Heyyy Bestie!! It's been a while but with New Years coming up, I thought I'd get on here again and send a New Years ask for old times sake:
From TWEA, Drake has to be out of town for New Years Eve, leaves a sad Alyssa and the kids to celebrate for the first time without him. While at a party at the palace, someone shows up just before the ball drops to make sure shes not the only one left without a kiss at midnight.
Love you 😘
Bestie! I love you so much! and look at me getting this out before East Coast midnight ... ahhhhh. Thanks for this ask -- it was a blast!
Book: The Royal Finale (AU) – set post the ending of TRF in the Team Walker Ever After AU
Pairing: Drake Walker x MC (Alyssa Devereaux Walker)
A/N #1: Thank you to @bbrandy2002, @charlotteg234, and @ao719 for snippet reading and being the best friends!! @mskaneko is responsible for the moodboard at the end.
A/N #2: I used a @choicesflashfics weekly prompt -- “They don’t compare to you. No one does.” and two holiday prompts:
20. “You didn’t really think I’d let you spend New Year’s alone, did you?”
24. “My only resolution is to love you even more next year," the @choicesdecemberchallenge2021 Day 31 prompt of "you & I," and the @choicesficwriterscreations holiday prompt "midnight kiss."
Dividers come from @firefly-graphics! Thank you!
A/N #3: The Walker kids are 8, 7, 5, 2, and 2. Hana is married to Enrique Ramirez, the Cordonian Head of Security.
Happy New Year, ya'll. xoxo
Warnings: almost none? like 2 curse words, a little suggestion
Word count: 1478
I'll Be Home for ... New Year's?
December 2028
“What time do you want us over?” Alyssa holds the phone to her ear and looks over the contents of the refrigerator. If she doesn’t pick up applesauce by tomorrow, Caroline will likely starve. Their youngest is their first picky eater. It’s a pain in the ass.
“Setup starts at 9:30 … what about 9?” Riley’s voice is alight with excitement. “And you’ll stay the rest of the day, right?”
While the palace has hosted a New Year’s Eve Ball for Cordonia’s nobles for more than a decade, this year it’s branching out to the children of the nobles and offering a “Noon Year’s Eve” party earlier in the day. As Royal Advisory Consultant, Alyssa spearheaded the planning with Riley’s guidance. Over 100 families have responded that they’re planning to attend.
“Probably,” Alyssa answers now in response to Riley’s question. “The party ends at 1:30, cleanup is scheduled to go until 3 … what time does the ball start? 7?”
“Yup! Polly has three assistants for tomorrow, and they’re staying until morning. After the party’s over, we’ll get ready for the ball like it’s Alpha Phi formal all over again.”
Alyssa chuckles. “Hold the lemon drop shots this time.”
“You’re no fun. When does Drake get home?”
Shifting on her feet, Alyssa pulls the phone from her ear to see if there’s a new text; there is not. “He, Maxwell, and Hana are supposed to be home from the conference by noon tomorrow, but Monterisso is getting that nasty winter storm. I hope their flight is cleared to make it.”
Maxwell, Drake, and Hana had left Cordonia two days before to attend a conference on behalf of the Royal Council. Landon had been scheduled to go in Drake’s place, but a bout with the flu had him down for the count, and no one else on the Council had stepped up. Drake agreed to go with the caveat that he be home by New Year’s Eve.
“Everything will be fine,” Riley declares. “He’ll be home to kiss you into the new year just like always.”
“I hope so.”
The following day, Alyssa stands with her children and over 300 other people in the west ballroom of the palace, counting down loudly. “3 … 2 … 1 … happy new year!” Balloons fall from the ceiling at the crack of noon, and cheers erupt throughout the room. A DJ starts playing Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.”
The Noon Year’s Eve party has been a huge success; she and Riley exchange proud smiles. Her personal phone buzzes with a text. After hugging and kissing each of her children in turn, Alyssa pulls her phone from her pocket.
Drake:
Devereaux –
I know you’re in the middle of the kid party, but I need to let you know: Planes are still grounded. Too much ice. It’s supposed to melt by tomorrow morning so I’ll be home then. I’m so sorry to miss nye with you, baby girl 😢 I love you.
Alyssa swallows. They haven’t missed a single holiday together since they met, so she supposes it’s been a good run, but she misses him terribly. She swipes briefly to respond, hoping her disappointment doesn’t show.
Alyssa: Well shit. I’ll miss you so much, but you have to be safe. Please stay safe and kiss Maxwell and Hana from me. Just not too hard 😉 Love you.
The reply comes almost instantly.
Drake: They don’t compare to you. No one does. I miss you so fucking bad. Tell the kids we’ll play all day tomorrow.
She smiles and replies once more.
Alyssa: When will you play with their mom, though?
Drake: You already know … all night. So sleep well tonight, pretty girl. No rest for you when I get home 😘
Polly, the royal nanny, introduces Alyssa to her two sisters and brother, her assistants for the evening’s babysitting duties of the eleven Beaumont/Ramirez/Rys/Walker children, who range in age from 15 months – Meiying, Hana and Enrique’s daughter – to 10 years old. Bartie, at 10, prides himself on being the eldest of the cousins, blood-related or honorary. “We’ll be close if the kids need anything, as usual,” Polly tells Alyssa.
“Miss Polly, what’re we gonna do?” Ben asks, already walking around the royal playroom. “Can we watch a movie?”
She ruffles his hair. “We’ll have movies … but we’re also baking cookies and making milkshakes. How does that sound?”
“Ohhhhhh.” His blue eyes, so like his mother’s, light up. “Will Dada watch with us, or is he gonna dance with Mama?”
Alyssa bites her lip. “Dada got stuck at his meeting, sweetheart. It’s icy in Monterisso. So he and Uncle Maxwell and Auntie Hana won’t be home until tomorrow, when it’s warmer and the plane can fly.” She sees his eyes start to fill and the sad expression on the other kids’ faces, so she hastily adds, “He texted me to tell you guys he wants to play all day tomorrow.”
Eight-year-old Audrey sighs. “Should we come to the ball at midnight to give you hugs and kisses since Dada isn’t coming?”
Polly looks sympathetically at Alyssa as she speaks to Audrey. “If you’re still awake at midnight, we’ll go visit your mom, how about that?”
“I can stay up all night. I’m not a baby.”
“Me neither!” Patrick snaps. “They’re babies.” He points toward Ben, Andrew, and Caroline.
“Am not!” Ben glares at his brother.
“I not baby!” Drew starts to cry. “I big boy.”
“Where appa-sauce?” Caroline tugs on Alyssa’s pants.
Alyssa rubs her temples. “Polly, if you’ve got all this handled, I’m gonna go get dressed …” But as she walks toward the door, Leo pops his head inside.
“There’s my girl!” He sweeps her up for a big hug. “Hi, kiddos!”
“Leo!” she cries, happy to see him. “I thought you were still in Monte Carlo!”
“And miss this ball? Never. Plus Li says Drake’s not gonna make it back in time. Heard you were gonna be without a kissing partner.” He plants a series of smacking kisses on her forehead and cheeks, making her giggle. A push against his shins has him looking down. “Hey, Benbo!”
Ben’s face is stormy. “No kissing my mama. Only Dada can kiss my mama.”
Leo, hiding a laugh, sets Alyssa down on the ground. “You’re right, buddy. Your dad will give Mama all the kisses when he gets home, won’t he?”
“I need a drink,” Alyssa announces. She kisses each of her children. “Please be good.”
Seven and a half hours later, things are looking up. Alyssa feels glamorous in a silver sequined cocktail dress. Riley blew her hair out long and straight, just like in college, and gave her the kind of impressive winged eyeliner Alyssa still can never do on her own. With a good amount of champagne in her system to balance out the sumptuous heavy apps, she waltzes happily with Rashad, her shoes long discarded.
Riley spins by in Leo’s arms. “Wanna do a lemon drop shot before midnight?” she calls.
Alyssa considers. “Is it close to midnight?” she asks Rashad.
“It’s … 11:58,” he replies after peering at his watch. “So yes.”
“Thanks.” She has done her best to stay busy all night, dancing constantly, laughing and talking with all of their friends, but her heart twists at the reminder that she has to ring in 2029 without her husband.
He twirls her to finish the dance and kisses her cheek as they part. “Happy New Year, my friend.”
“Happy New Year, Rashad.” She smiles at him as they change partners for the next dance,
Her new partner pulls her against him into a tight embrace. Before she can look up, surprised, she hears Liam’s voice.
“It’s one minute until midnight! Get your loved one – or your loved one for the night,” he chuckles, “and get ready for the countdown.”
“Looks like I made it just in time,” an achingly familiar voice says above her, and Alyssa squeals with joy.
“Baby! How did you –”
“We rented a car this morning and drove real slow,” Drake says. “We were out of the ice in about four hours and made it the rest of the way in good time.”
Tears spring to Alyssa’s eyes as she buries her face in his chest. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Don’t cry, sweet girl. You didn’t really think I’d let you spend New Year’s alone, did you?”
She can vaguely hear the ballroom gleefully counting down the waning seconds of 2028, but her attention is all for Drake’s hand lifting her chin gently as he lowers his mouth to her. “I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you, too, Devereaux,” Drake murmurs among the cries of “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” before his mouth closes over hers. “And my only resolution is to love you even more next year.”
Quick tags off the top of my head since I still never fixed my tag list:
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First off thank you @peonierose for sending me a Valentine’s Day pic, that got this idea rolling. I was planning to write on one of the gaggle of series I should be trying to finish but up popped this little one shot. This really wouldn’t have happened if you haven’t sent that ask to me, so thank you. :)
It crosses TRR x Open Heart as it features Casey Valentine as a friend to Riley Brooks the TRR Character.
I used the quote from @choicesflashfics prompt 2: I thought that if I acted like it didn’t matter, than it wouldn’t.” which will appear in bold.
This also can be a submission for @choices-february2023 prompt for Day 13 Galentine’s Day.
The Book: TRR x Open Heart
Pairings: None: All characters are single
Word Count: 997
Warnings and Ratings: None: minus the curse words in the mood board. LOL
Summary: Daniel takes Riley and their friends on a special night on the town as Galentines.
Prompt 1 — “The word ‘love’ doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what I feel for you.”
Prompt 2 — “I thought that if I acted like it didn’t matter, then it wouldn’t.”
Prompt 3 — “Are you flirting or starting a fight?”
Guidelines:
You have to use at least one of the prompts, but you may use all if you’d like.
The fic can be no more than 2500 words. Word count must be present.
The prompts must be used exactly as they are.
Whether you use one, two, or all three, the prompt(s) must be bolded. Please put in your A/N which prompt(s) you’re using.
Use proper warnings/tags for the fics if they require any (nsfw, etc.)
Tag @choicesflashfics when you post and your fic will be reblogged. If your fic isn’t reblogged within 48 hours of posting (because we all know how tumblr tags are wonky sometimes), send a message with the link.
Post your fic by Saturday, February 18th (11:59 EST).
Happy writing!
*just a reminder that asks are open for those who want to submit their own prompt suggestions!*
(If I’ve missed anyone, I’m so sorry. Please let me know if you’d like to be added to the tags. If I’m unable to activate your tag, I will try to reach out in the comments!)
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All characters belong to Pixelberry, except for Alyssa Devereaux, who belongs to the birthday girl @burnsoslow
Summary: In a prequel to last year's birthday fic, Riley notices some odd behavior from Drake and is determined to find out what he is hiding.
Song: I Know Places - Taylor Swift
You are the only person on the planet who could get me to drop a Taylor Swift song anywhere. That's how much I love you.
Rating: PG (a couple of swear words)
Word Count: 2,703
A/N: Happy birthday to my wonderful friend @burnsoslow. You are so sweet, and funny, and thoughtful. When I came to Tumblr however long ago, and started obsessively reading your stories, I never, in a million years, thought that I would actually be lucky enough to call you my friend. I'm sitting here trying to put together words about how much having you in my life means to me, but I'm not sure they even exist. I just love you so so much, and hope that you spent today partying like it's 1999! 😘
A/N 2: No pre-reader, so you get what you get. If it sucks, and the grammar is terrible, that's all on me. Godspeed.
Tags: This is my first run with the new tag list, so if you're not on here but would like to be added, just let me know!
Liam and Riley sat on the couch in his office, reviewing their opening remarks for the Five Kingdoms Festival that would be happening the following day. A knock on the door pulled their attention away, Liam called for the visitor to come in.
“Well, well, well,” Riley said as Drake entered the room. “Look what the cat dragged in.”
Drake rolled his eyes and approached the pair. “Hello Brooks.” He walked over to Liam, who was now standing. “Hey, Li.”
“Drake,” Liam shook his friend’s hand. “It has been a while.”
“Yeah,” Drake rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve been pretty busy lately.”
“Why don’t you stay for dinner?” Riley suggested, noticing that something was off with him. “Eleanor has been asking for you, she misses her Uncle Drake.”
Drake’s expression softened. He hadn’t been spending as much time with Eleanor as he usually would. She had just become a big sister, and he knew how hard it could be going from being an only child to having to share attention with a younger sibling.
“I really wish I could…” He trailed off, his eyes darting between his friends. “I promised Savannah I’d go up to Ramsford tonight. But I’ll be at the festival tomorrow. I’ll take Eleanor for some cotton candy or something.”
“Sure, she’d love that.” Riley agreed.
Drake said his goodbyes and exited the office. Once he was gone, Liam and Riley settled themselves back on the couch, Liam lifted his wife’s legs to rest across his lap.
“That was weird, right?” Riley asked.
“Not really,” Liam shrugged as he slipped off her shoes and began rubbing her feet. “Drake and his sister are close, of course he would want to have dinner with her.”
Riley sighed at her husband’s response. “You know, for someone who was trained to read people, you can be awfully thick sometimes.”
Liam’s movements stopped as his head snapped in her direction. “Excuse me?”
“Come on Liam, he was being so dodgy! He couldn’t give us a straight answer about where he’s been.”
“To be fair,” Liam began. “We never asked him for one. Besides, Drake has always been a pretty private person, if he wanted us to know, he would have told us.”
She returned her feet to the ground, retrieving her shoes and putting them on. “Ugh! You’re so bad at being nosy!” She groaned. “Let’s go, I miss our babies.”
Regina had offered to watch Eleanor, and the newest edition to the royal family, Prince David, while Liam and Riley worked on the final preparations for the festival. They left Liam’s office and met up with Regina to pick up the kids before returning to their quarters for the evening.
***
After dinner, and a few rounds of Candy Land, it was time for Eleanor to go to bed. In an effort to help her with the transition from only child to big sister, her parents decided to take turns putting her to bed each night ensuring she had some quality one-on-one time with each of them. It was Liam’s turn to tuck her in, so Eleanor said goodnight to her mother and brother and walked hand in hand with her father to her room.
Liam sat on Eleanor’s bed, his arm wrapped around her, holding a book in front of them. Eleanor was learning how to read, so as they made their way through the story, Liam would pause, pressing his finger against the words, encouraging his daughter to read along, and helping her as she went.
“... and they,” he pointed to the next word and nodded encouragingly at her.
“Lived happ… happy…”
“Almost, princess. Happil…”
“Happily!” She exclaimed, Liam chuckled at her excitement and kissed the side of her head. “Happily ever after!”
“That’s right! Good work, Eleanor!” Liam pulled her close, kissing the top of her head before closing the book and carrying it to the bookshelf. “Now, I believe we have one more item of business,” he made his way to the collection of stuffed animals that were gathered in the corner of her room. “Who would you like to keep you company tonight?”
Eleanor’s eyes traveled through the crowd, her index finger tapping against her lips as she contemplated her selection. Her movements halted, and her smile grew upon making her decision, “Hunny Bunny please.”
“Excellent choice.” Liam turned to the pile searching for the golden rabbit. He moved the other animals around, trying to locate it. “Hmm… she doesn’t seem to be here.”
“But where is she, Daddy?” Eleanor looked at her father with tired, sad eyes.
“I’m… well, I’m not sure, princess. Where do you last remember having her?” He made his way around the room, looking anywhere Hunny Bunny could possibly be hiding.
“I… I don’t know.” Eleanor replied through her sniffles. “Daddy, please find her.”
Liam looked up at his daughter, her eyes were beginning to water, and her chin was trembling. He knew between Eleanor being tired, and wanting her toy, a meltdown would be inevitable if they didn’t find this rabbit.
“Oh Eleanor, don’t cry.” He rushed to his daughter’s side. “Why don’t we ask Mommy if she has seen Hunny Bunny?” Eleanor rubbed her eyes as she nodded at her father. He kissed her on the forehead before going to the door. “Riley, love, could you come here for a moment?” He called down the hallway.
Riley entered the room to find Liam consoling a crying Eleanor. “What happened here?” She said as she approached the pair, placing a comforting hand on Eleanor’s back. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
“We can’t find Hunny Bunny.” Eleanor cried before falling into her mother’s arms.
Riley looked up at Liam and she could see the worry in his face. “Okay, it’s all okay. Let’s just calm down here. She has to be somewhere, she didn’t get up and hop away.”
“When do you remember seeing her with it last?” Liam asked Riley as she continued to console her daughter.
She racked her brain, thinking back over the past couple of days, trying to picture everywhere they went, when it suddenly hit her. “Ramsford! She wanted to show Bartie, so she brought it when we were there for lunch the other day.” Riley put her hands on Eleanor’s shoulders and pulled her back gently. “Eleanor, I’m going to go call Uncle Max to see if Hunny is there, okay?”
Eleanor nodded as she rubbed her eyes. Riley stood from the bed and pulled her phone out of her back pocket as she stepped into the hallway.
“Hey Riley!” Maxwell greeted her on the second ring.
“Max, thank god! We have a bit of an emergency.”
“What’s wrong? Who’s coming for the throne now?”
Riley chuckled at his response, which helped ease her concern about the issue. After everything they had been through, if the worst thing to happen to them is a lost stuffed animal, then everything was going to be just fine. “It’s nothing like that. Eleanor can’t find her Hunny Bunny. I think we may have left it there.”
“Oh yeah, she’s here. I’ll bring it tomorrow when we come for the festival.”
“Actually, could you just give it to Drake? I’m sure he won’t mind dropping it off on his way home.” There was silence on the other end of the line. “Max? Are you still there?”
“I’m here, but Drake’s not.”
“But he said he was having dinner with Savannah tonight.”
“Nope, he hasn’t been by in a couple of weeks actually.”
“Man, I knew he was being shady!”
“Wait, what do you mean? What’s going on?”
“I’ll fill you in tomorrow. For now, please please bring Hunny Bunny with you tomorrow.”
“You bet, see you then!”
Riley hung up the phone and took a deep breath before returning to her daughter’s room. Without Eleanor’s stuffed animal of choice, it was going to be a long night.
***
The next day, the royal family walked through the crowd greeting people, and exploring everything the festival had to offer.
“I get what you’re saying,” Riley said to Liam. “But he’s not just not telling us stuff, he’s straight up lying to us. That’s not a Drake thing.”
Liam looked at his wife thoughtfully. “That’s true. As much as he’s kept to himself, I’ve never known him to lie to me.”
“So, we can confront him and ask him what’s going on?”
“Uncle Drake!” Eleanor’s excited shout pulled Liam and Riley’s attention. They looked ahead and saw Drake approaching them.
“Hey, kiddo.” Drake smiled as he lifted Eleanor into a hug.
As Eleanor and Drake greeted each other, Liam and Riley had a conversation with their eyes. Liam pleaded with Riley not to confront him, to which she agreed.
“So Eleanor, how would you like some cotton candy?” Drake asked.
The princess’s eyes went wide as she turned to her parents for permission. Liam and Riley chuckled at her hopeful expression. “Mommy, Daddy, please?” Eleanor begged. “I’ll bring some back for baby David.”
“That’s very sweet of you, princess,” Liam leaned in, kissing his daughter on the cheek. “But babies can’t eat cotton candy.”
“That’s right, baby girl,” Riley added. “So why don’t you just go ahead and eat extra for your brother?”
Eleanor cheered and jumped up and down in excitement. “Come on, Uncle Drake!” She grabbed his hand and rushed him toward the food vendors.
A while later, Riley was mercifully pulled away from a conversation with Hakim and Joelle Theron when David started crying from his stroller. She excused herself, and once she was out of their earshot, she thanked her son profusely for his timing.
“Riley! Riley, wait up!” Maxwell called as he rushed to catch up with his friend.
“Diaper emergency Max, no time.” She replied, just as he fell into step with her.
The pair stepped into the palace and into a small sitting area. As Riley set up a makeshift diaper station on a nearby table, Maxwell bounced on his heels behind her.
“Riley, you’re never going to guess what I saw?”
Riley recoiled back as she opened David’s soiled diaper. “Ugh, it can’t be any worse than this.”
“I think I know what’s going on with Drake.”
Riley turned to face Maxwell. “Spill right now, Beaumont.”
***
The next day, as the Royal Council meeting let out, Liam caught Drake before he could slip out, and invited him back to his office for a drink. As soon as they walked in the office, Liam’s desk chair slowly turned, revealing Riley, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Welcome, Drake.” She said as she rested her elbows on the desk, steepling her fingers in front of her.
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. When he and Riley talked about confronting Drake, they agreed that they would speak to him rationally. His wife appeared to have other plans.
“What’s up with you, weirdo?” Drake asked at Riley’s dramatic display.
Liam invited Drake to sit before stepping to the bar cart and making two drinks. He handed one to Drake before stepping around the desk and standing beside his wife. “Drake, we wanted to talk to you. To make sure you were alright.”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He responded. “Why would you ask?”
“Because you’re a big fat liar!” Riley blurted out. Liam placed a hand on her shoulder at the outburst as Drake’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“Drake,” Liam interjected. “The other night, when you told us that you were going to Ramsford, Riley spoke with Maxwell, and he told her you hadn’t been there.”
“Hold on,” Drake stood from his chair. “You guys are checking up on me?”
“Not intentionally. We lost one of Eleanor’s toys, and I called Maxwell to find it.” Riley crossed her arms over her chest. “And don’t try to turn this around on us.”
“Love, stand down.” Liam leaned down, kissing her on the cheek before turning back to Drake. “Drake, we’re just worried about you. You know we don’t mind that you keep to yourself, but it’s not like you to lie.”
Drake let out a deep breath as he fell back into his chair, finishing off the rest of his drink. “I’m sorry you guys. I didn’t mean to worry you, I just needed some time to myself for a while.”
“Well that’s another lie.” Riley scoffed, Drake arched a brow at her. “You have a girlfriend!”
Drake’s eyes went wide, and his jaw dropped. “How did you…”
“Maxwell saw you canoodling at the festival yesterday.” She responded. “What’s wrong with her? Why don’t you want to show her off? Does she have an eyepatch? Pegleg? Hook hand?”
Liam and Drake both froze and stared at Riley curiously.
“What the fuck, Brooks?” Drake finally broke the silence.
“Love, I don’t think Drake is seeing a pirate.”
“Sorry, Eleanor’s been on a real Peter Pan kick. I’ve got pirates on the brain.” She shrugged.
“Riley, can you give Drake and I a moment alone?” Liam asked.
Riley stood from the chair, and moved to leave the office, pausing before she opened the door and turning back to her husband and her friend. “I just want the chance to be there for you the way you always have for me.” Before Drake could respond, she was gone.
“I’m sorry, Drake.” Liam apologized as he sat in his chair. “I didn’t mean for this to be an attack on you.”
“It’s alright,” Drake shrugged. “And for the record, I’m sorry I lied to you guys.”
The pair sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Liam finished off his drink and stood, tilting his chin toward Drake’s glass. He nodded, affirming that he wanted a refill. Liam took the glasses and took them to the bar cart.
“So,” Liam began as he refilled their drinks, “What’s her name?”
“Alyssa, Alyssa Devereaux.” He said. Even with his back to his friend, Liam could hear the smile in his voice.
“You’re happy?” Liam asked as he handed Drake his drink.
“I am Li, she’s amazing. I never expected to fall as hard as I did.”
Liam nodded as he returned to his seat, placing his drink down in front of him. “Why wouldn’t you want to share that happiness with your friends?”
Drake shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you, it’s just,” he trailed off, trying to find the best way to explain what he was feeling. “This whole world, the court, nobles, all that, it’s a lot. I know what it can do to an outsider, I wanted to protect her from it.”
“That’s reasonable, I understand wanting to protect someone you care about, you know that.” Drake nodded in response. “But Drake, if this is something that you see as long term, it’s an inevitability that you will need to start introducing her into this whole world. As much as I know it pains you to admit it, you are a part of the court.”
“Yeah, you’re right. There are just so many things that could go wrong. I don’t want to lose her, Liam.”
Liam smiled, he had known Drake his whole life, and he had never talked about a girl like this. He had it bad, and it was painfully obvious. “Why don’t you ease her into it. She doesn’t have to dive into it all at once.”
“What do you mean?” Drake asked.
“Introduce her to people that will be at court functions ahead of time. That way, she will have allies to turn to if she gets uneasy.”
Drake arched a brow. “Allies like the king and queen?”
“If you’re going to have allies, it doesn’t hurt for them to be at the top.” Liam grinned sheepishly.
Drake let out a deep breath. “I guess I can’t keep her hidden forever.”
“Wonderful!” Liam exclaimed. “You should bring her by for dinner this weekend. Just a small, unofficial get together. We’ll do it in our quarters, Riley will cook. Completely informal, just your friends meeting your… girlfriend?” Drake nodded, confirming Alyssa’s title.
“I guess that sounds alright. I mean, if it’s just you guys, I can’t imagine what could go wrong.”
Thank God you already know the depths of my love for this fic, since I was busy bleeding all my organs and iron stores out feeling unwell.
I grabbed a LOT of quotes. /rubs hands together
You are the only person on the planet who could get me to drop a Taylor Swift song anywhere. That's how much I love you.
Let's gooooo
/ stares at moodboard with heart eyes
🥹🥹🥹🥹 and YOU are the only person I love enough that I now have a secret theme song to listen to before we chat!! 🥰
A/N: Happy birthday to my wonderful friend @burnsoslow. You are so sweet, and funny, and thoughtful. When I came to Tumblr however long ago, and started obsessively reading your stories, I never, in a million years, thought that I would actually be lucky enough to call you my friend. I'm sitting here trying to put together words about how much having you in my life means to me, but I'm not sure they even exist. I just love you so so much, and hope that you spent today partying like it's 1999! 😘
I love you too. So much. And I'm so damn blessed to call you friend.
🥹🥹🥹🥹
I spent my birthday in my chair eating snacks and then going to Cracker Barrel, which is basically the 40+ equivalent
“Yeah,” Drake rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve been pretty busy lately.”
HC TIME!!!
Was he busy like 🍆 busy? Or just busy falling in love with his girl? I'm so delightfully curious 😍
“What’s wrong? Who’s coming for the throne now?”
Why is this so funny? I'm just glad Maxwell can keep his sense of humor even about their weird semi-cursed existence.
“... and they,” he pointed to the next word and nodded encouragingly at her.
😍😍😍😍 still loving this so much. HE'S HELPING HER TRACK PRINT 😍😍😍😍
Liam looked at his wife thoughtfully. “That’s true. As much as he’s kept to himself, I’ve never known him to lie to me.”
Good thing he never fessed up about how weird he was during the social season, huh? 🍿
Riley turned to face Maxwell. “Spill right now, Beaumont.”
“That’s right, baby girl,” Riley added. “So why don’t you just go ahead and eat extra for your brother?”
Haha, have fun, Drake
“Welcome, Drake.” She said as she rested her elbows on the desk, steepling her fingers in front of her.
“What’s up with you, weirdo?” Drake asked at Riley’s dramatic display.
It's still making me laugh 😄😄😄😄
“Because you’re a big fat liar!” Riley blurted out. Liam placed a hand on her shoulder at the outburst as Drake’s brow furrowed in confusion.
They're so perfectly matched and as always, I ADORE THEM SO
“Maxwell saw you canoodling at the festival yesterday.” She responded. “What’s wrong with her? Why don’t you want to show her off? Does she have an eyepatch? Pegleg? Hook hand?”
“Love, I don’t think Drake is seeing a pirate.”
😆😆😆😆😆
We waited so long for that line, and it was EVEN BETTER THAN I IMAGINED
“Alyssa, Alyssa Devereaux.” He said. Even with his back to his friend, Liam could hear the smile in his voice.
“I am Li, she’s amazing. I never expected to fall as hard as I did.”
“That’s reasonable, I understand wanting to protect someone you care about, you know that.” Drake nodded in response. “But Drake, if this is something that you see as long term, it’s an inevitability that you will need to start introducing her into this whole world. As much as I know it pains you to admit it, you are a part of the court.”
A freaking Guardian of the Realm, no less! And why is Liam just so 😍
“If you’re going to have allies, it doesn’t hurt for them to be at the top.” Liam grinned sheepishly.
Me thinking about Drake having friends like Liam and Riley:
“Wonderful!” Liam exclaimed. “You should bring her by for dinner this weekend. Just a small, unofficial get together. We’ll do it in our quarters, Riley will cook. Completely informal, just your friends meeting your… girlfriend?” Drake nodded, confirming Alyssa’s title.
😍😍😍😍😍😍 MY FREAKING HEART
“I guess that sounds alright. I mean, if it’s just you guys, I can’t imagine what could go wrong.”
I loved this so, so much and I will FOREVER feel so incredibly honored that you invited my girl into your universe to love your perfect, perfect Drake 😭😭😭😭
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Happiest birthday to the wonderful, amazing, and all-around talented Queen, @burnsoslow !!!
Your beloved Drake is here to wish you the very best day. He even brought some balloons and cake just for you
You know I adore you and think the world of you. I'm so proud of you and all you've accomplished! 😘
Anya is live and ready to show you everything. Watch her strip, dance, and perform exclusive shows just for you. Interact in real-time and make your fantasies come true.
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Anya is LIVE right now
FREE
Free to watch • No registration required • HD streaming