes shining with unshakeable determination. "Bastien, as soon as the jet lands, we will go to the scene and assess the situation personally.”

Bastien, at once responded: "Yes, Your Highness. I will ensure that everything is in place."

Liam turned his head to stare out the window at the clouds; his heart was in turmoil. Although Sophie's name did not appear on the list of casualties, his fears did not diminish. He knew that the lack of news did not mean that Sophie was necessarily safe. That she might still be struggling, or that for some reason she might not be able to communicate with the outside world. He had to ensure that Sophie was safe personally.

Thinking of this, he took out his phone and touched Sophie’s number with trembling fingers. But all he heard on the other end of the line was a cold, robotic voice: 'Sorry, the number you are trying to reach is unavailable.'

Sending a text, he carefully tapped every letter, as he expressed his worries and thoughts.

'Love, please call me as soon as you get this message. I'm worried about you.'

___

'Where are you? Are you safe? Why can't I reach you?'

___

'I'm already on my way back to Cordonia. Please wait for me. Please.'

As the minutes ticked by, the 'unread' message on the screen was an ironic and cruel reminder of the futility of all his efforts.

Frustrated, he then tried to call Sophie's aunt and then sent a text message to Maxwell. 'Max, are you okay? Where are you? Have you heard from Sophie?'

Shortly after, his phone vibrated and Liam checked the text immediately .... only to see Maxwell reply,

"Liam, me and Daniel are at the Malic Hotel now, we're all right. But Sophie got separated in the confusion!!!!😢 I have been trying to reach her without success. I'm really worried about her.'

Receiving this update, Liam, although still anxious, was also relieved that Maxwell felt safe. He immediately replied: "Max, good to hear you're okay. Please keep in touch, I'll be back as soon as I can, and we'll find Sophie together."

Liam then picked up his phone again and sent a text message to Sophie's Aunt Bethany:

'Duchess Bethany, this is Liam. How are you? Have you heard from Sophie? I am very concerned for her safety.'

A few minutes later, Bethany replied to his message: 'Your Highness, I'm fine, but Sophie hasn't been heard from since the ceremony. I am also anxiously awaiting her contact. Please try to not worry, I'm sure she will be all right'

Liam's heart sank to rock bottom as he closed his eyes, silently praying that she would be found safe and unharmed. At the same time, he also felt a deep sorrow for all the innocent victims of the attack. He understood as crown prince, he had the responsibility and obligation, along with his father, to ensure the security of the country and its people. This attack was an acute test of his leadership.

University of Cordonia, Capital

As Sophie wandered aimlessly through the maze of people, her eyes welled up. The adrenaline of an earlier escape from the auditorium faded and she felt more sadness, fear and heartache than she had ever felt before. For a moment, she could not control her emotions and tears ran down her cheeks. How she wished it all had been a bad dream, that she would wake up and find that it had all been a false alarm.

An hour later, Sophie and other surviving students and guests were evacuated in an orderly manner to a hotel outside of the campus, the Malic Hotel. The hotel was temporarily requisitioned as an emergency shelter and was surrounded by police and security personnel to ensure internal safety and order. But even so, there was an indescribable tension and unease still in the air.

Sophie had been assigned to room 302. The moment she stepped into her hotel room; Sophie could finally catch her breath. She sat wearily on the edge of the bed, looking out of the window with empty eyes, but her mood could not be calmed. She was eager to know more about what happened at the graduation, especially the mysterious men in black masks, their identity, purpose and why they were there; all of these became lingering questions in her mind.

She instinctively wanted to turn on her phone, hoping to find some clue or news report that would at least give her a sense of what had happened. But reality threw icy water at her - her phone screen was broken and riddled with cracks. She quickly pressed the power button, but the screen only flickered a few times, and then no longer responded. Sophie's eyes flashed with despair, as her contact with the outside world was completely cut off.

Thoughts came like a flood. She missed her Aunt Bethany, who supported her no matter what she was going through, who gave her endless warmth and encouragement, and who always made her feel at home in Cordonia. At the same time, she missed her horse, Marabelle. Every time she mounted Marabelle's back and galloped across the wide fields of Ramsford, all her troubles seemed to go away with the wind. Marabelle's eyes were always full of trust and loyalty, and there was a tacit understanding between them without words. How she wished now that she could feel the freedom and joy of running with Marabelle again.

But most of all, she missed Liam. In this unknown and dangerous moment, how she wished he could be with her, give her support and comfort. Liam, the man she was in love with, who gave her strength. She had never been so impatient to see him, to feel safe in his arms.

Now, however, she could only face all this alone; tears in her eyes had slipped down once again. In addition to missing Liam, Sophie's mind was filled with anxiety about the attack. She did not know how many people had been injured or even killed in the attack; whether Candy and Tom would get better, or what was going on with Maxwell and Daniel. They were her friends and family, and their safety stuck with her. She prayed silently that they would be safe.

Amidst this anxiety, there was so many questions. Who were those men in black at the graduation? Why would they target innocent students? What is the purpose behind this attack?

What puzzled her even more was the emblem of the earth and the baby. What does it mean? What has it got to do with the attack?

Her mind was full of confusion and uneasiness, questions swirled with no answers in sight, leaving her breathless. She tried to piece together every detail of the night in her mind, hoping to remember a clue or an answer. But the images were fragmented, leaving her unable to grasp and put together any useful information.

"Liam ..." Sophia muttered under her breath. She recalled what Liam had said about what he had experienced as a young prince and the memories of an assassination attempt that had fear cutting through his heart like a sharp blade.

Exhaustion came flooding in, overwhelming all her thoughts and feelings. Sophie lay in bed, breathing smoothly and deeply, and her body relaxed, as if all her worries and pain had been temporarily released at that moment. She drifted off to sleep with all her doubts, uneasiness, sadness, and longing for Liam.

The Royal Palace, Cordonia

The press was relentless. Inside the throne room, King Constantine stood stoically, as members of the press core demanded answers about the campus attack. Constantine cleared his throat and addressed the press directly and with the assurance of his years of reign and released a statement:

“At this dark hour, I stand before you with profound grief and pain in my heart. Like many of you, I am mourning the lives lost today, and we pray for the wounded to make a full recovery.

While we grieve the senseless violence that struck our country, we are also furious with the loss and sorrow brought on by those responsible for this evil act. We cannot and will not tolerate the murder and harming of innocent lives simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Those who commit such unspeakable acts will be held accountable and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the crown.”

Stepping down from the dais, Constantine was at once escorted by his royal guard out of the throne room. He looked visibly shaken and gripped his cane, trying to stand straight and upright.

Constantine's face was pale, and his eyes were filled with deep sorrow, his elderly face looked worn. But he refused to shed tears, still maintaining his dignified manner, while in public.

Lawrence, his personal guard, moved quickly to his side, “Your Majesty, the Royal jet has just landed with your son.”

Malic Motor Hotel, temporary safe house, University of Cordonia

The second group of surviving students were transported to the Malic hotel in orderly batches by the police in the pre-dawn night. The bright lights in the lobby could not hide the tension and in these in the air. Police officers, security personnel and medical staff were busy shuttling through the hallways to ensure that every student was properly accommodated.

The noise of footsteps and a murmur of conversation broke the sounds of the night. Sophie woke up, opened her eyes slightly, and through a gap in the half-closed curtains. She saw several figures hurrying along the corridor, as if new survivors had been brought in. She got up and dressed. Soon the door was gently opened, and a figure slowly entered the room. It was a girl about Sophie's age, a little wobbly in her step, visibly shaken by the night's horror and still reeling from the shock.

"Hey, um ... excuse me. I was assigned to this room. Is it okay if I come in?" The girl's voice was small and trembling, and her eyes were slightly timid.

Sophie at once stood up and smiled back, "Hello, come on in." The girl came closer, and Sophie could see her face. She had an East Asian face, long deep brown hair, and large black eyes full of fear and confusion, as if she had just woken up from a nightmare.

The girl said softly, "thank you, my name is Hana. What happened tonight was terrible ..."

Sophie took Hana's hand and sat her down on the edge of the bed. "Hi Hana, my name is Sophie. I know we have been through the same horror. But it is all right now. We can talk together and maybe it will make you feel better." Sophie tried to sound calm and friendly, hoping to bring some comfort to the girl.

Hana gave Sophie a grateful look, and took a deep breath. She began with great determination to recount her own experience at the graduation.

"I was with friends and all of a sudden the lights went out and they were gunshots ... I tried to run away, but there were screams and chaos all around me. I really don't know how I got out. I was taken to the stadium with some people and stayed there almost overnight until we were brought here. But I never saw my friends again. I got separated from them, I do not know what became of them..." Hana wiped tears from her eyes.

Sophie listened quietly, with a surge of sympathy and understanding. She thought of her friends Candy and Tom, and her cousin Maxwell and Daniel, and a pang of worry filled her heart.

"Hana, I've had my own friends injured and go missing too. Candy's arm was hit by shrapnel, Tom was shot in the shoulder, and they are both in the hospital; and Maxwell and Daniel got separated from me when they escaped. I am really worried about them. But I'm sure they will be all right. Your friends must have gotten out safely, too. You must believe that."

Hana's eyes flashed with emotion and trust as she listened to Sophie's words. "Sophie, you are such a strong person. If only I could be as brave as you."

Sophie patted Hana's arm gently and smiled wryly.

"Hana, it's normal to be afraid in this situation. In fact, I am also afraid, and all the people who have been through this attack."

Then Sophie's tone became a little heavier, and she decided to tell Hana what she had seen. With that, Sophie picked up the paper and pen on the table in the room and drew the sign from memory. Hana's face turned pale when she saw Sophie's drawing; her eyes widened, and she repeated in disbelief, "you saw this sign?"

Sophie nodded, her words unmistakable, "Yes, I'm sure. It was a very strange sign. I saw it clearly. They acted quickly and in an orderly manner. They were not ordinary thugs."

Hana held Sophie's hand tightly, her voice shaking slightly. "This sign, I have seen on the news, but with what specific event, I can't remember. However, it is definitely unusual and must be the hallmark of an organisation or group."

Sophie's eyes sharpened, and she frowned in thought. "This is no coincidence. The men in black were clearly prepared, and their attack may well have been targeted. We must tell the police about this as soon as possible.”

Hana shuddered, her voice filled with fear and worry. "But... will that put us in danger? If they are really that powerful, will they retaliate?"

Sophie's heartrate quickened. Of course she was afraid. The scene of Candy and Tom being shot and wounded replayed again before her eyes. The blood staining their shirts, the pain and helplessness weaving in their desperate eyes. These were images that she could never forget.

Then, in her mind, the panic of people running away, their faces showing fear and helplessness. Screams, cries, and pleas for help made up the most tragic symphony of the night. Fires were burning, the smoke was billowing, and the whole evening was enveloped in despair and confusion.

But thinking of the students who had been victimized, of Maxwell and Daniel who were still missing, and of Candy and Tom who were still in the hospital ... Sophie took a deep breath and quieted her heart. She could not let her fear consume her. She knew that her friends needed her. ... 'If you do not step up, Sophie, this kind of tragedy will happen again.'

Sophie stiffened her resolve, her voice was soft, yet powerful: "No, Hana, we cannot stay quiet. Candy, Tom, and your friends are just some of the many people who were hurt tonight. If we stay silent because we are afraid, more people will be hurt in the future. We can't let this continue to happen."

Hana's fear was replaced by a kind of courage as she listened to Sophie's words. "You're right, Sophie. I won't back down," She nodded firmly.

"Sophie, I'm so happy to meet you." Hana looked sheepishly at Sophie, blushing.

"If it wasn't for you, I don't know what I would have done."

She touched Hana's arm and smiled, "I know you have determination, too, Hana." Sophie was genuinely happy ... happy to be friends with Hana.

Sophie hesitated for a moment, then whispered to Hana, "Hana,can you show me the news? My phone broke during the attack." She pulled out her cracked cell phone.

Hana nodded, and picked up her phone from the nightstand to open the news app. Together, they stared at the small screen, searching for news related to last night's university shooting.

On the screen, several shocking reports soon came into view. The mass shooting at the University of Cordonia had attracted widespread attention from the national and international community. The report detailed the chaos and bloodshed of the night, but also said that the police were fully investigating the incident and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice as soon as possible. As she read, she felt mixed feelings.

Sophie continued browsing. Suddenly, a marked headline hit her eyes and made her heart beat faster. --

"Crown Prince Liam Rys urgently ends his visit to Italy and returns home to respond to the shooting incident at Cordonia University."

She tapped eagerly; the live broadcast of the news began automatically.

On the screen, Liam stood in the doorway of the familiar white, shadowy auditorium, behind which the smoke had not fully cleared and live images of ambulances and police cars could be seen. Liam's figure stood unwavering behind press microphones.. He wore a black suit, his eyes were slightly solemn, but his face was more resolute and decided, that could not be ignored.

Sophie stared intently at the screen, every subtle expression of Liam tugging at her heartstrings. His voice came clearly over the phone, calm and strong.

Sophie's eyes were red and brimmed with tears. Her heart was racing, as she felt Liam's deep emotion coming through the screen. And then Liam's words turned to unquestioning determination:

Sophie stared at the screen, her tears spilling onto her cheeks. The moment she heard him say the words, 'Our Cordonian family', her heart swelling with indescribable excitement and pride; she wanted to run to his side and face all of this with him. However, this emotion was quickly overcome by reason, knowing that she could not expose her relationship with Liam, especially when there were other people around watching. She gently turned down the volume on the phone for fear that Hana would notice her emotional reactions. She clutched the phone tightly, as if she could feel Liam's presence and power in her hand.

"Sophie, what's wrong?"

Hana's voice sounded softly, interrupting her thoughts. Sophie suddenly came back to herself with a disguised smile, trying to sound natural. "Oh, nothing, I just didn't expect Prince Liam to be back so soon, it's only been a few hours since the shooting."

There was a subtle tremor in Sophie's words, afraid that her mind would be read by Hana and cause unnecessary trouble for Liam. She knew that at this particular moment she had to be careful not to reveal her relationship with Liam.

"Hana, could I possibly use your phone again? I want to send a text to my family and tell them about my situation."

Hana heard her words, a flicker of concern in her eyes. She seemed aware of Sophie's inner struggle and longing, but out of respect and trust, she did not ask any more questions, just smiled and nodded, "Of course, Sophie." You can use it whenever you need."

Sophie gave Hana a grateful look, and a warm wave came through her heart. She quickly opened the text messages on the phone, her fingers jumping over the keyboard, as she sent two messages. The first one to Aunt Bethany and the second one to Maxwell. In the text messages, Sophie told them that she was doing well and that they should not worry. She expressed concern for Maxwell and Daniel and hoped they were safe.

After sending the two texts, Sophie took a deep breath and began her text to Liam. She edited the text carefully ...

"Hi, Li, this is Sophie.

I'm all right. I am in Room 302 at the Malic Hotel at the university.

There was a shooting at the graduation, and I was lucky to escape. My phone is broken, and now I'm texting you on my roommate, Hana's phone.

I know you must be terribly busy and worried at the moment, but please believe me, I am fine and safe.

Don't worry about me. Just focus on what's needed right in front of you. I love you and look forward to seeing you soon."

The message didn't mention Liam's real name, and Sophie was confident that he would get her message. After pressing the send button, the words "Delivered" appeared on the screen. Suppressing her feelings, she quickly removed the text message, making sure it left no trace.

It didn’t take long for Sophie to hear back from Maxwell and Aunt Bethany.

Maxwell:

“Sophie, it’s so good to hear from you! Daniel and I are at the Malic Hotel too, and we are doing fine. We were looking for you, too. Just relieved to hear you are okay. We’ll talk more when we meet up.”

Aunt Bethany:

“Dear Sophie, I’m so happy to hear from you! Thank God you are okay. We are all so worried about you, but now we can relax. Be safe and we will see each other soon.”

After receiving notifications of incoming messages, the corners of her mouth cannot help but raise in a happy smile, a big stone in her heart finally fell to the ground. Sophie held the phone and re-read their loving words, feeling the warmth and support from her family.

A ray of sunlight penetrated a gap in the curtain and gently spilled into the hotel room, shining on Sophie's face. She gently closed her eyes, quietly feeling the warmth of the sun, the soft light made her very at ease, like a pair of warm hands, smoothing her fear and anxiety away. She was relieved that Maxwell and Daniel had escaped safely and that she could tell Aunt Bethany about herself.

And Liam will know that she's safe. Sophie found a trace of comfort and strength in reaching out to him.

"Thank you, Hana." Sophie smiled and handed the phone back to her new friend.

Hana took the phone and put it away, quietly watching it all, with a warm glow in her eyes. She may not know the story between Sophie and Liam, but she could sense that there was a deep emotion and connection with him in Sophie's heart. In this time of uncertainty, they were supporting each other and facing life's challenges together.

Cordonia International Airport

The Royal motorcade was situated on the tarmac in wait to take Liam and his men to the university.

Liam strode quickly and confidently to his SUV after his security detail had provided Liam with a report of all the victims and fatalities. Sophie's name was not listed, and Liam's heart remained uncertain, until he saw her with his own eyes.

His duty of keeping alert and informed for his country allowed Liam to control his fears of the possibility of seeing his beloved injured or worse. He fought against every fiber of his being to not burst through the chaos, with full disregard, to search for Sophie among the evacuated students. Liam, surrounded by his royal guard, Drake and Rashad, he walked onto the university grounds.

Drake, on the other hand, was not worried about propriety and cared for none of it. He rushed in and did not pay attention to anything but finding Sophie and Maxwell. He broke past some of the law enforcement and was met by a swarm of flashing cameras and press microphones.

"Back away!" He snapped, having to put his forearm up, and not relent. The flashing bulbs, whirring of camera lenses and questions being thrown at him was enough to drive any sane person mad.

"Don't you have decency? What type of scoundrels and fiends are you?"

An officer who recognized Drake, yelled, "settle down, everyone, he's an American friend of the prince's, stand down and don't crowd him."

On the campus of the University of Cordonia, even after several hours had passed, the chaos in the auditorium had not abated by a minute. Several police cars and ambulances, flashing their warning lights, stood by the side of the road at the ready. Police officers and ambulance workers were busy moving around the scene, serious and focused, although physically and mentally exhausted, but still stuck to their posts, to deal with the incident.

A police cordon has been placed around the scene to seal off the auditorium from the outside world. Liam saw the chaos and destruction ... and the despair of his people.

Liam took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and walked resolutely into the crowd and up onto the raised dais. The crowd grew quiet, and all eyes turned to the crown prince.

" Last night, our university campus has experienced an unprecedented trauma. On behalf of the royal family of Cordonia, I extend my sincere comfort and deepest condolences to all those who have been hurt and who have been affected by this tragedy. Your pain is the pain of all Cordonia. We will do everything possible to provide the necessary support and needed assistance to make sure everyone gets through this."

At this point, Liam's eyes flashed a subtle tenderness, that is his endless miss and love for Sophie.

But Liam took a deep breath and condensed his emotions and anger into a powerful determination.

"We will not sit idly by and let go of any of these terrorists. I promise that the Crown will use all resources in its power to track down the attackers and punish those responsible for this tragedy. We will bring justice to the victims, and to our people, to our Cordonian family."

***

The sky in the east gradually lightened as the night slowly faded; like the tide falling, as if in response to his words. A ray of dawn pierced the darkness, and the sun rose at last. The golden light slowly and gently spread over the campus, silently dispelling the darkness and cold; to bring a touch of warmth to the morning. There was renewed trust and hope in the eyes of the crowd. At this moment, they are silently praying, their hearts are full of deep hope: may such a tragedy never be repeated, so that the dead can rest in peace, and so that the living can find the strength to move forward; In the hope that the murderer will be punished, and there will be no hiding places of any crimes and evils.

As the Royal guard escorted Liam from the stage, Bastien approached with Liam’s mobile phone in hand.

“Sir, Lady Sophia has left you a message.”

Thanks for reading ❣️

@choicesficwriterscreations

@selina012

📌tags in the comments, please let me know if you want to be added or removed.

[crazyunsexycool]

My little love

Thanksgiving Day

Bucky Barnes x reader

Warning: fluffiness!!

Word count: 1.1k

A/N: here’s a little Drabble for our favorite family. I wasn’t so happy with how it ended but I’ve only slept for 6 hours in the last 48👍🏻🥺😴

Series masterlist

Henry had his hair pulled back and his apron on. Big beautiful blue eyes followed your every movement. From his place on the step stool he helped you work. You needed to get back to your normal routine and what was more normal than cooking with Henry?

With a smile on his face he does as you ask. Music plays softly from a speaker and you ask him what he was up to while you were gone. It’s a sweet back and forth as you both move around the kitchen. Henry’s found a love for cooking and you’re more than happy to encourage him. Sometimes Lottie helps but she makes more of a mess than anything. Those days were fun too but Henry was taking this very seriously. You watched as he focused on the task in front of him. Furrowed brows and his tongue poking out as he made sure his job was done perfectly.

“Is this good mama?” He looks up at you.

“It’s perfect. Now we have to get everything in the pot.”

You spend the rest of the morning working on a few different dishes. Lottie and Bucky walk in every so often, mostly to be taste testers. When it gets closer to dinner time everyone gets ready to head to the shared dining room.

****

You were grateful that Sophia had bought the kids an outfit for thanksgiving dinner. There were so many things going on that it was the last thing on your mind but it was their first major holiday and they deserved something special. Lottie wore a shirt and skirt combo with her hair half up and a bow to finish off the look. While Henry left his hair down, his outfit was a t-shirt and jeans. You and Bucky went with sweaters and jeans, something simple but comfortable.

It was good that Tony decided that this year would be family only. Your dad was in the living room watching football with Sophia, Steve, Tony, Joshua and Clint. Bucky joined them after dropping off some of the dishes you’d made. Sam, Sarah, Laura, Pepper, Molly, Luke and now you were going back and forth in the kitchen while the kids ran off to play.

Once everything was ready everyone gathered at the table, even the kids. Everybody got a chance to say what they were grateful for and Henry was next. He kneeled on his chair so that he could be seen.

“I-um,” he looked over at you and Bucky, the nerves getting the better of him. “I’m thankful that you’re my family.”

Some awed at his words.

“I’m thankful that you found me and I don’t have to be with the bad men anymore.” He looks over at Lottie before his eyes settle on you and Bucky. “And I’m thankful for having baby back and that you’re my daddy and my mama.”

Henry gets off his chair and stands between you and Bucky so that he can hug you both. Then he gives Lottie a kiss on the cheek and settles back down on his chair.

Lottie, having picked up what everyone was saying, stands up on her chair. She gets shy for a moment but with some encouragement she speaks up.

“Am tankful fo’ bubba.” She says first and then she lists all of her aunts and uncles and gwandpa, “an am tankful fo’ Steebie.” She gives him a big smile before turning to you. “Am tankful fo’ habing mama home. An habing dada, I lobe dada.” She gets a bit tearful at the end and she reaches for you and then Bucky.

By this point you’re wrecked emotionally but you speak anyway.

“Well,” you clear your throat. “I’m very thankful that I have you all in my life. I’m grateful for being here today, which wouldn’t have been possible without all of you. Most importantly I’m so thankful for you.” You turn to look at Bucky. “Bucky, you make me so happy and I love you so much. I’m so thankful for Henry and Charlotte. I’m so happy to be your mama.” You turn to them to find them both teary eyed. “You two are the best thing to ever happen to me.”

Everyone turns to look at Bucky and he rolls his eyes. You chuckle and elbow him lightly.

“Fine.” He huffs before smiling. “Everything Y/N said.”

Sam throws a bread roll at Bucky which causes everyone to laugh while Sam boos.

“Say something.”

“I’m grateful for everyone except Sam.”

Again everyone laughs.

“But really, I am thankful for all of you. You helped me and the kids during one of the hardest times for us.” Bucky turns and takes your hand. “I’m thankful to have you in my life. I love you so much and you are the best mother to our kids. After being freed I never thought I’d find someone that could love me or want to have children with me and here you are proving me wrong. I’m so lucky to be a father to two of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met.” Bucky leans forward and winks at Lottie and Henry. “I love you two so much. Finally I’m thankful for Ed. You’re a great man, I wouldn’t have made it through the last three months without you.”

“Now that’s a speech.”

“Hey pops, why don’t you carve the turkey?” Tony says as he hands the knife over to Eddie.

“Everyone pay attention. I’m gonna show you how it’s done.”

Dinner was great. Everyone laughed and talked amongst themselves. Henry was praised for the food he helped cook. You could tell how proud he was and you’d told him as much.

After dinner and the clean up everyone moved to the shared living room. There was some dancing, games were played and tipsy karaoke happened. During most of this you and Bucky had taken the love seat. Bucky had one leg stretched out on the couch allowing you to sit with your back resting against his chest. His arms kept you safe and close as your hands intertwined with his. Bucky would press kisses every so often against your temple or he’d comment on whatever was happening. Both of you happily watched the others joke around or sang along. The kids couldn’t contain their happiness as they kept running up to the two of you and expressing how much fun they were having.

Later when the kids were in bed, falling asleep easily from all of their excitement over their first thanksgiving and you were in Bucky’s arms, you couldn’t help but think back at what you survived. It was over and you were back home in the arms of the man you loved and your sweet little ones.

There were so many more firsts the kids would be experiencing and you were thankful that you’d get to be there with them.

Permanent taglist:

@rebekahdawkins

@cjand10

@nalny5

@Sturchling

@angywritesstuff

@seitmai

@writing-for-marvel

@goldylions

@almosttoopizza

@littleseasiren

@pono-pura-vida

@talesofadragon

@midnightramyeoncravings

@bunnygirlwriter876

@pandaxnieenke

@kandis-mom

@hisredheadedgoddess28

@braveclementine

Series taglist:

@buckystevelove

@vicmc624

@just-someone11

@sjsmith56

@emily-roberts

@spencerriedisagorgman

@superduckmilkshake

@samfreakingwinchester

@lofaewrites

@enchantedbarnes

@callsign-athena

@broadwaybabe18

@saranghaey

@viperchick47

@ilovetaquitosmmmm

@da-pimp-river-niall

@ozwriterchick

@jenn-f

@rebel-soldat

@therealwritersblog

@alyroseking

@samlworld

@witchybabel

@capswife

@oceaniamadness

@queenie32

@buckybarnessimpp

@multifandom-girlie

@joliver1328

[yourartmatters-itswhatgotmehere]

Sophia Bush, i love you so♥

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by One Tree Hill Color Palette (@othcolorpalette)

great episode where Soph talks about her queerness & self-discovery journey more than a few times!

"The world speculates, people will really take your self-discovery from you if you're not careful."

"You can always take your power back."

"I've always played queer women on TV."

"What was really interesting for me in my 20s was being told by queer elders who I respect so much 'Well, you aren't gay enough to say you're bi'."

"I mean, when you think about the fact that Love, Simon was the first high-school story or rom-com to star a gay character and it came out in.. I think 2015(?) (actually 2018!) like, HELLO?!"

x

+also THIS POST HERE: /Some mentions and hints of Ash from pod snippets from Soph DQ+WIP/ https://www.tumblr.com/bushlyn/758007415969021953/some-mentions-and-hints-of-ash-from-pod?source=share

.

.

old verison of this post but links won't work idk why:

https://yourartmatters-itswhatgotmehere.tumblr.com/post/730599872478183424/httpsariesbillytumblrcompost6552865785304186

https://www.tumblr.com/yourartmatters-itswhatgotmehere/730599872478183424/httpsariesbillytumblrcompost6552865785304186

. https://yourartmatters-itswhatgotmehere.tumblr.com/private/730599872478183424/tumblr_s27c0tVTop1uy8yaa

. .

[biggerbetterbat]

WITH YOU II | [21] A BRAND-NEW BEGINNING

Daryl Dixon x oc!Charlie

Summary: The aftermath of the lineup. Everything and everyone the group knew, is now shattered. It’s the beginning of a new era. Charlie meets someone from her past, and her world is upside down once again.

Words: 3.651

Warnings: death, violence, language

Song: Tom Odell - Another Love

A/N: I’m extremely excited to share this Act with you. This part of the story I had planned for the longest time, and now I can finally show it to you.

Enjoy!

The first rays of dawn pierced through the trees, casting an eerie light on the horrific scene. The forest was still, the air thick with a silence that felt unnatural, as though the world itself was holding its breath. Charlie knelt on the cold, hard ground, her knees aching from the pressure, but her mind barely registered the discomfort. Her eyes were glued to the earth in front of her, unwilling to take in the full scope of the carnage around her.

Mom, dad, Finn, Will, Luke, Pete, Amy, Jim, Jacquie, Otis, Sophia, Dale, Shane, Patricia, Jimmy, Lori, T-Dog, Oscar, Axel, Merle, Andrea, Zach, Patrick, Hershel, Mika, Lizzie, Bob, Beth, Tyreese, Noah, Deanna, Denise, Abraham, Glenn.

Her gaze flickered briefly to what remained of Glenn, and she felt something inside her break. Abraham's bold, defiant words still echoed in her ears—the last remnants of his unbreakable spirit. A sob threatened to rise in her throat, but she swallowed it down, too terrified and exhausted to cry. Her body felt like it was betraying her, but the fear had drained all the energy from her bones.

Mom, dad, Finn, Will, Luke, Pete, Amy, Jim, Jacquie, Otis, Sophia, Dale, Shane, Patricia, Jimmy, Lori, T-Dog, Oscar, Axel, Merle, Andrea, Zach, Patrick, Hershel, Mika, Lizzie, Bob, Beth, Tyreese, Noah, Deanna, Denise, Abraham, Glenn.

The distant rumble of an engine echoed through the still forest, sending a shiver down her spine. She turned slowly, her body numb as she watched the familiar silhouette of the RV appear from between the trees. Her heart sank like a stone. Negan was back.

Rick stumbled out of the RV, pushed roughly by Negan. His face was pale, his eyes hollow—he looked like a man who had been to hell and back. Negan followed him, swinging Lucille over his shoulder with a smirk that twisted Charlie's stomach.

"Miss me?" Negan called out, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. His eyes swept over the group like a predator surveying its prey, the gleam of satisfaction sickening. "This trip was about the way you looked at me. I wanted you to understand," Negan said to Rick, shaking his head. "But you're still looking at me the same damn way... like I shit in your scrambled eggs. That's not gonna work. Should I give you another chance?"

Rick's broken voice answered, "Yeah... Ye-Yes."

Negan's grin widened as he gestured with Lucille. "All right. And here it is... the grand-prize game. What you do next will decide whether your crap day becomes everyone's last crap day or just another crap day. Get some guns to the back of their heads."

Charlie dropped her gaze to the blood-soaked earth beneath her knees. The cold barrel of a gun pressed against the back of her head, the metal biting into her skin. The sensation should have terrified her, but all she felt was a numb, hollow coldness. Glenn was dead. Abraham was dead. What more could they do to her?

But she regretted asking herself that question the moment she heard Negan's next command.

"Kid... Right here."

Her heart seized in her chest as she looked up, her gaze locking on Carl. He was kneeling just a few feet away, his face set in grim defiance. Charlie's heart ached as she watched him—Carl, who had grown up too fast in this unforgiving world. He didn't flinch as Negan's gaze settled on him, but Charlie could feel the fear that must have been coursing through him.

Negan wrapped his belt around Carl's left arm, pulling it tight, and her stomach churned. She wanted to scream, to leap forward, but the gun pressed against her head was a sharp reminder of what could happen if she moved.

"Get down on the ground, kid, next to Daddy."

Carl complied without hesitation, lying beside Rick. Charlie's heart shattered at the sight. Even with the pain and fear etched into his young features, boy still tried to stay strong. His silent bravery only made the situation more unbearable.

"Rick, I want to take your axe..." Negan said, pulling the words out slowly, like they were a sick joke.

"No, please..." Charlie whispered, barely audible, her voice trembling. The gun pressed harder against her head.

"Cut your son's left arm off. Right on that line," Negan continued with cold detachment. "Now, I know. I get it. You need to process it. But I'm gonna need you to do it, or else all these people are gonna die. Then Carl dies. And the people at home. And then you... eventually."

"You don't have to do this," Michonne spoke up, her voice tight with barely contained emotion. She was saying what Charlie wanted to scream, but fear kept her frozen.

"You understand!" he mocked, pointing at Michonne. "She understands! They understand! Yeah. I'm not sure Rick does."

Charlie watched as Rick crumbled, tears falling freely from his eyes, his entire body shaking. Her own tears threatened to fall, but she clenched her jaw, forcing them back. She couldn't break—not now. But as Negan continued to toy with them, as Rick knelt over Carl, axe in hand, Charlie felt herself reaching her limit.

"Rick!" Negan barked. "Not making a decision is a big decision!"

The tension in the air was unbearable, suffocating. Charlie couldn't stand it anymore. Her heart was tearing in two, and before she realized what she was doing, she cried out, "Rick, do something!"

"Woah!" Negan called and pointed at her with Lucille. "Do I need to remind you what happens if you don't comply?"

Charlie's breath caught in her throat as she looked up, her eyes locking with Negan's for the first time. It was as if electricity ran down her body. His gaze was sharp, almost predatory, but there was something else there too—a terrifying glint of amusement, as if he relished every ounce of pain and fear radiating from the group.

Among everything, he was a leader. Under his gaze she felt exposed, vulnerable, her fear laid bare in front of him. The intensity of his gaze made her feel small, like a prey caught in the crosshairs of a hunter.

Her eyes flickered downward, unable to bear the weight of Negan's gaze any longer. The sight of Glenn and Abraham's lifeless bodies twisted her stomach, the fresh blood still staining the earth like a gruesome reminder of the horror they had just endured. She felt a cold wave of nausea wash over her, but more than that, an overwhelming sense of sorrow for Carl. The boy had been through so much already, and now he was being forced to face this unimaginable cruelty.

Her heart clenched in fear. Carl didn't deserve this. He was just a kid, thrust into a world of violence and death, and now he was being pushed to the breaking point. She could see the strain in his face, the way his jaw tightened and his eyes hardened, trying to be brave for everyone. But beneath it all, she could sense the fear, the uncertainty.

"Good," Negan said, a sinister grin spreading across his face. "Now, are you gonna make me count? Okay! I am counting!"

Tears streamed down Charlie's face, the dirt and blood beneath her knees. Rick, once a symbol of unshakable strength, was now broken beside her, his own tears mingling with the grime on his face. Her heart shattered at the sight of him—this man, their leader, now utterly defeated and ready to comply with the unthinkable. As Rick steeled himself for what Negan had ordered, the man's voice cut through the air once again, dripping with twisted authority.

"Rick, you answer to me," Negan's voice was casual but commanding, a tone that sent chills down her spine. "You provide for me. You belong to me. Right?"

Rick, trembling, nodded.

"Speak when you're spoken to!"

"Provide for you. Right," his voice cracked, barely a whisper.

Negan smiled, satisfied with the broken man in front of him. "We did this... together. Even the dead guys on the ground!" His gaze flicked to Glenn and Abraham's lifeless bodies. "Hell, they get the spirit award from me. Today was a productive damn day!"

As he stood tall, his words seemed to hang in the air like a death sentence. "Things have changed, and I hope, for all of your sake, that you get it now." Turning to Dwight, he ordered, "Ah, Dwight... load him up."

Charlie's heart pounded as she saw Dwight roughly seize Daryl, dragging him towards the truck. Fear surged through her, nearly paralyzing, but instinct took over. She couldn't stand by. She couldn't lose someone else. Tears blurred her vision as she watched, her chest tightening with panic.

"No!" Charlie screamed, her voice raw. "Leave him alone! Leave him alone!"

Her voice was drowned out by the chaos, a futile plea in the storm of despair. But then, Negan's voice broke through the tumult like a crack of thunder.

"Stop!" Negan's bellow halted everyone in their tracks. His frustration was palpable, his face contorted in rage. "How many people have to die for you to understand the rules?" He groaned, rubbing his eyes like this whole massacre was an inconvenience. Then, opening his eyes, he pointed Lucille directly at Charlie.

Her blood turned to ice.

"I've changed my mind," Negan declared, his voice chillingly calm now. His dark eyes locked onto hers, a twisted grin curling his lips. "Her."

Charlie's breath caught in her throat as Dwight released Daryl and turned his predatory gaze toward her. She stumbled backward, her heart pounding with renewed terror. "No!" she screamed, her voice breaking as she tried to fight the inevitable. "Let me go!"

Her body thrashed in desperation, but Dwight's grip was unrelenting. She felt the strength drain from her limbs as she fought against him, her mind spinning with fear and helplessness. The world around her faded into the background, the voices of her friends desperate but distant.

"No," she heard Andy's weak voice. "No. No! NO!" he screamed and probably tried to reach her, because then came the sound of ruffled clothes and his groans.

Negan's eyes gleamed with sadistic pleasure as he knelt beside Rick, almost conversational. "I like her. I like her a lot. She's mine now."

He leaned closer to Rick, his voice dripping with menace. "But you still want to try something? Not today, not tomorrow...." He smiled darkly. "Not today, not tomorrow, I'll cut pieces off of—"

"Charlie..." Rick's whisper barely escaped his lips.

"And I really don't want to hurt such a pretty girl. But you push me, and I'll bring her right to you... and make you do it for me."

Charlie's world shattered around her as she felt the cold grip of fate tighten. There was no escaping it now. There was no plan or person that would miraculously come and save them. Save her. Negan had claimed her, and the nightmare had only just begun.

Negan patted Rick on the back, as if they were old friends, and once again stood up.

"Welcome to a brand-new beginning, you sorry shits!"

The journey to the Sanctuary felt like a descent into darkness, every jolt of the van a reminder of how far she was from the life she once knew. The life she just created for herself. Charlie sat in the back, alone with her thoughts and the traumatizing memories of the night before. Tears threatened to spill again, but fear kept her silent. Any sound, any weakness, could cost her dearly. The van rattled along the desolate roads, each mile a bitter reminder of her helplessness.

When the vehicle finally screeched to a halt, Charlie's heart began to race. The doors swung open, and she squinted against the sudden burst of sunlight. Her pulse quickened as she stepped out onto the dusty ground of the Sanctuary, uncertainty gnawing at her insides.

"We're home," Dwight said with a detached finality.

Every instinct screamed at her to fight, to rebel, but fear gripped her too tightly. Her body was exhausted from kneeling for so long and drained from emotions she experienced. And wrong move meant death. It wasn't Shane or the Governor, Negan and his people were the force you can't beat alone. She had to be careful.

As she glanced around, the sight of the Sanctuary sent a shiver through her. The walls loomed high and oppressive, casting long shadows over everything in sight. This was no community, no safe haven—it was a fortress of despair, built on brutality.

Her breath caught as she turned her back to building, to the sound of moaning. She almost gasped and took a step closer in that direction.

The cries of the living mingled with the grotesque groans of the dead, a sickening dance of terror. Alive people were trying to fight the dead, eventually getting bitten and turning into monsters. Charlie felt her stomach lurch as the horrifying realization hit her.

"Impressive, right?" Dwight's voice was cold, as though this macabre spectacle were just another form of entertainment. "He likes a bit of fun."

A wave of anger surged through Charlie, her fists clenching at her sides. How could anyone find amusement in such horror? But before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the chaos.

"What do we have here?"

Charlie froze. The voice—so familiar it sent a chill down her spine—made her heart stop. For a fleeting moment, she dared to hope, dared to imagine the impossible. She was too far from Atlanta, and it had been so long since the outbreak. Her brothers couldn't have survived this long... could they? But the sound of that voice was undeniable, even if her mind screamed that it had to be a trick of her trauma-soaked imagination.

She turned slowly, her movements hesitant, anticipation swirling in her chest. And then her breath caught in her throat.

It wasn't a stranger standing before her.

His face was worn, marked by years of hardship, his eyes darkened by the things he had seen. He seemed taller now, more muscular than she remembered, his body hardened by survival. His once-short blonde hair had grown wild and unruly, and a scruffy beard framed his strong jaw. A cigarette hung loosely from his lips, his focus entirely on lighting it.

Tears welled in Charlie's eyes. She took an instinctive step forward, her body moving before her mind could catch up. But she stopped, as if afraid her hope would shatter if she moved too fast.

The man looked up. His eyes widened in disbelief, the cigarette nearly slipping from his lips. His gaze locked on her face, scanning it as though trying to analyze the image before him. For a moment, time stood still. There were no words, no explanations—just shock, disbelief, and something deeper that flickered in both their eyes.

Then, without a word, he moved toward her, and Charlie fell into his arms. His embrace was strong, protective, and in that moment, the world around them ceased to exist. Charlie buried her face in his shoulder, she closed her eyes feeling grounded. In the chaos of this day, after months of uncertainty and unknown, she finally held something she knew.

For a long time, they stood in silence, holding on as if letting go would break the fragile reality of their reunion. The noise of the Sanctuary faded into the background, leaving only the warmth of the embrace.

Charlie didn't want to let go. She feared that if she did, he might disappear, and she would wake up to find that this had all been a cruel dream. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him again. Not William. Not her brother. Not after all she had endured.

The air was thick with silence, interrupted only by the soft drip of water echoing through the dim, damp chamber. Charlie sat huddled in the corner, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, desperate to hold onto what little warmth she could find. Her mind raced, consumed with thoughts of her friends, her family, and the life she feared she had lost forever.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, spilling a narrow shaft of light into the dark cell. Charlie's heart leaped into her throat. She blinked rapidly, her eyes struggling to adjust to the sudden brightness. A figure stepped inside, and recognition hit her like a wave.

"I thought you were dead," he gasped, falling to his knees in front of her, his face pale with disbelief.

"I thought the same thing," Charlie whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Tears welled in her eyes, but she fought to keep them at bay. "What happened, William? What happened to our family? Are they... are they still alive?"

William's face darkened, his shoulders sagging under the weight of painful memories. "Mom didn't make it. She was bitten, almost at the start. We were left on our own."

Charlie felt a sob rising in her throat, but she decided to swallow it.

"And the boys? What happened to them? Where are they?" Her voice cracked, her words urgent, but his silence spoke volumes. She grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. "Will, tell me."

His eyes darted away. "Things got complicated. We didn't know what to do... or where you were. If you even were alive."

"But what about our brothers? Where are they now?"

"I don't know," William muttered, the admission heavy with guilt.

Hot tears stung Charlie's eyes, her chest tightening with grief. She saw the toll it had taken on William, the haunted look in his eyes, the way he seemed haunted by the memories. But before she could press him further, he offered a sliver of hope.

"But Dad's here."

Charlie's breath hitched. "Dad's here?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

"He's working on something now," William nodded, his expression softening. "He knows you're here, and he'll come as soon as he can, I promise."

Relief washed over her, but unease quickly followed. William reached out, brushing the tears from her cheeks with a tenderness that only made her heart ache more. Yet the moment of comfort was short-lived.

"I tried to get them to let you out," William said, his voice low. "But Negan... Negan said you have to stay here for a while."

"Why? What does he want?"

"Negan takes care of us, Charlie. He protects us. The Sanctuary is our home now."

"Our home?" Charlie's anger flared. "Are you out of your mind? Negan murdered my friends!"

William's face twisted in disbelief as if placed all the missing puzzles together. "Wait... you were with those people?"

"Yes, and they saved my life. Many times. I wouldn't be sitting here if not them," she spat, her voice laced with fury. "What's with that look, Will? Do you really think they're the bad guys?"

"They killed my friends," he shot back, his voice hard, but there was an edge of uncertainty.

"Friends?" Charlie scoffed. "You mean the same people who terrorize communities, who leave innocent survivors to die?"

The words hung in the air like a guillotine. For the first time, they weren't just siblings—they were enemies, standing on opposite sides of an impossible divide. The weight of their unspoken conflict pressed down on them, the shared bond of family shattered by the brutal reality of their new world.

"You were there," he said firmly rather than asking. "In the outpost. You were there."

Before Charlie could say anything, a man appeared in the doorway, his expression grim. "William," he said quietly. "Negan's orders. We're leaving."

William straightened, his posture shifting with a newfound sense of purpose. Charlie noticed the way the man looked to him, not just as a fellow survivor, but as someone in a position of authority. Her stomach sank. This was what Paula had warned her about. The truth hit her with a crushing sense of betrayal—William was important here. Negan trusted him.

"Where are you going?" Charlie demanded, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"We're heading to Alexandria," William replied, his tone casual, as though he just said he was going shopping.

"Alexandria?" she gasped, her heart pounding. Charlie's blood ran cold. "William, please... do something for me."

He paused, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "What is it?"

"Check on Rosita and Sasha," she said, her voice pleading. "One of the men Negan killed was close to them. And if you see a boy with an eye patch, tell him I'm okay."

William nodded slowly, though his expression remained guarded.

"And find out what happened to Maggie," she whispered urgently, gripping his arm. "Please, Will. I need to know."

His face hardened, his emotions warring behind his eyes. He reached into his back pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. "Negan told me to give you this."

He tossed a stack of photos onto the ground, and Charlie's heart dropped as she recognized the bloody, mutilated bodies of her friends. A wave of nausea surged through her as she stared at the grotesque images, her grief quickly turning into a white-hot rage.

Tears blurred her vision, but this time they weren't from sorrow. They were from the sheer, consuming fury burning inside her. Her breaths became shallow and panicked, her chest tightening as the weight of everything—her captivity, her loss, her brother's betrayal—crashed down on her all at once. She pressed her hands to her chest, as if trying to stop herself from shattering completely.

And one thought didn't want to leave her mind.

If William was someone important here, her father must have been just as important. And if Clay Reed was in position of power next to a sadist killer, she was in bigger troubles.

Suddenly Negan became less evil.

[s10127470]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Archive Warning: Graphic Depictions Of Violence

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M

Fandoms: Marvel, Marvel (Comics), Marvel Adventures (Comics)

Relationships: Peter Parker/Mary Jane Watson, Reed Richards/Susan Storm, Ben Grimm/Alicia Masters, Bruce Banner/Betty Ross, James “Logan” Howlett/Raven Darkhölme (past), Carol Danvers/Steve Rogers, Bethany Cabe/Tony Stark, Donald Blake/Ororo Munroe, Hank Pym/Janet Van Dyne, T'Challa/Patricia Walker, Clint Barton/Bobbi Morse, Sam Wilson/Wren Worthington, Elektra Natchios/Natasha Romanov, Bobby Drake/Johnny Storm, Wanda Maximoff/Vision, Flash Thompson/Pietro Maximoff, Jean Grey/Scott Summers, Abigail Brand/Henry McCoy, Emma Frost/Piotr Rasputin, Elizabeth Braddock/Kurt Wagner, Anna-Marie Carlyle/Remy LeBeau, Kitty Pryde/Rikki Barnes, Matt Murdock/Jennifer Walters, Luke Cage/Jessica Jones, Misty Knight/Danny Rand, Cindy Moon/Sophia Sanduval, Clea Strange/Stephen Strange

Characters: Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, The Avengers - Character, The X-Men - Character, The Defenders - Character, Doctor Strange, Namor the Sub-Mariner, the silver surfer, She-Hulk - Character, Hellcat, the punisher - Character, Blade, Ghost Rider, Doctor Doom, the mole man, The Thunderbolts - Character, Galactus, The Mandarin, The Sinister Six, Hydra - Character, Loki, The Masters of Evil, The Brotherhood of Mutant Supremacy, The Hand - Character, The Skrulls, The Web Warriors, Black Cat - Character, Deadpool, Other Marvel Villains, Other Marvel Characters, Other Marvel Heroes, Venom

Additional Tags: Superheroes, Superhero Adventures, Action/Adventure, Humor, Action, Friendship/Love, Romance, vibes, Genderbent Characters

[burntthecity]

hi all, updated plotting search post coming at you. i'm attempting to get my oc muse back after a slight drought with some of my most wanted fcs, opposites and pairings atm. although you can assume i’m searching for romantic plots unless stated otherwise, i also love platonic and would be happy to do friendship plots. everything is under the cut!

fyi, i will do f/m, f/f and f/nb plots! :)

wanted fcs/people I’d like to use: shelley hennig, joseph gordon-levitt, cody christian, rachel sennott, emeraude toubia, elle fanning, bill hader, zendaya, dylan arnold, eve hewson, sophie cookson, hailee steinfeld, josephine langford, victoria pedretti, virginia gardner, elizabeth lail, brenton thwaites, paul mescal, sarah pidgeon, robbie amell, jennifer morrison, vanessa morgan, bruna marquezine, hande erçel, grace van patten, charlie heaton, gideon adlon, greta onieogou, diana silvers, sophia carson, daisy edgar-jones, devon bostick, arden cho, molly gordon, phoebe dynevor.

general opps i’d love: nicholas galitzine, peter gadiot, lola tung, lakeith stanfield, diego luna, josh hutcherson, caitlin stacey, ben feldman, ayo edibri, lizeth selene, ryan gosling, rachel sennott, gael garcia bernal, michiel huismen, molly gordon, ruby cruz, vanessa kirby, victoria pedretti, felix mallard, penn badgley, grace van dien, madison bailey, taron egerton, aaron taylor-johnson, lakeith stanfield, shelley hennig, nick robinson, ross butler, gael garcia bernal, dominique provost chalkley, david harbour.

specific pairings (bold is who i want to write as)

nicholas galtitzine x any female (will give you your most wanted fem opposite)

luke hemmings x chase sui wonders

dylan o’brien x shelley hennig

maia reficco x kit connor

taylor swift x harry styles

jessica chastain x any male

cailee spaeny x any male

cody christian x any female (might require some backstory/an interest check, my cody oc is a hot mess lmao)

joseph gordon levitt x any female (35+)

phoebe tonkin x claire holt (platonic)

madison iseman x any f/m/nb (platonic and/or romantic, m if romantic)

priscilla quintana x any female/femme nb (platonic and/or romantic)

riley keough x any f/m/nb (platonic and/or romantic)

natalia dyer x any f/m/nb (platonic and/or romantic)

other important things:

if we’ve gotten to the point of plotting on discord before and you went ghost on me, i’ll be hesitant to plot with you again. sorry, but i hate feeling like i’m wasting my time. i am in no way innocent with this either, but i generally do not let it go to that stage and ghost. communication is key.

will also be hesitant to write against you if you only write f in f/m plots or require doubling. no one wants to be used for their males. i'd be happy to give you my guys when i have the muse for them, but i also have many queer lady charas that deserve special treatment too.

i’m a pretty low maintenance partner, meaning as much as i love plotting and sending headcanons and will happily do that with you, i don’t expect to hear from you constantly throughout the day and expect the same of you with me. as long as you let me know you’re still interested, great! but please do not pester me for replies or track me if i'm online. it makes me extremely uncomfortable. respect my boundaries and i'll do the same for you.

i am a smut fan but find my muse burns out really fast if the plot is solely smut and no real storyline to go with it. if sexy stuff happens, let's explore it! i just don't want it to be the whole plot.

despite all that seeming slightly harsh ^^, i promise i'm very friendly and approachable.

if you got through all this, bless you. please send me a message if you're interested or like this and i will come to you!!

[sc0tters]

For todays daily thought I bring us points of how our Darcy x Cole, Kennedy x Jack, and Rouge x Quinn aus became universe. Because we basically have a female Hughes Zegras and Caufield (I feel like we need a Turcotte or something sister with Trevor) trio on our hands here. And to make it a bit more fun since it is there day let’s talk about any ideas you have for these three!

- imagine Rouge has always low-key had a crush on Quinn?? Like not drawing hearts around his name in her diary (or maybe she did idk) but like she craved his compliments as a kid.

- but he has always rough on her as a kid because she was the youngest amongst the girls so it often felt like the Luke to the boys trios.

- that’s why she got on so well with Luke because they were in the same age band and since she used to not click with the girls.

- those two were always either playing hockey or ministicks or were perfecting their wii sports resort skills.

- Kennedy and Darcy are literal birds of a feather who were so often attached at the hip.

- honestly they dressed up Rouge once seeing her like a little sister and they swore it was so much fun as one took the hair and the other took the outfit to get her all ready for awards nights.

- so now Rouge always gets them to fly out when she has an awards night even in the NHL if they aren’t already coming.

- now that they’re older there is a groupchat with all three of them where they honestly talk such shit about their brothers 😭.

- imagine how rouge is brought back to feeling on the outside when she’s struggling with Quinn and here those two are bonding over being pregnant-

- Rowden and Sophia love their aunties and often get brought along for their days out during the summer if the boys are golfing.

- there ends up being a road of houses at the lake that they all purchase to spend the summers with each other.

- all of their parents laugh at how the girls have stuck together just like the boys did.

- events for their kids must be so embarrassing because they all show up.

- everyone in that group is every kids godparent.

[ghost-king-kai]

The Requesting Hall Guidelines

Welcome to the request guidelines! Here you can be informed of my dos & don'ts, characters & fandoms available, and rules in The Requesting Hall.

Please review (or at least skim through) these rules prior to sending a request to the hall.

Request Rules

Be sure to keep asks and requests respectful.

Make sure the request is detailed enough for me to write for.

Anons are welcome! (if you'd like a specific designation, feel free to ask)

The Dos & Don'ts

These are the types of requests I do and don't do.

I Do...

x Male!Reader

x GN!Reader

x Transmasc!Reader

x NB!Reader

Fluff Fics

Angst Fics (Heavily dependent on the topics)

Platonic Fics (Familial, Teammates, Colleagues, Crewmates, Etc.)

Character Concepts for Reader (As long as the idea is feasible)

Oc Requests & Asks

I Don't Do...

x Fem!Reader

x Transfem!Reader

NSFW/Smut (Besides implications)

Triggering Topics (Sexual Assault, Rape, Abuse, Self Harm, etc.)

Fetish Requests

Character Ships

Characters Available For Requests

The listed characters and fandoms are the ones I am usually inspired to write on the regular or as of right now but that doesn't mean you can't ask if I write for a specific fandom or character that isn't on this list, especially if it's from the list in the Kingdom Directory.

Marvel

Specify Timeframe

Available for Romantic Requests: Peter Parker (Only Tom & Andrew Portrayals)

Platonic Only: The Avengers (Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanoff, Bruce Banner, Thor Odinson, Clint Barton, Sam Wilson, Wanda Maximoff, Peter Parker, The Vision) [All Together & Individually] The Marvels (Carol Danvers, Monica Rambeau, Kamala Khan) [All Together & Individually] Etc. (there are literally so many characters-)

DC

Specify Adaptation & Timeframe (I mostly do DCAU & Young Justice, though)

Platonic Only: The Bat Family (Bruce Wayne, Dick Grayson, Jason Todd, Tim Drake, Damian Wayne, Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown) [All Together & Individually] Jon Kent (Supersons Comics Series Version) The Team (Dick Grayson, Wally West, Kaldur'ahm, Artemis Crock, M'gann M'orzz, Connor Kent) (Young Justice TV Series) [All Together & Individually]

Persona 5

Specify Timeframe

Available for Romantic Requests: Ren Amamiya

Platonic Only: The Phantom Thieves (Ren Amamiya, Morgana, Ryuji Sakamoto, Ann Takamaki, Yusuke Kitagawa, Makoto Nijima, Futaba Sakura, Haru Okumura) [All Together] Futaba Sakura Zenkichi Hasegawa Goro Akechi Sophia

Criminal Minds

Specify Timeframe

Platonic Only: The B.AU. Team (Aaron Hotchner, Jason Gideon, David Rossi, Emily Prentiss, Derek Morgan, Jennifer Jareau, Spencer Reid, Penelope Garcia, Alex Blake, Luke Alves, Tara Lewis) [All Together & Individually]

Star Trek

Specify Timeframe

Strange New Worlds

Platonic Only: The Crew (Christopher Pike, Una Chin-Riley, Hemmer/Pelia, Joseph M'Benga, Christine Chapel, Erica Ortegas, Nyota Uhura, Jenna Mitchell, Spock, La'an Noonien-Singh, George Samuel Kirk) [All Together & Individually] James T. Kirk

Discovery

Platonic Only: The Crew (Michael Burnham, Saru, Sylvia Tilly, Adira Tal, Keyla Detmer, R. A. Bryce, Joann Owosekun, Hugh Culber, Gen Rhys, Paul Stamets, Jett Reno) [All Together & Individually] Cleveland Booker

Kelvin Timeline

Platonic Only: The Crew (James T. Kirk, Spock, Montgomery Scott, Keenser, Pavel Chekov, Hikaru Sulu, Leonard McCoy, Nyota Uhura) [All Together & Individually]

Resident Evil

Specify Timeframe & Version

Available for Romantic Requests: Leon S. Kennedy

Fair Warning: Fandoms and characters will be added and removed a lot over time. Apologies in advance if a character or fandom you would like to request disappears overnight. Inspiration comes and goes and this section just reflects what and who I am gladly willing to write for at the time.

[xxaikaslayzxx]

KinnPorsche ( Girl X Boy) - Midnight (on Wattpad) https://www.wattpad.com/1354168695-kinnporsche-girl-x-boy-midnight?utm_source=web&utm_medium=tumblr&utm_content=share_reading&wp_uname=xXAniyah_WilliamsXx&wp_originator=tvUQc2IipkJAD%2Fu8a2TuhQPYQ7sDrd%2FHDkmNlZSD4zBjis%2B6h1n0VKZSXlChIq2n7vIf8eAt87UAt2jDZFcFH%2Fa8Lf1mPM0FGibL6W8QI%2F%2BBJ7d6DEnfc8NfIdG%2BQIUk Girl X Boy The name of the bottomes Porsche as Pearl Porschay as Paris Pete as Paige Tay as Teirra Tawan as Tia Sophia as Sophia Mia as Mia ----------------- The name of the tops Kinn as Kinn Kim as Kim Vegas as Vegas Time as Time Luke As Luke ------------------ In this story Tia is dating Kinn. Vegas is dating Allison. Kim is dating Sophia, Time is dating Mia Tia is a gold digger. Luke is from a rich family. ----------------------------------- Vegas, Kinn, Time and Kim are mafia kings. Vegas, Kinn and Kim are brothers, Time is their cousin. Kim is more involved with mafia business than music. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Pearl, Paris,Paige and Tierra are all best friends. Paris is interested in Business Pearl is interested in Business Paige is interested in Business Tierra is interested in Business Tia is interested in Business Kinn is interested in business Kim is interested in Business Vegas is interested in Business Time is interested in Business Luke is interested in Business ------------------------------------------- All of them are in college. --------------------------------- This story includes Mature Scenes, Swearing and more. There was a problem making BoyXBoy for some reason

[tessa-liam]

Marabelle

Chapter 15 – Part 1 

Life Goes On - 1

Choices – The Royal Romance, AU – (cross-over with Rules of Engagement)  

Series Premise – An American teenager from New York City is introduced to the world of a small European country and its society of royalty, nobility, and commoners. How will her life story be transformed? Will this new adventure bring her happiness...or regret?  

Marabelle Series Masterlist, My Complete Masterlist  

Main Pairing – Crown Prince Liam Rys x F!OC Lady Sophia (Sophie) Taylor  

Other Pairings – Maxwell Beaumont x M!OC Daniel (from NYC), Drake Walker x F!OC Melanie Smithson  

Most characters belong to Choices- Pixelberry Studios  

Series Rating – M*🔞Warnings: this series will have NSFW material, drinking, crude language & innuendo, terrorist/gun violence 

Many thanks to @selina012 for pre-reading. 

Category – Alternate universe/on-going series/angst/fluff/cross-over with Choices Rules of Engagement  

Chapter Summary – It’s graduation night for Maxwell and during the evening, the venue is attacked by the “Sons of Earth”, an anti-monarchist terror group. After being alerted, Liam rushes home to Cordonia from an Italian political summit. 

Music & Title Inspiration: Life Goes On, Ed Sheeran, Luke Combs 

A/N1: Bethany Beaumont, Maxwell’s mother, is originally from the U.S. and is Barthelemy Beaumont’s second wife. Annabelle Beaumont (deceased) is Bertrand’s mother.  

A/N2: ‘Social Season’ in this AU series refers to a traditional period in the spring/summer for royalty and members of the court to take part in Balls, dinner parties and charity events.  

A/N3: Heartfelt thanks to @Selina012 for joining me in writing ideas and with dialogue for this chapter.  

Main Auditorium, University of Cordonia, Capital  

11:15 p.m. 

Sophie's POV 

It's dark now. The air around me is thick and stings the back of my throat. The sound of fireworks rings in my ears. There's an awful taste in my mouth. Something cold and metallic. It's blood. Where it's coming from, though, I'm not sure. The smell of it hits my senses in full and makes me feel woozy, as if I'm drunk. 

At first there are just shrieks of confusion, and the smell of gunpowder in the air. As it settles though, I realize that one of the sharp sounds is a scream. 

Then, out of nowhere, someone runs past. Another joins them, and then more and more people seem to flood the room. They're rushing in from what was, minutes earlier, the exit; and now it feels like a long and twisted nightmare. 

I see the figure of a man, dressed in black standing in front of me, frozen in place, as if there was a weapon pointed at him. "Watch the front", I shout, and dropped down to the floor, pulling Tom and Candy down with me. 

"Sophie---" Before Candy and Tom could react, there was a loud bang and a champagne tower behind us exploded, shattering glass and spraying champagne everywhere.  

Sophie had closed her eyes instinctively, and when she opened them, she saw Candy looking at her gratefully. 

"Thank you, Sophie." Tears welled in her eyes. 

"Don't give up. We'll get out of here." Sophie comforted them and that seemed to cheer herself up, as well. She whispered Liam's name in her mind, as if that would give her more strength. 

Finally, after a difficult trek, and not meeting those men in black again, they came to the emergency exit. Sophie pushed the door open forcefully; a breath of fresh air ...the smell of freedom greeted them. 

"We're out at last!" Candy cried, her tears falling. 

"Quick, get out of here; as far away as you can." Sophie urged them. Around her, other students and guests screamed in panic and stumbled away. Some were covered in blood, others were unable to walk, some supported by peers or carried on their backs. 

They saw the flashing lights and sounds of ambulances and police cars in the distance, and Sophie quickened her pace, almost with all her strength, and led them toward the light. 

Police cars and ambulances roared in as police with security forces moved in quickly to evacuate people while paramedics treated the injured. 

Sophie, Candy and Tom were quickly met by paramedics for aid and assessment. In the ambulance, nurses performed a simple dressing for the cut on Sophie's face and assessed the bruising that was starting to appear. Meanwhile, Candy and Tom lay on stretchers being taken care of by doctors. 

"How are you? Feel all right?" Sophie asked her friend anxiously. 

Candy managed to smile, though her body was still shaking slightly from the shock of the pain. "I'm fine -- just my arm still hurts and I'm a little dizzy." 

"...Tom ... how is Tom?" Sophie watched as Candy struggled to sit up, but she was soon stopped by the nurse who bandaged her. Tom looked pale and clenched his teeth, trying to bear the pain in his shoulder. 

He nodded hard. "I'm okay --Candy ... sweetheart. Just ... I hope my shoulder doesn't get damaged later." 

Sophie gently held the hands of the two friends, with a little comfort and positivity in her heart, "You both will be all right, and soon we will be sent to the hospital." She whispered to them. 

A few moments passed and the doctor's voice came from the front of the ambulance, "Sorry, you need to get off, miss. We have limited space and must give priority to getting more seriously injured people to hospital." 

Sophie nodded, and though she did not want to, she knew it was necessary. She gave her friends a meaningful look and then said firmly, "you must hold on. I'll be waiting for you." 

With that, Sophie is led out by another doctor and watched the ambulance drive away with Candy and Tom. Looking around the parking lot, she noticed that Maxwell and Daniel were nowhere to be found, having been separated from her during the escape. She turned her eyes to the crowd around her and searched, trying to find Maxwell and Daniel among them. 

Her heart was filled with deep anxiety and worry, as she silently prayed that Candy and Tom, and Maxwell and Daniel, would be safe. Other ambulances around her were open, and she saw medical staff treating the injured students and guests in a tense and orderly manner. Many of the students were injured and their bodies and clothing were covered with blood. Some were clutching their wounds while others crouched on the ground, their expressions contorted with pain. Some persevered through gritted teeth, though their faces were pale. Others cried out in pain, their voices filled with fear and despair; several others had lost consciousness and had been carried out by their companions, lying motionless on stretchers, lifeless in the crowd. However, she still could not find Maxwell and Daniel. 

Italian Parliament, Rome

Liam's POV: 

Bastien stood in the lobby with his hands clasped behind his back. He lifted his head when he heard my footsteps, "Your Highness," He nodded politely. After intense all-day meetings, I was looking forward to the dinner invitation at the home of an Italian statesman and his wife. Francesco di Pietro was married to a Cordonian noble; a friend of my late mother. 

"So," Liam began, walking at a quick pace, side-by-side with Bastien, "Did you track her location?" 

"Unfortunately, not, sir. It looks like either she didn't have her phone with her, or she switched it off." 

"Okay." Liam exhaled deeply. His heart fell, wondering why she did not answer his calls and messages. "Well, please keep trying. Let me know immediately when you are successful." 

"Understood, sir." 

As he exited the building, Liam spotted Rashad on the corner, talking with the limo driver and Rashad’s assistant. 

He caught sight of Liam as the staff and the driver bid goodbye. Rashad turned to the crown prince and clapped him on the back as they walked together. 

"Let me say again that it was a job well done, Li. The outcome of your meetings was exactly what we hoped. The Prime Minister himself will present the results in Parliament later this week." 

"Excellent," Liam replied, his mind clearly elsewhere. 

The pair rode together in the limousine, this time on their way to the reception. Rashad relaxed into the soft leather seats. He examined Liam and could sense his distraction. "You look agitated, Li." 

Liam's eyes refocused. He turned towards Rashad and exhaled. "There is something I wish to discuss with you." 

The atmosphere in the vehicle at once turned somber. Rashad's voice was steady. "Alright." 

"I need a financial audit completed of the duchy of Krona." 

Rashad pursed his lips thoughtfully. He reached into his breast pocket and produced a mobile phone. His long fingers rapidly punched numbers, and within seconds he spoke clearly. 

"Good evening. We need a financial audit conducted at the earliest. I will send you the details via e-mail later this evening. This is confidential." 

Liam settled into his seat, as Rashad confirmed an appointment for himself with the inspector general the next morning. As he rang off and returned his phone to his breast pocket, Rashad looked at Liam, "Consider it done ... can I ask if there is something in particular that you are looking for?" 

"Let's just say, I have a hunch."   

Arriving at the residence of Signore and Signorina di Pietro. Bastien opened the limo door and let the men out at the main entrance. The ambassador's residence was a grand marble palazzo surrounded by elegant greenery and flowers in the style of the gardens of Versailles. The Italian marble entrance was brightly lit, showing the rich texture of the red, white and pink-hued material. 

They were ushered inside and offered cocktails, as Francesco and his wife, Isobella, greeted them in the foyer. 

The meal was exquisite; the chef served them an amorous appetizer, risotto ai frutti demare, a seafood risotto, before serving the main course, porcini mushroom filled chicken in a truffle glaze, paired with a delicious wine from the estate’s winery. 

Even though it was exquisite and luxurious, it could not help Liam through his restless state of mind. He listened politely as Francesco’s wife, Isobella, told stories that involved her experiences with his mother and Cordonia. 

Francesco turned and raised a toast. "To Cordonia and our rich future of diplomatic and financial cooperation. May our new alliance continue to blossom, 'come un fiore al sole'." (Like a flower in the sun.) 

Liam responded graciously. "Grazie, and saluti." [thank you, cheers] 

Isobella held out her hand and her daughter, Carmella, placed it in her mother's. Carmella walked with a poised, graceful step towards Liam, her dark hair styled in a braided crown. She had almond-shaped brown eyes that gazed at him demurely. 

As she drew closer, Liam could make out her petite stature, a slim yet feminine figure underneath her blush-toned gown. 

"Buonasera, Vostra Altezza,” [Good evening, Your Highness}, she softly spoke, dropping down into a graceful curtsy. Liam nodded at her in greeting. “Buonasera Carmella, e un piacere incontrarti.” (Good evening, Carmella, it is lovely to meet you). 

Francesco addressed Liam warmly. “Forgive her timidity, Your Highness, she's not yet used to entertaining royalty." 

Liam flashed his charming faux smile and glanced at the beautiful girl before him. "The pleasure is mine." He bowed and nodded. 

Carmella flashed a coy smile and batted her eyes coquettishly. Her flirtations were unsuccessful, though. Liam politely kept his distance and turned his attention back to her parents. Francesco openly showed disappointment with Liam’s response to his daughter, “È adorabile, vero? Liam..”. [She is lovely, no? Liam...] 

"Oh my, have a look," Carmella announced loudly, interrupting her father. A look of horror dawned on her face as she motioned towards a mounted flat screen in the adjacent family room. 

Liam turned his attention to the breaking news to watch the images on the television screen, as reporters recounted in rapid-fire Italian, the events of a shooting incident at the University of Cordonia. Liam's mouth went dry, a sinking feeling in his stomach, as he heard the beating of his heart pounding in his ears.  

"Sparatoria di massa alla laurea dell'Università di Cordonia, numerose vittime." [“Mass shooting at Cordonia University graduation, multiple casualties.”] 

Liam gritted his teeth. The news video is shocking: the chaos, the panicked crowds, the victims.... Anger and grief mangled in his heart, and he felt overwhelming fury at this indiscriminately violent attack. 

He continued to listen, his heart stung by the reporter's words - “according to witnesses, there are student casualties at the scene.” Liam's mind flashed to Sophie's image as he absorbed this information. 

Liam was glued to the screen, looking for any clues that could relate to Sophie. But the reporter did not mention the names of specific victims. Nevertheless, his anxiety and worry had reached the climax. He knew that Sophie was not only someone he loved, but one of the people he cared about most in the world. If something should happen to her ... he dared not think further 

Rashad clapped him on the back gently, whispering "let's go, Li. Come on." 

Liam murmured a rushed farewell and left the room, his face flushed with anxiety. His hands were clenched into fists, his veins bulging revealing his inner struggle and determination. He must return to Sophie as soon as possible to ensure her safety and as Crown Prince he must personally deal with the vicious incident that has shocked the nation. 

Outside the estate, Bastien rushed to the door to meet Liam, who rushed into the limo and commanded calmly and firmly. 

"Prepare the jet." 

Within moments, the black limo was rushing through the streets to the private jet waiting for them at the airport. Liam knows that, as Crown Prince, he must remain unflappable and rational. But at the moment, he is just a man who loves Sophie deeply and cannot contain his deep concern for her welfare. 

 On the way to the airport Liam closes his eyes and contemplates, but his mind is in turmoil. He can't forget the shocking images in the news, the helplessness and despair of the victims. At the same time, every moment he spent with Sophie came back to him; those sweet, happy and romantic memories. He vowed himself that he must bring justice to the victims of the shooting and bring the perpetrators to justice; at the same time, he must find Sophie and protect her from all harm, no matter what the difficulties. 

Within moments, the black limo was rushing through the streets to the private jet waiting for them at the airport. 

Aboard the jet, Liam impatiently paced the floor, his thoughts racing and his heart thudding wildly in his chest. It was not long before Bastien came through the hatch with a folder in his hand. 

"I have the cell tower records for the past 12 hours. Lady Sophia’s mobile last pinged at 8:32 p.m. with no further activity since.  We also pinged it before the attack and after and checked the towers; it has yet to send out another signal" 

 Rashad watched Liam’s face pale. The evidence strongly suggested that Sophie is, as at that moment, missing. 

His heart was beating at the speed of a thousand miles per hour, the hairs on his nape rising, his chest tightened. 

"We just need to trust that they are alright," Rashad insisted as he looked through his tablet, his hands shaking as he stared at the horrific photos that appeared on social media, of the aftermath of the campus violence. He swore under his breath in French, wishing they would provide more updates on the situation. 

He handed Liam his device, nervously watching Liam’s reaction, his heart pounding wildly. 

"One of my informants gave me this footage before we left the statesmen’s home. I think you need to take a look." 

Liam watched the blurry security camera footage as dozens of masked figures, bearing firearms, stood just outside the building that was clearly recognizable as the auditorium where the graduation ceremony took place earlier this evening, as they lined up several of their colleagues the unmistakable emblem displayed, 'The Sons of Earth'. 

After receiving Bastian's firm and urgent phone call, Drake rushed into the airport his eyes quickly scanning Bastien’s solemn face. “Get on the plane, we don't have time,” Bastien ordered curtly and forcefully. 

Drake nodded and stepped quickly into the cabin without question. His eyes at once caught Liam in the front row. Drake walked quickly toward Liam, filled with concern and sympathy. He slowly sat down across from Liam, trying to control his emotions so as not to disturb his friend's heavy mood. 

“Liam, I just heard that Sophie and Maxwell ... This is so sudden, are you okay?” 

Liam looked up at Drake, slightly tired, but then turned firm again. “Not very well, but I have to stay calm. Sophie and Maxwell are in danger. I must find them and make sure they are safe.” 

His tone was tight, but every word betrayed a firm determination. 

Bastien stood to the side silently observing the interaction between the two men. 

“Your highness, we have done everything possible to ensure a smooth flight and the most important thing now is to get to Cordonia as soon as possible to understand the actual situation.” 

His words were short and powerful, adding a touch of confidence to the dreary atmosphere. 

Drake nodded and looked out the window at the receding ground, silently praying for Sophie and Maxwell.  

“We are all here for you, Liam. Sophie and Max are strong, and they will be fine.”  

He tries to comfort Liam with his words, even though he knows what this sudden disaster means. Looking at his best friend, Liam's expression remained unreadable. 

The jet started to move as it began to taxi away from the parking bay. As the plane accelerated down the runway, it soared into the air with a roar, piercing the thick clouds and soaring into the sky. 

Coming soon, part 2.

A/N4: This chapter had a mind of its own🫢, and is long ...so I broke it into 2 parts🫣. It's already written and will post in a few days...

Thanks for reading ❣️

@choicesficwriterscreations

@selina012

📌tags in the comments, please let me know if you want to be added or removed.