#the sun setting on the home they shared together like it set on Martyn's life

[ani-craft]

Now that I think about it, this was a very foreshadowed-anime-spouse-death scene. Ren's mad grief was set up from the start

[paradisobound]

I Want It, I Got It: Epilogue

Summary of the Epilogue: Three Years Later

Full Fic Summary: Phil Lester was a worker for the BBC in London. Working in the advertising department, he was content being alongside his friend and fellow coworker PJ during every shift. However, the BBC is temporarily being used as a film set for a new movie staring Hollywood ‘It’ star, Daniel Howell. Being stuck as an extra on the set, Phil finds it’s hard to ignore the famous star. And maybe, just maybe, Dan finds it hard to ignore Phil as well.

Word Count: 1.3k 

Warnings: Occasional swearing and sexual mentions

Rating: Mature

**MASTERLIST | READ ON AO3 | WATTPAD**

“We have time to go check out the Eiffel Tower if that’s something you want to do?” 

Phil looks up from his phone where he was busy checking to see if his video posted correctly as he sits with Dan in his pop-up trailer somewhere in the middle of Paris. Dan had been filming here for his new movie for a few weeks now and Phil has actually really enjoyed his time in Paris with Dan. 

He’d never been prior to this but yet again, majority of the places he’s had to go with Dan were places he hadn’t been prior to being with him either. But now, nearly three years later. he’s been to Shanghai, Tokyo, Melbourne, Manila, and even places in Europe he’d never ventured to. 

But he’s been traveling with Dan and that’s something he’ll forever love to do. 

They’re traveling more than they’re ever home in London, but Phil doesn’t entirely mind that. Spike is able to travel with them often but when they’re gone for a few weeks at a time, he goes to stay with Martyn and his girlfriend Cornelia and their new little newborn. Spike loves the baby more than he loves his toys and Phil feels pride swell in his heart when he sees Spike run up to the baby. 

“I’m down for going to the Eiffel Tower.” Phil says with a smile. 

Phil stands up from his chair and grabs his jacket from the back as he puts it on and feels the weight of the box in the pocket weighing heavy. He’s been wanting to do this for a long time, but it’s been difficult due to traveling. He honestly thought he would never find a good time but maybe…just maybe…now is a good time. They’d already placed their lock on the bridge and sealed it with a kiss. 

As they walk out of Dan’s trailer and head down the street towards the Eiffel Tower, Phil feels grateful that the paparazzi doesn’t bother them much anymore. He guesses it is because they became old news when people figured out they weren’t breaking up and they also weren’t going to have a shotgun wedding like the Kardashians. 

But Phil has welcomed the privacy. Sometimes they get bombarded but more often than not, the most they’ll get is a few fan notices that ask for a photo and they’ll happily give them one. 

Phil’s channel on YouTube took off not long after he quit the BBC and he’s glad for that because he carried some heavy regret for a while that he did make a mistake quitting his stable job. But seeing everyone love his videos and love him and Dan together in such a domestic setting really helped them flourish and helped his channel gain nearly 20 million subscribers. 

“It’s a bit chilly out,” Dan says, pulling the sides of his jacket over his torso in an attempt to keep a bit warm. “I hope that means not many people will be out.” 

“Listen to what you just said.” Phil says with a smirk. “We’re at the Eiffel Tower.” 

“Well, it could be dead.” Dan insists with a tongue in cheek laugh. 

Phil wraps his arm around Dan’s waist and pulls his body close to his as they continue to make their way to the famous landmark. 

Maybe it’s totally cheesy and totally cliche. Maybe proposing to Dan in front of the Eiffel Tower is peak that, but he honestly doesn’t see this moment as any other way. They take a small walkway into the park and they’re suddenly standing in front of the landmark with everyone else around, also taking photos. 

They go largely unnoticed and they find a nice bench under a tree where they sit down for a few moments and Phil puts his hand on Dan’s thigh, just laying there as Dan covers his hand with his own and takes a deep breath. 

Phil doesn’t feel like they’ve had a moment to breath in the last 3 years if he’s being honest. Dan has been so busy from awards shows to movie premieres to interviews, being on shows, and also working with various organizations and charities in the London and Los Angeles areas. Phil doesn’t feel like they’ve had a moment like this where they could just sit down with one another and take a deep breath. 

“This is beautiful here.” Dan says. “Even if the grass is a bit yellow and dead.” 

Phil lets out a snort and a nod of agreement. But that’s probably what they get for being in Paris in mid April. 

“You want to know what’s beautiful?” Phil says, reaching up and stroking his thumb on Dan’s cheek. 

Dan groans and rolls his eyes. “Don’t get cheesy on me, Lester. It’s gross.” 

“It’s not gross.” Phil counters. “I just love you and there is something about being in Paris with the love of my life that brings out my cheesy, cliche side.” 

“Mmm.” Dan hums as he leans forward and connects their lips. “Me too.” 

“And I’d like to be a little bit more cliche.” Phil says, his words catching a bit in his throat as the nerves kick in. 

Dan furrows his brows and Phil slides off the bench under the walkway and down onto one knee and suddenly people are staring at them. Dan’s eyes are wide and he’s breathing quite heavy but Phil is took focused on reaching into his pocket and not dropping the ring. 

He pulls out the box and opens it up as he begins to speak the whole spiel he’d had planned since he’d known he wanted to propose but he’s stopped by Dan standing up and just nodding. “Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes!” 

“You don’t even know what I was asking?” Phil teases. 

Dan lets out a watery laugh and Phil decides to say it. 

“Will you marry me?” 

Dan nods again and Phil stands up, wrapping Dan in the tightest hug as Dan cries into his shoulder and shakes. Phil feels himself tearing up as well as his arms roam over Dan’s back. 

Dan pulls back and looks down between them as Phil takes out the ring from its holder and places it gently on Dan’s ring finger. It’s a bit snug but Dan just laughs it off and says that they can adjust it back home. 

They share a long kiss, just the two of them in front of the Eiffel Tower. Dan’s ring glistens in the soft light of the sun and when he pulls back, Phil can’t stop staring at it on his finger. 

“Do you like it?” 

“Do I like―Phil! This ring is everything!” Dan cries. “Oh my God, it’s gorgeous! How did you find this?” 

Phil thinks back about it. He remembers it so clearly. 

They were filming a scene for Dan’s movie in Milan, Italy and Phil was wandering around the city while Dan was busy for the day. He’d come across a little jewelry store and he’d decided to walk inside just to see what he could find. Just an hour later, he had placed an order for the most perfect ring that he’d ever seen with the owners promise to have it to him in London in just six weeks. 

That was almost a year ago. 

So maybe Phil had been waiting patiently for the perfect time and really, it had taken a long time to get to this point. But he’s happy it happened now in the city of love with just the two of them. 

“I want to post this on Instagram.” Dan says with a laugh as he wipes his eyes with the backs of his fingers. “Do you mind?” 

Phil shakes his head. “No. Of course not.” 

“Can you take a picture of me with the ring?” Dan asks. “I want to show it off.” 

Dan blushes and Phil just smiles as he gets out his phone and opens up his camera. He snaps a few photos and then Dan ushers him over and they snap a few photos with each other. 

They posted a lot of photos together on Instagram but never like this. 

Dan posted the photos with the caption, “Guess what just happened” with the ring emoji and Phil just smiled brightly as he wrapped his arms around Dan and held him close. 

Life has been like a fast moving train these last few years but he cannot wait to settle down and marry the love of his life…even if it takes another three years. 

[ineverhadmyinternetphase]

Steal My Heart (steal my whole life too) 28/28

Genre: Chaptered, fantasy AU, Prince!Phil, Thief!Dan, romance, enemies to lovers, angst and fluff, slow burn (like serious slow burn)

Warnings: some violence, mentions of death (no main characters), dark magic, descriptions of wounds/blood, some hints of sexual scenes (but no actual smut), murder, dangerous situations, stealing/thievery

Summary: Captain of the Royal Guard and Prince of Morellia, Philip Lester has never been given the chance to find love. Instead, he’s run from a system that works to end class differences and improve equality for its citizens. Happy as he is to make the world a better place, Phil can’t help feeling bitter towards his ancestors for making it impossible for him to find someone who will actually love him for more than just his title, and strives instead for a life of justice and doing good - only to meet his match in the King of Thieves, a man who will change everything he once thought he knew in life. Together, they must depart on a quest to save the kingdom, and, in the process, destroy their differences and find their own form of love.

Word count: 240,000+

Updates: Sunday

Thanks so much to @botanistlester for betaing this giant monster, as she’s been super helpful and encouraging with her little comments and endless excitement. We couldn’t have done it without you <3

Disclaimer: In no way do I claim that this is real or cast aspersions on Dan or Phil

For reference, @snowbunnylester is Phil, @ineverhadmyinternetphase is Dan

A/N: And… we are here. Final chapter!! I’m honestly so emotional, this story has been such an incredibly long journey but one I’m so incredibly proud of and I know Elizajane is too. Thank you so, so much to everyone who has been along on this epic journey with us, to everyone who has left us feedback on AO3 or tumblr or even just liked a chapter, everything means so much to the both of us and the reception of this story has been fantastic.

Now, we have a slight proposition to run by you guys. This is the first story that Elizajane and I ever wrote together, and as such it is very close to both our hearts. Also, we spent so much time editing each chapter and piecing the story together for posting that it has grown into something we’re really very proud of, and us such, we have been considering possibly reworking this story into something we could self-publish together.

So we’re asking you, our readers: how would you feel about us taking this down to turn it into something we could self-publish? I know some of you have already said in the comments that we could do this, and this means the absolute world to both of us, but please be honest with how you would feel if we did this as your opinions are important to the both of us

And one final thing: the most incredible silentorator has made a cover for this fic!! The art is absolutely beautiful and we were both shocked and so so happy when we saw it, it’s beautiful and more than we could ever have expected. Please click on this link to go and see it: http://silentorator.tumblr.com/post/164372031120/a-cover-for-the-story-steal-my-heart-steal-my

And now, enjoy the final chapter!!

(AO3 link) (Masterlist)

Chapter 28

Four Days Later

Standing in front of the Royal Hall at Cornelia and Martyn’s wedding reception this time around was a very different experience. For one, neither Phil nor Martyn had been certain they would ever get here, and for two, Phil was very much so not alone for the first time at a public appearance.

Next to him stood Daniel Howell, proud and resplendent in the royal blue robes that Phil had dressed him in, hair styled back and face painted over in makeup that only enhanced his features, but changed none of them. On their fingers lay two matching pairs of rings -- the rings they had gifted each other, and the royal betrothal rings Phil had promised Dan they could get rid of once they were married.

They were two ghastly looking purple and green stained metals that were given to every Royal betrothal, and while neither male could wait to be rid of it, custom demanded that its presence be included if Dan or Phil ever wanted their betrothal to be taken seriously.

Phil’s mother had given them the two a mere few hours after they’d returned from their mission to save the Princess, offering them both a quick wink before scurrying off to take care of whatever else needed to be taken care of in the Royal City.

It had been an honest relief to receive them so soon, and while Dan had put up a fight at wearing them, he’d given in at Phil’s insistence and promise that they’d be rid of them soon enough. This way, no one could fight them on their status as betrothed, which Phil thought was secretly the real reason that Dan had given in so easily in the end.

Now, they were stood among all the finery of a royal wedding, watching on as Martyn and Cornelia had their first dance.

The last four days had truly been hectic, and Phil still couldn’t quite believe everything that had happened. The music around them was almost too cheery for all that Dan and Phil had been through, and yet Martyn and Cornelia seemed happy at least.

Having Dan’s hand in his was definitely helping to make Phil happy as well, even as he thought back to all that they had been through.

After Cornelia had been saved that night, much had happened. Dan and Phil had been rushed to Phil’s bed chambers for a much needed bath and a rest, and while they’d soaked together in the tub, relaxing for the first time in the last few days, a healer had come to look at Dan’s wounds. Dan had forced Phil to cover his private bits with some bubbles while he himself climbed out of Phil’s tub with no shame, bearing his left side to the healer as if it were the natural thing to do.

Phil had been relieved when the healer had reassured that there was nothing wrong with the cuts; no dark magic, poison, or infection, and they would heal up into three very nice scars soon enough, and might have dragged Dan into a rather enthusiastic and relieved kiss the minute the man was gone. Dan hadn’t complained, climbing into Phil’s lap in the tub, and having his way with him.

They’d retired to Phil’s rather large bed not long after, Phil’s mother sneaking in only once to drop off their rings for them, and then sneaking back out.

That night they slept fitfully, unused to the comforts of royal life after so long living out in the wild, and when morning came, they were thrown back into the chaos and mayhem of palace life.

Dan… had not been enjoying it very much just yet, not that Phil could blame him. Being in the Palace meant adhering to the Palace customs, and that meant no more parading around in his dark brown cloak, or scuttling up to the rafters whenever he pleased. No, this time, Dan actually had to attend to the royals around him, be polite to the people he’d been stealing from for most of his life, and make easy and polite small talk with them while Phil went about his business.

It was driving Dan crazy.

These were people he’d broken into the houses of countless times, stealing their most precious possessions and running off cackling into the night. Never mind that when Dan did reveal himself in public, it was usually to incite fear. Threats fell far more easily from his tongue than polite epithets.

But this was Phil’s world, now. And Dan wanted a place here. He was just going to have to learn how to be polite.

Perhaps one of the most difficult things was the change in his appearance, though. As soon as they’d finished their first bath and Dan’s cuts had been checked, Phil’s next order of business had been to sit Dan down and get to work on his face. He’d trimmed Dan’s hair and painted gentle patterns onto his skin, hiding some of the more visible scars, skillfully applying touches here and there to soften Dan’s face from the battle-wearied, sun-drenched life he’d led so far.

They’d also decided it made sense to let Dan’s hair fall in its natural curls, rather than Dan’s usual attempts to have it lying flat and straight. Much to Dan’s displeasure.

All in all, every time Dan caught sight of his reflection, he startled at this person he did not know. It also made him look younger, closer to his real age, and for a while Dan worried that people would think him too immature for this, not yet ready for Phil.

And yet, Phil showed him off at every possible moment, leaving Dan in no doubt as to his feelings. They were meant to be together, and if they had to put up with the occasional judgement of others, then so be it.

They’d hardly had a moment alone since they’d arrived home, far too exhausted by the time they went to bed to do much more than curl up together and share a quick peck or two, and it didn’t help that Phil had constant duties to attend to.

One of his first orders of business, however, was to set up the counsel to began dealing with the mountain people, explaining what had happened and demanding that something be done about the dragon before any more innocent lives were taken, sacrifice or otherwise.

With a newfound roughness from having fought on his own in the wild, there was something wild in his eyes that prevented any man from arguing against Phil’s case, and the King, Martyn, and Phil signed a bill into action declaring the dragon a national enemy.

Shetler would be given to the mountain people should they seek it, while the dragon was taken care of, and their punishment to be put off for a later time. First, Phil needed to make things right for them.

After that business was taken care of, Phil moved on to gathering his best advisors to start looking into the matter of the witch. Once the dragon was taken care of, she needed to be disposed of as well, though very little was currently known about her.

Phil was certain that it would get done, if he had to lead the head of the chase himself.

For now, though, nothing could be done until a lead was found and research was done, and, because of the nature of being a royal, the second Royal Wedding took precedent. As before, Phil was swept up in the planning, only this time, Dan came with him, and while Phil hated every minute of it, Dan made it that little bit more bearable.

After four days of nothing less than chaos that left Phil longing for his and Dan’s days in the desert, the forest, the mountains, they were finally here, at the Royal Reception, with Martyn and Cornelia finally married.

If nothing else, that was something to smile about, even if Phil was itching to finally go -- where? Anywhere but here, if he was being honest.

Tonight, after the reception, would be the first time Dan and Phil had been alone together in a long while, but before that, Phil had a toast to make, and a few royals to greet. Then, he could whisk Dan away.

As Martyn and Cornelia’s first dance came to an end, Phil smiled and raised his champagne glass into the air, Dan awkwardly following his lead, and shouted a loud toast with the rest of royals at the reception. Everyone clapped, and laughed, sipping at their champagne, until Phil brought it all to a stop by taking his spoon and tapping it lightly against the side of his glass to get the large hall’s attention.

Once everyone had gone silent, Phil grinned, and tightened his grip on Dan’s hand.

They were both still stood at the front, with the King and Queen, ready to sit down and eat as soon as the toasts were given.

"To my Brother, your Crown Prince, Martyn Lester, and my new Sister, your Crown Princess Cornelia Lester. May all the blessings be heard upon your marriage today. I stand before you with my newly betrothed, Mr. Daniel Howell, and seek your blessing in return, so that both our marriages will be praised and heard of over the whole of the Kingdom."

Hearing Phil proudly announce his betrothal to Dan, using Dan's own full name, had more of an effect on Dan than he had been expecting. He was so happy he thought his heart was going to burst. As much as Dan didn't feel much like himself -- not dressed up in these robes, with his face painted and the gaudy ring on his finger -- but despite all that, Dan couldn't help but beam.

The wedding was far more spectacular than Dan had ever seen, if a little boring. In fact, Dan had spent the majority of the service muttering under his breath to Phil, regaling him with stories of how often he'd broken into the houses of basically every one of the distinguished guests. Phil had snorted too loudly on a couple of occasions, which Dan was personally proud of.

Now, he was standing at the head table with Phil at his side, getting congratulated by all the other royals, as everyone cheered on the toast, screaming “Long live the Lesters!”

Turning to Dan with a large grin spread wide across his face, Phil leaned in close and pressed a kiss to Dan’s cheek, laughing when Dan’s cheeks went predictably red.

The King gave his toast next, and then the Queen, and Dan and Phil stood throughout all of it, raising their glasses of champagne and drinking when appropriate. All Phil really wanted then, however, was to sit and finally get dinner done and over with, so that he could retire to his rooms with his thief. He had a lot of lost time to make up for, at that point.

Finally, when all the speeches were done, Martyn and Cornelia joined the rest of the Lester clan at the front table, and everyone sat down to enjoy their meal.

Dan was on his best behaviour the whole time, thanking all of the royals gratefully and meekly, playing his role as commoner perfectly, as they approached the front table to congratulate both Martyn and Cornelia, and Dan and Phil. Dan didn't know much of the customs, but it was okay -- apparently, he hadn't lost his charm.

Dan was kind of itching to get back to Phil's room, though, so he was more than relieved when the feast finally came to an end, and they just had to say their goodbyes before disappearing.

Finally, finally, they were back in Phil's bedchambers with time to themselves for the first time in days. Dan wasted no time in shoving Phil down onto his bed and slowly but surely removing every single one of their rather posh Royal robes.

Defiling the Royal bed sheets was just as much fun as Dan had always thought it would be, as it turned out.

Phil didn’t once complain; in fact, he grinned so wide at the way Dan expressed his own eagerness for the very first time in pushing Phil over, and accepted Dan’s kisses with a very open desire of his own.

Somehow, this moment was so much better than the first time Phil had ever brought a suitor back to his rooms.

**

Afterwards, Dan lay back in his favourite place -- wrapped up in Phil's arms. He nuzzled at Phil’s hair, kissing him softly and sweetly and more happy than he'd ever dared to allow himself to be.

He'd caught himself a Prince, and Dan was loving it.

"So how am I doing?" Dan murmured into the peaceful quiet, stretching out luxuriously on the bed. "Is Daniel Howell a good enough mask to be your betrothed, my love?"

The romp in Phil's bed was a much needed, pleasant activity that had left Phil good and sore, but also pleasantly relaxed. His arms were once more securely wrapped around his thief's body, and he was pressing soft kisses all over the top of Dan's head just because he could, when Dan spoke up.

"Mm, you did wonderfully, Dan," Phil whispered, possibly still flying a little bit high on his orgasm. He was beyond glad to have been in a bed for all that Dan had done, taking full advantage of it, clearly.

His thighs ached with the love bites sucked into them.

"And your persona is definitely the perfect mask, my love," he added, unable to help himself when he giggled at the small pet name. "My love. You really are all mine, now, aren't you?" he asked, eyes wondering as he stared down at his thief. It all seemed so much more real, now that Dan had actually attending a royal function with Phil, and Phil had been able to announce his intentions towards him to, essentially, the entire kingdom.

All that was left was for Dan to cut the chains from his wrists and make off with him, and then Phil would truly feel like he’d accomplished everything he’d wanted to in coming home with Dan.

He was ready to be free.

Dan smiled up at Phil, dimpling, a reflex reaction to that look, those words. He reached up and touched Phil’s cheek just once, softly, staring straight at him and wondering again just when this Prince had stolen his heart so completely.

“All yours,” Dan promised softly, and leaned in for another kiss. “As you are mine, my Prince.”

They kissed a moment longer before Phil pulled back again, fingers threading gently through Dan’s curls. "And you looked amazing in that makeup, if I do say so myself. I think I did a pretty good job of cleaning up the King of Thieves," Phil teased for good measure, ruffling Dan's hair and laughing as Dan moved to look up at him, completely affronted.

"Excuse you," Dan huffed, mortally offended. He propped himself up on his elbows, leaning over Phil with a narrowed gaze and hard eyes. "I think you'll find the King of Thieves needed no cleaning up at all. At least, I didn't hear you complaining any of the times I've had you before, as myself." He nipped at Phil's ear, drawing the lobe between his teeth, and pressing his finger into one of the many marks he'd left scattered on Phil's skin.

"I hardly even feel like myself," Dan added, laying his head on Phil's shoulder after a moment and collapsing fully on top of him, despite the fact this bed had far more space even than their two giant forms could take up. "I had fun, though. Socialising with the people I've stolen from is really quite enjoyable."

Phil was still laughing even as Dan took his ear into his mouth and bit down playfully, trying to make a point of things as he also pressed one hand against a mark on Phil's rib cage. The sensation of Dan pressing into that made Phil's hips twitch, and he laughed again as he caught a very cuddly Dan as he fell back into Phil's arms, choosing to use Phil's body as his bed rather than the down comforter of Phil's actual bed. He didn't bother to complain, resting his arms around Dan's waist and just enjoying the way it felt to have their naked skin pressing together again.

"I'm sure you enjoyed yourself. You seemed quite pleased. It's a good thing the royals were looking for you to be pleased with yourself sitting next to me or I reckon they might have cottoned on with the way you kept smirking at everyone," Phil teased, but he didn't care what the people around him thought. Dan being smug and cunning was everything Phil needed him to be, and the royals would soon discover that with Dan at his side, Phil was a force to be reckoned with. It was good for them to see Dan so sure of himself already.

Dan glanced up at Phil, that same smirk back on his face. “Well, I don’t have to please your people. They already love you enough to accept anyone you tell them too, I think.” He chuckled, leaning into Phil’s touch and encouraging him to begin petting his hair, right where Dan really liked it. “I'm glad your parents seem to approve, at least." Dan's eyes softened further, growing almost melancholy. "My father would have loved you. And my brother -- oh, he'd have been so thrilled. A real Prince -- his dream come true. They'd be so happy for me, I think."

Phil moved one hand in a slow sweep up Dan's back, and dug his fingers into Dan's hair, scratching lightly and laughing when his thief immediately went limp on top of him.

"I would have loved to meet your family," Phil agreed quietly, voice going solemn. "I would have treated them with the greatest respect they deserved. I would have asked your father for his blessing before I asked you to marry me, and I would have made certain your brother had anything he could have ever wanted... I am truly sorry that they can't be here with us, Dan."

Dan stared up at Phil, more grateful than he could even articulate that Phil had answered in just the most perfect way he could have. In a different world, maybe Phil would have had a chance to meet Dan's father, to see his brother having everything he could ever have wished for and more. It made tears prick at the back of Dan's eyes, though he blinked them away quickly, instead leaning down to give Phil a long, affectionate kiss, trying to express all the emotion that he couldn't quite put into words.

"They'd be proud, that's all that matters," Dan mumbled, tilting his head into Phil's touch and nestling down against him. He'd never been this comfortable -- as much as he might not want to admit it, there was something nice about having an actual bed under them. That, plus privacy, was quickly making Phil's bedchamber one of Dan's favourite places.

"You know," Dan murmured into Phil's shoulder, "Somehow, you manage to be more comfortable than your bedsheets. I hope you know I don't plan to give up using you as a pillow just because you've got soft silken sheets here." This was despite there being a giant space next to Phil where Dan could be lying, but Dan was much happier curled up exactly where he was: on Phil's chest.

Phil closed his eyes and breathed Dan in, more thankful than he could say that, at the very least, Dan Howell had survived where the rest of his family had not. Phil didn't want to imagine a world without Dan, didn't want to imagine his life without Dan, and held the man tighter in his arms. He pressed another kiss to Dan's head once Dan had re-settled on top of Phil's chest, and went back to carding his fingers through thick curls.

Laughing happily, Phil shook his head. "I'll be your pillow for as long as you like," he agreed softly. "Whether there are silk bed sheets at our sides or not. I quite like feeling your presence on top of me," he admitted sweetly, glad to finally be alone with Dan again.

Planning for the first royal wedding had been no less stressful the second time around than it had been the first, and Dan had finally seen first hand why Phil hadn't been chasing him around and giving Dan the attention he'd begged for before the first wedding.

"So," Phil started. "On the topic of weddings," he continued, realizing belatedly that they hadn't been speaking of weddings, Phil had just been thinking of them, "How about ours, then?"

There was a brief moment of silence, and then Dan snorted with laughter, pressing his face further into Phil's shoulder. "Only you, Phil Lester, could sound so casual about something so huge." Dan shook his head, his voice full of fond, and his eyes soft and warm as he finally glanced up to meet Phil's eyes.

A wedding. Their wedding. Dan Howell, self-proclaimed King of Thieves, was actually getting married, and to a Prince. A royal wedding. Dan had found the first one dull enough, how on earth was he supposed to sit through a second? Even if it was his own. The only good thing would be formally tying himself to Phil, so that everyone could see that Phil was Dan's and Dan's alone.

He might have been enjoying watching all the hearts breaking throughout the Palace when they saw Prince Philip was no longer for courting, but, well, Dan wasn't planning on telling anyone that.

Dan's answering snort of laughter only made Phil grin fondly, knowing even before Dan had said it that he wasn't laughing at the idea of them getting married, Dan had already made it very clear that he didn't consider Phil's proposal a joke of any kind, and so Phil didn't fear that at all.

"Well," Phil replied, amused himself. "I am the Prince. Why shouldn't I be casual about my own wedding? The Prince gets whatever he wants, after all," he teased, shaking his head at himself to assure Dan he was joking. Dan's eyes were soft, happy, as he looked up at Phil, his dimple popping from the force of his grin, and Phil loved that look so much.

Phil reached up and cupped Dan's cheek with his hand, smiling sweetly back at him, intending to drag him into a kiss until he got distracted at the way the rings on his hand looked against Dan's skin. It was a remarkable feeling, that realization hitting him again that they were engaged.

"I think I can cope with a wedding," Dan whispered into Phil's skin. "Even if it is royal. As long as I get you at the end of it." Dan's eyes were bright, and he lifted a hand to cup Phil's cheek, leaning down to press another warm, loving kiss to Phil's lips.

Phil turned his attention back onto Dan, eyes going soft and bright as Dan leaned up to kiss him again. He sighed against his thief's lips, drew him closer with a laugh when Dan tried to pull away, and kissed him again and again. He'd never get enough of Dan, but his thief was swatting at his shoulder now, so Phil let him go.

"I'll tell you a secret, though," Dan murmured with bright, mischievous eyes, "I want to steal you away in the morning. Pretend it's some custom from my family, I don't care, I just know I want to whisk you away on a proper adventure -- one where we aren't fearing for our lives. Before your mother never lets me leave with all the planning she wants to do. You know she tried to discuss flower arrangements with me earlier?" Dan looked faintly disgusted. "There are more important things. And she didn't like magnolias, so I can't pay her at heed at all, I'm afraid."

Phil’s mouth curled into a delighted grin as Dan voiced Phil's thoughts exactly, and he moved to roll them over, ignoring Dan's very undignified squeak in response, to press his own body over Dan's.

"Yes. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes," Phil replied, the words muffled against Dan's lips as he kissed him again, laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. It was like Dan had just proposed to Phil this time with how jubilant he felt, and he pressed close mouthed kisses all over Dan's face as he drew away. He wanted those chains cut from his wrists so bad, wedding be damned, and Dan was going to give just that to him.

"I was hoping you'd agree to postpone the wedding," Phil finally explained, what with Dan looking up at him in delighted confusion. "I wanted to run away with you first. I want to see at least part of the world before we get dragged into more wedding planning and more speeches and long drawn out ceremonies that no one wants to attend. I just want you, to be with you, just you, before we both find ourselves drawn back into my world. I've had enough of my world. I want to be a part of yours," Phil explained and swooped back in to kiss Dan all over again.

"Besides," Phil murmured when he drew away just enough to speak again. "It's our wedding. If you want magnolias, we'll have magnolias," he determined, and then swept Dan back up into his arms for another delightful round of defiling Phil's royal bed.

"Definitely having magnolias," Dan agreed through a little laugh, until he rolled under Phil and was thoroughly distracted for the rest of the long, comfortable night in Phil's bed.

**

In the morning, the servants entered to find Prince Philip's room empty, the window open, and nothing but a note intended for the eyes of the King and Queen alone left on the desk. The servants were astonished, but took it straight to the Queen, who read its contents with a small smile on her face.

She resigned herself to waiting a little while longer for her second son's wedding.

At the same time, out in the desert, two cloaked forms were making long strides in the sand, hands firmly entwined, with the entire world spreading out before them.

[yougaythen]

26 reasons why I love you...