Lunsa

The second you and Beau walk into Tucker and Sabrina’s place, you already know it is going to be loud in the exact way that makes your head hurt and your chest feel weirdly full at the same time.

And This happens every week, dinner with the group was a tradition at this point, and this time it was Tuckers and Sabrinas time to host.

Which meant there were toys scattered around the living room, Tucker shouting from somewhere in the kitchen probably acting like Gordon Ramsey on timer, and Sabrina already sounding exhausted before dinner had even started.

“Take your shoes off,” Sabrina called the second she saw you. “Jamie just learned how to lick under furniture and I don’t know what she’s licking anymore.”

You took your shoes off while Beau helped you with the coat, ever since he got drafted at NFL your visit to these dinners have been limited, so you both were so excited to see your friend again and share some news.

First thing you did was go and wash your hands in the bathroom so you could hug little Jamie, she was adorable little girl who loved dolls so you always knew to get LOTS of them for her, Tucker always got mad but seeing smile on his daughter’s face always warmed his heart. You could see Jamie sitting at her tiny table in the corner, happily eating pieces of fruit while babbling to herself.

The second she spotted you, her face lit up.

“Auntie!”

You crouched down and opened your arms just in time for her to throw herself at you.

“Hi, baby.”

Jamie wrapped her little arms around your neck, giggling when you kissed her cheek.

“You bring present?”

“Of course I did, don’t tell your father.”

After a few more minutes of Jamie proudly showing off her dolls and demanding attention from Beau, she became distracted by her new toy and wandered off, leaving the adults to settle into their usual spots around the house.

That gave you a chance to properly greet everyone. You hugged Hannah first. Allie was next, then Grace, the three of them immediately asking questions about your recent travels with Beau now that football season had finally slowed down enough for him to breathe.

Garrett greeted you with a quick hug and a warm smile. Logan squeezed your shoulder when you hugged him.

Then there was Dean…

“Where's my hug?” he demanded before you even reached him. You rolled your eyes but hugged him anyway. After saying hi to everyone in the living room, you headed toward the kitchen where the actual hosts of the night were.

Or, more accurately, where Tucker was doing all the work while Sabrina pretended she was helping.

The second you walked through the doorway, Tucker looked up from the stove.

“There she is.”

You smiled.

“Hi, Tuck.”

Before he could answer, you walked over and wrapped your arms around him. Tucker immediately hugged you back. You moved over to hug Sabrina next She smiled when she saw you coming. You’d always loved Sabrina. She was blunt, stubborn, terrifying when necessary, and somehow one of the most caring people in the room. You kissed her cheek before heading back toward the living room.

Beau was sitting on the couch between Dean and Logan, which looked about as relaxing as it sounded. Beau looked like he'd already tuned out half the conversation. The second he saw you walking over, his arm lifted automatically across the back of the couch. Eventually you found yourself sitting with Hannah, Allie and Grace while the guys argued about something completely pointless.

Again.

"So how’s NFL life?" Grace asked.

"Do you want the honest answer?"

"Always."

"I miss having a normal schedule."

Hannah nodded immediately.

"I remember Garrett's hockey seasons."

Garrett overheard from across the room.

"They weren't that bad."

"They were awful."

You smiled, listening to them go back and forth. The conversation continued easily for a while, everyone catching up and laughing as the guys argued over something completely ridiculous in the background. Eventually Jamie wandered back into the living room rubbing her eyes, one of her dolls dragging behind her.

Sabrina immediately stood up.

"Okay, that's my cue."

Jamie reached for her mother without protest, already half asleep.

"Night, everyone," Sabrina said as she carried her upstairs.

A chorus of goodnights followed them.

While Sabrina handled bedtime, Tucker finished dinner, insisting he didn't need help despite Garrett offering twice and Dean trying to steal food before it was ready. A little while later Sabrina came back downstairs just as Tucker carried the last dish to the dining room table.

"Food's ready," he announced proudly.

Everyone got up from their spots and slowly made their way to the table.

As conversations picked back up around the table and dishes started getting passed around, you exchanged a small glance with Beau. It was going perfectly. Everyone was talking, laughing, passing dishes around the table and catching up on everything they'd missed over the last few weeks.

Then Dean stood up.

"So who wants wine?"

Immediately, almost every hand at the table went up. He grabbed a few bottles from the counter and started making his way around the table.

And when Dean got to you.

You just smiled and said "No thanks."

Dean paused, face scrunching like you killed his best friend.

"...No thanks?"

"Yeah."

"You?"

"Yes, Dean."

He stared.

"You never say no to wine, we were supposed to be alcoholics im this group, what happened to you.” He asked with confusion.

You just laughed at his dramatics, “Nothing happened Dean, im just not drinking tonight.”

He just stood there holding the bottle, staring at you. Like you'd kick him.

"You're sick."

"What?"

"You're sick."

"I'm not sick."

"You have to be sick."

"Dean."

"Food poisoning?"

"No."

"The flu?"

"No."

"Rabies?"

You stared at him with confusion on your face. "Rabies?"

"You never know."

Allie smacked his arm.

"Sit down."

"No. Something's wrong, Beau what did you do to her?”

Allie smacked Dean’s arm again before he could spiral further.

“Sit down.”

“No. Something is wrong. Beau, what did you do to her?”

Beau finally looked up from his plate, completely relaxed.

“What makes you think I did something?”

“Because she’s acting weird,” Dean said, pointing at you like he was presenting evidence in court.

“I’m literally just eating dinner,” you said without looking up.

“You turned down wine, It’s fucking weird.”

Tucker sighed from the other end of the table. “He’s been doing this all night. If you ignore him he will shut up.”

“Wow thanks guys.” Dean muttered while rolling his eyes as he sat down again.

The table drifted back into noise again, everyone settling into their usual overlapping conversations. Forks clinked, someone laughed too loud, Tucker talked with Garrett about training.

So nobody noticed when you leaned sideways.

Beau’s plate was right there in front of him, half full, close enough that it was easy. He was mid conversation with Logan, not paying attention at all when you reached over and took a bite straight from his plate like it belonged to you.

Beau stopped talking mid sentence. Slowly turned his head toward you. And instead of being annoyed, his expression just shifted into something amused.

“You didn’t even ask,” he said.

“It’s good.”

Beau let out a quiet laugh, shaking his head like you were ridiculous in the most familiar way.

“Yeah, I know.”

You took another bite like you had every right to be there, like this had somehow always been the arrangement. In fact, after a second, he slid his plate a little closer to you without even being asked, as if deciding that if you were going to do it anyway, he might as well make it easier. Then, almost naturally, you shifted your plate toward him too, trading them without ceremony. Beau glanced down at it. Then back at you. A faint smile pulled at his mouth.

“Alright,” he said simply, like it made perfect sense.

He just started eating your plate without hesitation while you kept his. Across the table, Dean was still talking loudly about something nobody was listening to, waving his hands around as usual. Tucker was laughing at him. Garrett looked tired. Logan was trying not to get dragged into it.

Life kept going around the table the same way it always did.

You reached over your plate, mixing together the last of Beau’s food with your own, then added a piece of dessert from the middle of the table. Same fork. No hesitation. Like your taste buds had started making decisions without consulting your brain.

Beau leaned back slightly in his chair, watching you with that calm, amused expression he’d been wearing all night, like you were the only interesting thing happening in the room. He nudged his drink closer when you reached for it without looking.

Dean, unfortunately, saw everything.

He stopped mid sentence.

“…what is she doing now?”

Allie didn’t even glance up. “Eating.”

“No,” Dean said slowly, pointing. “That is not eating. That’s like mixing chemicals.”

Tucker waved him off. “She’s fine, Dean.”

“She is combining chocolate cake with mashed potatoes.”

“That sounds so disgusting ,” Grace admitted.

“Its so good actually,” you said simply, still eating like it was the most normal thing in the world. That made the table pause for half a second.

Dean narrowed his eyes. “That’s not a normal thing people say.”

You finally looked up at him, completely calm, fork still in hand.

“I’m pregnant.”

The words landed in the middle of the table like someone had pressed pause on the entire room. People suddenly leaning forward, smiling, talking over each other at once.

“Oh my God, that explains everything,” someone said.

“The food thing makes so much sense now.”

Beau just leaned back in his chair, smiling like he’d been waiting for everyone else to catch up.

Dean, still processing, looked between you and Beau like the puzzle had finally solved itself.

“…so I was kind of right,” he muttered.

“Unfortunately,” Logan said.

You laughed into your hand, shaking your head while Beau reached under the table and squeezed your knee gently, like a quiet confirmation that this was real, that this was happening, that everyone you loved was right here reacting exactly the way they should.

The noise around the table only grew louder after that, questions overlapping with congratulations and jokes and someone already talking about baby names like they had not just been blindsided five seconds ago. The questions started almost immediately.

"How far along are you?"

"Almost fourteen weeks."

"Oh my God," Grace breathed. "You've been hiding this for fourteen weeks?"

"We wanted to wait a little."

"Fourteen weeks is not a little," Allie informed you.

You shrugged, "We were busy.”

The girls immediately started talking over each other. Then Hannah looked directly at you.

"Wait. Have you had cravings?"

"Unfortunately."

The girls immediately perked up.

"What kind?"

You pointed at your plate.

"Apparently this."

Grace looked down at the mixture of food still sitting there.

"Righttt, that’s why you’re eating…that.”

Then Allie grinned.

"Okay, but the important question."

"Has Beau been good?"

The second the question left her mouth, every girl's attention shifted toward Beau.

Beau looked up from his plate.

"What?"

"Answer the question."

Beau immediately looked offended.

"Of course I've been good."

The girls were already staring at you expectantly.

You couldn't stop smiling.

"Three weeks ago I woke up at two in the morning because I wanted an Erewhon smoothie."

The table groaned immediately. Hannah was already laughing.

"What did you do?"

You pointed at Beau.

"He drove almost five hours at two in the morning and brought me 4 smoothies.” You said getting emotional now. Hormones.

Grace dropped her fork.

"Five hours?"

You nodded, already smiling.

"I woke up in the middle of the night and for some reason I could not stop thinking about this Erewhon smoothie. I tried going back to sleep, I tried ignoring it, but it just kept getting worse. At some point I got so frustrated that I started crying."

"That is the most pregnant thing I've ever heard." Sabrina laughed.

"It gets worse," you said, laughing too. "I was literally sitting in bed crying about a smoothie and Beau woke up. He spent twenty minutes trying to convince me that I'd survive until morning, but apparently I looked so pathetic that he eventually gave up."

"I did not say pathetic," Beau muttered beside you.

"You were thinking it."

"So I fell asleep and when I woke up the next morning he was gone. I thought he'd gone to training or something, but then he came back carrying four smoothies because he wasn't sure which one I'd actually wanted."

A collective groan went around the table.

You felt your eyes sting a little more just remembering it.

"Oh no," Allie said immediately.

"What?"

"You're getting emotional."

"I'm literally fine."

Your voice cracked halfway through the sentence. The entire table burst out laughing. You dropped your head into Beau's shoulder.

"This is so embarrassing."

Beau just laughed quietly and wrapped an arm around you.

You stared toward the kitchen.

“…Sabrina.”

Sabrina looked up.

“What?”

“Do you still have that chocolate cheesecake?”

A grin immediately spread across Sabrina’s face.

“Yes.”

You looked at Beau. Trying to give him your best puppy eyes you could muster.

Beau was already pushing his chair back.

“I’ll get it.”

Dean threw both hands in the air.

“There he goes!”

“You didn’t even ask him,” Grace laughed.

“I didn’t have to.”

Beau leaned down and kissed the top of your head before heading toward the kitchen. You watched Beau disappear into the kitchen and couldn’t stop smiling. A minute later he came back carrying not one slice of cheesecake.

But Three.

“You don’t know which one you’ll want,” he said, setting them down in front of you.

The entire table groaned.

“Dude you’re her bitch now,” Garrett informed him.

Beau looked at you happily stealing a bite before he’d even sat down.

“I know.”

Snow covered nearly everything outside Beau’s football house, white drifts piled high against the windows and porch railings after the storm the night before. The room was still dim with weak morning light struggling through the clouds, turning the walls of his bedroom soft gray.

She woke slowly when the bed shifted beside her.

The warmth disappeared too fast.

Then Beau’s arm slid carefully from around her waist as he sat up at the edge of the mattress, rubbing one tired hand over his face. The blankets slipped lower down her bare legs while she stayed curled in the middle of his bed, watching him quietly through half closed sleepy eyes.

After Months of pretending at Malone’s that they barely knew each other while Beau somehow always found reasons to stand too close to her whenever nobody was paying attention.

Nobody officially knew.

At least that was what they told themselves.

She dragged her foot slowly against his sheets while Beau stood and reached for the hoodie tossed across his desk chair. His sweatpants hung low on his hips and his hair stuck up messily from sleep.

Beau caught her staring immediately.

“What?” he asked quietly, glancing over his shoulder.

“Nothing.”

His mouth twitched slightly like he didn’t believe her before he disappeared into the hallway bathroom.

The room instantly felt colder without him in it.

After another minute she slipped carefully from the bed too, legs still shaky beneath her as she padded down the upstairs hallway toward the bathroom before one of Beau’s teammates wandered out of their room half-awake.

The football house was strangely quiet for once.

Probably because half the team had gone out after yesterday’s game.

She shut herself inside the bathroom and turned on the shower mostly for noise. Steam slowly fogged the mirror while she pushed tangled hair away from her face.

Her reflection looked exhausted.

She wiped the mirror clear with the sleeve covering her hand and stared at the dark bruise near the base of her neck above Beau’s shirt collar. It had darkened overnight, purple around the edges where his stubble had scraped against her skin.

Her stomach twisted strangely at the sight.

Allie had helped her pack yesterday afternoon before she came over, sitting cross-legged on the dorm room floor while watching her shove clothes into her bag.

“You’re staying at Beau’s again?”

She had tried sounding casual. “Just for the night.”

Allie snorted softly. “Sure.”

The weather warning repeated quietly from someone’s television farther down the dorm hallway while she shoved another sweater into her backpack beside textbooks and makeup.

“Doesn’t he live with the football team?” Allie asked after a minute.

“Yeah,” she answered quietly.

Allie looked like she wanted to say something else, bur she only just nodded.

The strange shift between them over the past few months settled heavily into the silence afterward. She never knew how much to tell Allie anymore afraid she might tell Dean and everyone knew Dean has big mouth on him. Beau had somehow become hers privately before she even realized it was happening, and talking about him out loud made everything feel too real.

Because technically…

They weren’t officially together.

He wasn’t her boyfriend.

Neither of them had actually said what this was.

Still, he kissed her forehead before early workouts whenever she stayed over. He remembered exactly how she liked her coffee. He got jealous whenever other guys flirted with her even though he acted like he didn’t care.

Sometimes she caught Dean watching them strangely across crowded rooms like he was trying to solve something.

The bathroom mirror fogged over again before loud pounding downstairs suddenly echoed through the house hard enough to make her jump.

A voice shouted from below.

“BEAU.”

She froze instantly.

Another hard bang rattled the front door.

“OPEN THE FUCKING DOOR.”

Her stomach dropped.

She hurried toward the bathroom door just as Beau appeared at the end of the hallway wearing gray sweatpants and an old football hoodie.

“Is that Dean?” she whispered.

“Yes.”

“Why is he here so early?”

“I don’t know.”

Another round of pounding echoed downstairs followed by Dean yelling something about freezing outside.

Beau exhaled sharply and started going downstairs.

She grabbed his sleeve before he could disappear.

“Wait…”

Beau looked down at her quietly for a second before his expression softened just slightly. His thumb brushed once beneath her jaw near the bruise there leaving a small kiss.

“Relax,” he said softly. “I’ll deal with Dean.”

Then he disappeared downstairs.

She stayed frozen outside the bathroom listening to muffled voices below.

Pieces of conversation drifted upstairs.

“ignored like six calls….l

“Because it’s eight in the morning….l

“Practice got moved….”

Then footsteps.

Coming upstairs.

Fast.

Her pulse jumped immediately.

She barely had enough time to step backward into the bedroom door swung open.

Dean walked in mid-sentence, still talking over his shoulder.

“I’m telling you if the coach makes us skate with that douchebag davenport after yesterday I’m actually going to lo…”

He stopped cold.

His eyes landed on her standing beside Beau’s bed wearing Beau’s shirt.

Silence filled the room instantly.

Dean froze on the spot, blinking very slowly.

Beau appeared behind him a second later and closed his eyes briefly like he already knew exactly what expression Dean had on his face.

Dean looked slowly between both of them.

Then toward the unmade bed.

Then at the bruise on her neck.

“Ohhhhhh.”

Dean leaned against the doorway staring at Beau like he’d just uncovered classified information.

“So this is why you disappear every night.”

Beau folded his arms across his chest. “Dean.”

“No, hold on.” Dean pointed between them. “How long has this been going on huh?”

“Since October.” Beau answered slowly

“This has been going on for MONTHS?!” Dean yelled surprised.

Beau looked completely unbothered somehow.

“You nearly punched Tucker at the gym for saying she was pretty, and here i thought you just had a dumb crush on her.”

Dean looked toward her now, disbelief still written all over his face. “You know he almost got into a fight because some guy asked for your number once?”

She turned slowly toward Beau teasing smile tugging at her lips.

His jaw tightened slightly. “Dean.”

“What? She should know.”

Dean rubbed one hand over his face before sighing heavily. “This whole thing makes so much sense now.”

Beau stepped farther into the room. “Are you done now?”

Dean ignored him completely.

“You sleep over here while the entire football team lives downstairs?” he asked her.

“Not usually.”

“Yeaaah that honestly makes this worse.”

Beau rolled his eyes before grabbing the hoodie she left hanging over his desk chair and tossing it toward her.

“Can you leave now?”

Dean looked between both of them one last time.

Then a slow grin spread across his face.

“Oh my God,” he muttered quietly. “Are you guys like, together together now?.”

The room went completely still.

Her eyes moved toward Beau without thinking.

Dean noticed immediately.

Beau stared at him for a long moment before speaking flatly.

The next morning your alarm went off at exactly 6:00 a.m.

You groaned softly into your pillow before forcing yourself to sit up, your hair falling all over your face while the room around you stayed completely dark and quiet.

Allie was asleep across the room diagonally on her bed, still wearing one heel somehow while Hannah had probably stayed with Garret.

Your body still smelled faintly like tequila and smoke from the party. Gold glitter from your costume still clung to your shoulders and stomach under the soft morning light.

You washed your face, brushed teeth and did your skincare, them changed into leggings sports bra, and one of your oversized sweaters before grabbing your yoga mat from the corner of the room.

Cold air brushing against your cheeks while the sky still stayed pale blue and sleepy above Briar. Your grandmother used to say mornings carried the cleanest energy, and that whatever mood you woke up with followed you through the rest of the day.

You smiled softly thinking about her while stepping inside the small yoga studio just off campus. The warm smell of incense immediately relaxed you. And An hour later you walked back through campus with hot coffee in your hands and your headphones over your ears, finally feeling human again.

You only had one class that afternoon before your shift at the flower shop near Malone's, you loved that shop, love the smell of eucalyptus and fresh roses that soaked into your clothes by the end of every shift. Loved making bouquets while old Fleetwood Mac songs played quietly through the speakers.

Your grandmother had raised you around plants your entire life anyway, You learned flower meanings before you learned multiplication.

By eleven, you were walking into the shop with another coffee in one hand and your bag hanging from shoulder, The second the bell above the door rang, Martha looked up from behind the counter.

"There's my little sunflower."

You laughed immediately.

"Hi Martha."

You moved automatically once you tied your apron on, trimming stems, changing water buckets, fixing arrangements that customers had already messed up by touching.

Everything about flowers felt soft and temporary in a way you liked. Nothing stayed perfect forever.

Outside the shop windows students moved through the streets around Briar in heavy hoodies and sunglasses, all of them looking exhausted from the party weekend.

—ALLIE

"please tell me you're alive"

—YOU

"working rn

drink water jlo"

Three dots appeared instantly.

—ALLIE

"hannah made eggs and i almost threw up, i think im still drunk"

You laughed softly to yourself.

"Boy?" Martha asked immediately.

"No." You smiled shaking your head before setting your phone back down.

After work you went home took very much needed everything shower and sat down for medidatiln before leaving for karaoke night at malones.

I am very introverted person but karaoke is my soft spot, all i need is a drink or two and im on stage loosing myself.

By the time you got to Malone's it was full with people, even from outside you could hear peoples cheers and someone very sloppily singing.

"Oh my God no way," you laughed under your breath.

Allie stood under the karaoke lights fully committed to whatever song was blasting through Malone's speakers while half the bar cheered for her.

You smiled automatically at the sight before making your way toward the bar first. Della looked up immediately from cleaning glasses when she saw you approaching.

"There's my favorite flower girl."

You laughed softly.

"Hi Della"

You pulled one of the bouquets from your arms and handed it to her across the counter. You always bought flowers to girls after work, Martha always gave them to you for free because you were her favorite and only employee.

Della's entire expression softened immediately. "Oh honey," she said quietly. "These are beautiful."

"They reminded me of you."

"That better not mean I look orange."

You laughed harder this time. "Nooo" you laughed at her "they're warm, and they are also one of the most beautiful flowers."

Della placed hand dramatically over her chest.

"Don't tell anyone but you're my favorite." She whispered to you not wanting to let others hear.

You smiled while she carefully placed the flowers beside the register, you got your pina colada, only drink that was not disgusting but could get you worked up within few minutes.

You looked around looking for Hannah when you saw her sitting with garret, they were also watching Allie lose herself on stage and laughing. You walked over smiling softly, immediately holding Hannah's bouquet out toward her.

Small white tulips tied together with pale ribbon.

Her face changed immediately.

"Oh my God."

Hannah took them carefully from you like they were made of glass, immediately giving you her puppy looking soft eyes and big grin. "Thank youuu Ray-Ray" ray-ray is what Hannah and Allie called you as a nickname short for ray of sunshine i think?

You laughed softly sliding into the booth beside them while Hannah still admired the flowers.

Then Allie's voice suddenly blasted through the speakers again.

You looked toward the stage immediately just in time to see her laying and singing dramatically during the chorus while the entire bar lost their minds cheering.

You smiled into your drink while the warm noise of Malone's surrounded you completely. Allie finished her song and whole place went into cheers and laughters, it was perfect moment for her, she came back from bathroom and immediately started to get drinks, thankfully waitress passed by carrying another tray of drinks and Allie immediately pointed.

"We need shots."

"No we don't," Hannah said instantly.

"Yes we do," Allie and you answered together.

Ten minutes later tiny shot glasses sat spread across the table half of them already empty, just a little courage to get up on stage. The music got louder again, people around the bar singing horribly and completely off key while colored lights flashed across the walls. By midnight you and Allie were absolutely gone.

"No," Allie said seriously. "We need something emotional."

"You are not emotionally stable enough for emotional songs right now babes."

"But i aaaammm, im already so over Sean i haven't had any cheetos today." She whined.

"No way." Allie grabbed your arm so hard it hurt. "You know what, let's go." You said with full confidence, looking around for Jules so u could get your name on there.

And before Hannah blinked you were on stage trying to sing "You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home" very emotionally, you could not see single person who was not cheering and singing along from the stage, Hannah Montana is that girl.

"Oh my GOD," Garrett yelled laughing from the bar where he now sat with Hannah.

You had one hand over your heart like the song personally changed your life, while Allie spun by the stage like crazy person.

After the song finally ended you bowed down and went down, Allie immediately attacked you with her sloppy voice laughing and cheesing hard. The music changed again while the bar stayed loud around you, people screaming over each other, glasses clinking somewhere near the counter. You and Allie started laughing again just from looking at each other, it was becoming hysterical.

Eventually you escaped from them, Your head felt warm and floaty now, tequila still buzzing pleasantly through your body while the cold water Della handed you helped a little.

"A lifesaver," you told her dramatically while leaning against the bar.

"I know."

You took slow sips from the water, the noise of Malone's washing around you while another karaoke performance started somewhere behind you. You could already feel hangover starting.

You didn't even notice someone walking up behind you until a low voice said quietly near your ear, his hand briefly touching your lower back as he moved beside you.

"Hey."

You smiled immediately before even turning around. "Oh hi, Goose."

Beau stood beside you holding a beer loosely in one hand while the other rested against the counter.

His eyes moved over your face for a second before he spoke again.

"You disappeared before I could ask your name at the party."

You looked at him over the rim of your water. "Maybe I did that on purpose."

A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth.

"Why?"

You shrugged lightly. "To Keep things mysterious."

"You don't seem mysterious."

"No?"

He shook his head once.

"You walked into Malone's carrying flowers for half the staff."

"You noticed that?" You laughed softly at that, looking down at your cup for a second while your fingers moved around the condensation dripping down the side.

Beau leaned one arm against the bar beside you, turning slightly toward you now. The noise around you stayed loud and blurred together, music shaking through the walls while people moved shoulder to shoulder around the crowded bar.

"Maybe I just noticed you," he said quietly.

Your eyes lifted back to his immediately.

"Oh."

A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth when he noticed the slight surprise on your face.

"You look shocked."

"I just..." You laughed awkwardly under your breath, lowering your eyes back to the cup in your hands for a second. "I didn't expect that answer."

"What answer were you expecting?"

"I don't know." You smiled a little to yourself. "Something less direct maybe."

He watched you quietly for another second before taking small sip from his beer.

"Im a very direct person."

"Mhm," you nodded softly. "I noticed."

The words slipped out before you could really think about them.

Beau smiled slightly at that, dimples appearing again. Your eyes stayed on him for second before you looked back down at your water.

"So are you gonna tell me your name or what?" He asked quietly still curious.

You smiled a little to yourself before finally telling him.

Beau repeated your name back softly almost immediately, like he was making sure he said it right.

"Y/N," he nodded slightly. "Yeah. That fits way better."

You laughed quietly under your breath, shaking your head a little while he kept looking at you.

"What?" You smiled awkwardly.

"Nothing." A small grin pulled at the corner of his mouth before he finally held his hand out toward you slightly. "Beau Maxwell by the way. Since we're apparently introducing ourselves now."

You looked down at his hand for second before laughing softly again.

"I know who you are."

"Mhm," he nodded once. "Still feels rude not to introduce myself properly."

You slipped your hand into his for second, his hand warm against yours from the beer bottle he had been holding, you could feel his strong hand was kinda soft but more on rougher side from playing football.

"Well then," you smiled lightly. "Nice to officially meet you, Beau."

You could hear Allie yelling from the dance floor second you walked into the house "One the Floor" blasted through the speakers so loudly the entire first floor reacted at once.

"Oh my God," she shouted over the music."This is literally me."

Because she was literally Jennifer Lopez tonight.

The green Versace jungle dress was almost identical to the real one. Deep neckline, tropical print, gold jewelry catching the lights every time she moved. It was impossible not to stare at her when she walked into a room and especially when she was dancing she was breathing taking .

You could not see Sean anywhere probably dressed up as Ben Affleck with her.

Your Shakira costume fit you almost too perfectly. Gold chains around your waist, soft curls over your shoulders, low-rise skirt moving when you walked.

Allie danced like she belonged in the center of attention, you started to move towards her before anyone could snatch her from you, you moved past the kitchen and immediately onto the dance floor with her.

The second you moved and touched her waist and danced with her she turned her head to look at you and started to grin when she could see it was you, you moved your hips with her and started to laugh as she got even more excited.

But before you could continue dancing with her mama needed a drink, you danced turned to her face to face and said lowly "im gonna get a drink and get back with you" she nodded and continued to dance.

Now Allie was fully in the center too, the green dress practically glowing under the lights, and without any of you noticing someone had their eyes on her and was waiting for you to leave.

You started to move towards the kitchen, and Dean Di Laurentis started to move to dance floor.

You recognized him immediately, everyone knew who Dean di Laurentis was and after all it was his famous birthday along with his friend Beau Maxwell.

You grabbed beer in glass bottle but you obviously needed to open it, so you started to look around for opener when someone grabbed it from your hands before you could react.

"Oh..." You looked up confused at who took your beer, but it was none other than Beau opening the bottle and handing it back to you with a smile. "Thanks"

His eyes moved over your costume taking a closer look, slow enough to notice but not enough to make it weird.

"Shakira?" He asked lowly

You looked down at his costume and what his name tag said.

"Goose?" You smiled at that.

Beau looked down at the patch on his flight suit before looking back at you.

"Yeah," he said with a small laugh showing out his dimples. "I am Goose."

"Well, thank you again, Goose."

"You're welcome, Shakira." You just smiled awkwardly at him now.

You could see over his shoulder as Allie waved a finger at dean and started to move away "You guys know she has Ben Affleck, right?" you called toward him over the music.

Beau looked over immediately without missing a beat, giving thumbs up at Dean.

"Jennifer Lopez left Ben Affleck once already," he yelled back.

You smiled a little and leaned back against the counter, then you remembered why this part was taking place. "Oh, Happy birthday by the way." You told him with soft smile, not giving too much attention to him.

"Thanks." He smiled once more showing his dimples. His eyes moved slowly over your costume once more, the gold detailing around your waist catching the kitchen lights every time you shifted and beaded red top/bra that you wore made noise every time you moved.

"So who is your duo today." He asked looking around.

"My Rihanna is somewhere here." You say waving your hand towards house.

A grin pulled at the corner of his mouth. "Oh haha, i thought you might have come with Pique."

You laughed softly at that and shook your head a little.

"No Pique thankfully."

Beau gave you a big grin again before taking another sip from his drink, still looking at you with quiet amusement.

The kitchen stayed crowded around you, music shaking through the walls while people pushed past each other trying to get drinks.

"Well," you said after another sip of your beer, pushing yourself off the counter wanting to leave from this awkward encounter. "happy birthday again, Goose."

His eyes followed you instantly.

"That's it?"

"Yes?" You said with confused smile "gotta find where Jlo went."

He smiled quietly while you started moving backwards away from the counter.

Then you spotted Allie again across the entrance standing there with Sean who had finally had his Dunkin cup and immediately recognized the look on her face.

Oh, she was drunk now.

Beau glanced toward where you were looking and understood.

"Well okay then Shakira, Good luck."

Then you smiled once more at him before turning away and disappearing back into the crowd toward Allie, the gold fringe of your outfit swaying behind you while Beau watched you leave a little longer than he meant to.

Beau kept watching you for another second even after you disappeared back into the crowd.

Then Dean suddenly appeared beside him holding two drinks and looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"You have absolutely no game."

Beau finally looked away from where you had gone. "What?"

Dean stared at him in disbelief.

"She walked away."

"Yeah," Beau said slowly, then regained his consciousness "you mean how you let Jlo walk away." He laughed at him.

Dean just rolled his eyes opening his mouth to say something back but then Tucker came up beside them at the counter and immediately started laughing.

"No, no," he said pointing toward Beau. "You opened her beer, flirted with her for like ten minutes, and then let her leave."

Beau frowned slightly. "I did not flirt."

Dean snorted into his drink. "You looked at her like she was the only person at this party dude."

Beau rolled his eyes and took another sip from his drink while both of them kept grinning at him.

Through the crowd you reappeared beside Allie again, leaning close to say something in her ear that immediately made her burst out laughing.

Beau's eyes moved toward you automatically.

Dean caught it instantly.

"Oh my God," he said. "There it is again."

Beau looked away immediately. "Shut up, theres nothing."

Tucker shook his head trying not to laugh.

"Man," he said, "she literally gave you an exit line and you still stood there smiling at her like stupid boy."

"She was being nice."

Dean looked genuinely offended by that answer.

"She is dressed as Shakira and talking to you alone in the kitchen at your birthday party."

"And?"

"And you're an idiot."

Beau laughed quietly despite himself and leaned back against the counter again.

Across the room you threw your head back laughing at something Allie said, gold fringe moving against your legs under the lights.

And annoyingly enough, Beau smiled again without even realizing it.

Dean pointed immediately.

You excitedly run up the snow covered steps, You bounce on your toes a little as he unlocks the door, shaking his head with a small chuckle as you run in the moment he opens the door. You can’t help but hum a happy note as you take in your boyfriends big summer house.

You feel an arm over your shoulders and the press of warm lips against your cold cheek. You lean into his warmth and embrace out of habit.

“I’m glad you like it so much.”

“It’s just so cozy and warm, how could I not?” You laughs softly.

“Dean hates coming up here with me.”

“Oh yea?” He nods down at you. “Well, maybe Dean just doesn't appreciate the sort of… activities that the atmosphere promotes.” You smirk back and throw a wink at him as you skip out of his arms and up the stairs in search of the bedroom.

As you open the door to his bedroom your delighted to find that the balcony does in fact lead out from this room, offering the room ample amounts of natural light. You flop backwards onto the bed and sigh at the softness. You close your eyes for a moment and hum happily at the memory of Beau inviting you to spend winter break with him at his family cape cod.

Your eyes fly open as the bed starts to sink, Beau is leaning over you, arms braced against the mattress on either side of your head.

“If I’d known you wanted to do such things right away, I would’ve come upstairs before starting the fire...” His voice drops to a husky whisper and it causes your body to warm at the thought of his hands on you, but the bedroom is still very cold and you still want to look around a bit.

“Beau~” You giggle up at him. “I think you’re getting a little ahead of yourself.”

“I can’t help it when I find you up here, all spread out on the bed… What’s a man supposed to think?” You tilt up your chin to kiss him, shivering in delight as his tongue traces all around your mouth. After a minute or so you convince yourself to pull away from the kiss before things get too out of hand.

“Mmm think whatever you want, but I’m going to finish looking around and start dinner.” He lets his face rest against your shoulder and lets out sad little sigh, effectively keeping you pinned against the bed.

You kiss the top of his head and run your fingers through the mess that is his hair.

“I wanna see the house first baby before dinner tho.” You can feel his laugh against your neck as he slowly gets up.

“Come on you, let’s get you a proper tour.”

It takes more than 10 minutes to show you the remaining rooms, you could

Not believe that people are this rich to have mansion as summer houses.. You go ahead and start dinner as you watch the sun begin to set through the window. Just as you’re finishing up a pair of strong arms wrap around your waist and you roll your eyes as he rests his chin on your head.

“Comfy?”

“I have you in my arms, how could I not be?” He replies and you can practically hear the smirk he is undoubtedly wearing.

“Uh huh, well dinners done.”

By the time you’re done eating and cleaning up it’s pitch black out and the temperature is continuing to drop. You change into warm pjs and steal one of Beau’s jerseys for added measure but still find yourself trying to steal his body heat as you sit on the couch discussing your plans for the week. You’ve pretty much crawled into his lap, your legs thrown over his as your head rests against his chest.

“You okay there?” He asks as you try to nuzzle your way closer.

“It’s cold babyy.” You can feel his laugh rumbling through his chest.

“I did warn you it gets chilly at night”

“This is way more then chilly! I feel like my toes are turning into ice cubes.” You grumble with a pout.

“Now you know why Dean hates it, hard to play those games of his with frozen fingers.”

“I don’t blame him one bit right now… How can it look so warm and cozy when it’s like being in the north pole”

“How about I get some of the fluffiest blankets and we curl up in front of the fire then?” You perk up at the idea of actually being warm.

“That would be amazing...” You pull the jacket closer as he goes to fetch said blankets.

Before long you’re snuggled into Beau’s lap once more, but this time your both cocooned on the floor by the fire. He hooks his chin over your shoulder and gives you a light squeeze.

“Better baby?”

“A little, yeah.” You shiver slightly despite the blankets. You can feel Beau’s warm breath against your neck as he noses at you playfully before pressing his lips against you once, twice and then he gently bites causing you to gasp a little a the sudden sensation.

“Booo” It comes out a lot less controlled then you intend, bordering on a breathy moan.

“Yea baby?” He asks in a low tone as he continues to pepper your neck with kisses, sucking sensitive marks into the soft skin.

“What are you doing?” The question is broken up by the feeling of his lips against your throat, causing heat to pool between your thighs.

“Warming you up of course.” You can feel his smile against your neck.

“Is that what you're calling it?” He nips your ear.

“Do you still feel cold?” His low voice send a pleasant tingle down your spine, and you realize that you’re actually quite warm right now, you shake your head slightly.

“Thought so...” He drags his teeth against your throat biting a little harder as one hand runs along your waist band. You moan softly as his hand slips past to rub your slit though your panties.

“Already so wet for me baby...” He uses his free hand to tilt your head for a kiss, it’s heated and sloppy leaving a string of spit connecting you when he finally releases your lips.

You can’t help but whine a little as he continues to pet you, biting at your exposed throat as he reaches one hand up your shirt. Running his fingers in slow circles before pinching the hardening nipple and giving it a quick tug in time with his bites.

“Beau... Beau~.” You moan his name softly when you feel him hardening under you, his impressive member pushing lightly against your backside. You grind down against him and his hand in an attempt to get more actuon.

“So impatient…” He chides gently.

“Please baby, more." You plead as you do your best to rub him though your clothes.

“Please...” He groans against your neck.

“Strip.” You nod eagerly as he lets you go, doing your best to quickly tear your clothes off.

He strips off his shirt and tosses it lazily to the side, as he watches you take off his jersey, followed by your pajama top and bottoms, leaving you kneeling there in just your panties as you shiver against the cool air. He picks up his jersey that you had been wearing and helps you back into it.

“Leave this on.” There was something insanely sexy about you in nothing but in jersey and panties. You don’t have time to respond as he kisses you, gently pulling you into his lap as your tongues entwine.

Your hands are in his hair, pulling him closer as his hands wander all over your body. When he moves to suck one of your sensitive buds you tug his hair and grind down with a whine. With a noise likely to a growl he removes you from his lap only to pin you against the blankets as he quickly nips a trail down to your hips. He watches your face as he noses against your covered hole before sliding your panties down.

You’re biting your lower lip m my as he hungrily eyes your pussy, taking one long lick up your slit. You moan airily and your fingers tighten in his hair.

“Beau...” He groans before diving in, lapping at your lips and pushing his tongue inside. Before long you’re mewling against him as his thumb travels in slow circles around your clit and his tongue laps at your insides insistently. He slowly adds one and then two fingers inside you reaching deeper and curling inside you as writhe under his touch.

His fingers brush against your sweet spot and you shudder in pleasure, only for him to begin stroking that spot with every thrust of his long slender fingers.

“Beau… I’m gonna...” You manage as the pressure builds in your core.

“Cum for me baby.” He urges, and just like that you whimper out your first orgasm of the night. He helps you ride it out as he laps up everything your body has to offer, he presses gentle kisses against your thighs as you come down from your high.

“Gosh baby.” He whispers up at you as he moves to kiss you, you comply pulling him closer and tasting yourself on his tongue. You can feel his stiff member press against your thigh and start to palm him through the pajama bottoms.

“Lay down?” He swallows down a groan as he sits back granting you access. You quickly pull him free of his pants, dropping to your knees as you drink in the sight of his cock. It’s red and stiff with a few beads of pre-cum coating the head.

You smirk up at him once before returning the favor from earlier with one long broad lick from base to tip before dropping your head down and working him with your mouth.

“You look so pretty with your mouth wrapped around my cock baby, god you take me so well.” You hum at his praise causing the vibrations to travel up his dick as he curses. “Shit, you feel amazing…” You pull back to suck on just the tip and he pulls you off with a pop. You smile up

At him and rise up to kiss him on the mouth.

After a long and heated kiss you find yourself lying with your back to the blankets as Beau kneels over you.

“You ready baby?” You nod and make space for him between your legs, which he fills instantly. You bite down on your lip as he lines up, his head pressing against the entrance to your heat before he sinks into you inch by inch.

The stretch is amazing and you moan softly as your walls twitch around him. Once fully in he waits a few moments for you to completely adjust to his length before pulling almost all the way back and snapping his hips forward in one smooth movement causing you to cry out his name.

“Beau!” He repeats the action a few times as you babble out his name, and how good he feels.

“That’s right baby, tell me how much you love this cock.”

He lifts your hips and hooks your legs over his shoulders before setting a quick pace, he watches your reactions avidly as he adjusts his angles until he finds that perfect little bundle of nerves that makes you see stars.

He grins down at you as you mewl out his name and praises, reveling in the broken sounds that escape your throat between words. As you transition to more noises and less words, he picks up his pace, making sure to hit that spot with every thrust. It doesn’t take long for you to come around him, squeezing him hard enough that it was difficult to keep up his pace, but he did, riding out the waves of your orgasm before slowing down and peppering your face and chest with gentle kisses while you’re still blissed out.

After a minute or so he helps you to your hands and knees before lining up with your entrance once more. He slips in easily even as your over sensitive walls tighten around him. He watches as your hair falls around your flushed face, admiring the way his shirt barely tries to cover your perfect ass, looking sinfully good on you.

“God, it’s like you never want my cock to leave...”

“Beau” He smiles knowing just how gone you are, the only thing you’ll be saying as he takes you again, is broken versions of his name and the words ‘yes’ or ‘please’ if he tried to tease you.

“Alright baby, lets finish together this time yea? You think you can cum once more for me baby?” You nod your head fervently as your hips wiggle a little, silently begging him to move. He obliges you with a quick snap of his hips, that has you crying out.

The pace he sets is a brutal one, slamming your hips together as sweat drips off your bodies and broken cries of his name fall from your lips filling the room. you just came and yet he was still pounding into you with abandon, he shifts and suddenly he’s hitting that spot again

“That’s right, just like that baby… come on, get ready to come for me.” He groans out as you nod, your face stuck in a look of want and need as he fills you so perfectly, like his dick was made just for you.

“Oh god...” He growls as he starts to lose his rhythm.

“That’s right, cum. Cum right now for me.” His voice is deep, husky and you couldn’t hold back if you wanted to.

You cry out as he pushes into you and you spasm around him, he thrusts a few more times prolonging your orgasm as you whimper out soft sounds before collapsing under him.

He collapses next to you and kisses your shoulder gently a few times, before getting up to grab tissues and clean you both up. With that out of way he settles next to you and smiles as you cuddle onto his chest.

“Love you Beau.” You murmur, voice already heavy with sleep. He chuckles a little before kissing your forehead and holding you tightly.

“I love you too baby.” You drift off peacefully, feeling satisfied and pleasantly warm.

The next morning you wake up slowly, breathing in the scent of Beau and not wanting to leave the warmth of his body and blankets. Eventually when you decide that you can’t lie still any longer you carefully pick your way out of the blanket pile, carefully so as not to wake your sleeping boyfriend. The morning air in the cape cod is crisp, and you pull the blanket closer around your body.

The fire is getting low, so you quietly add a few logs before making two cups of coffee and returning to the living room. You notice Beau looking for you as you reenter the room.

“There you are.” He looks you up and down and you follow his gaze, realizing then that you were wearing nothing else but his jersey. It’s a good thing he’s a good foot taller then you, as it was barely covering anything at all, but your hands were full with coffee so you couldn’t do anything except hand him his cup before quickly re-burying yourself in the blankets with a deep blush painted on your cheeks.

“Good morning” You mutter softly smiling st his face.

“Good morning.” He gives you a quick kiss on the cheek as you sip your coffee . “Sleep well?” You nod, “Warm enough?” You nod again.

“Good, perhaps I’ll do that every night. Can’t have you getting cold now can we?” Your face is surely blushing right now.

“Cmon Beau, be serious.”

“Awww, come on baby… You know it’s waaaaay better then being cold, isn’t it?” He teases.

“… Yes.” You want to pout, you really do

but he looks so handsome in the warm glow of the fire with his bedhead and you end up smiling softly at him instead.

“See? So don’t you worry, anytime you get cold I’ll be sure to take good care of you and help you warm back up.” He purrs as he pulls you in for a kiss.

Daeron sat slouched in his chair like he had no awareness at all that he was sitting in front of a royal family.

He lifted his cup, drank from it, and then said in the middle of Baelor’s sentence,

“I am in love.”

The words landed so suddenly that the conversation stopped.

Baelor looked at him slowly.

Maekar stared at his son for several long seconds before speaking.

“With whom.”

Daeron shrugged slightly, like the matter was obvious.

“Her name is (Y/N).”

Baelor watched him carefully.

“And where did you meet this woman.”

“At court.”

“If she were at court we would know her.”

“You do not know everyone.”

Aerion gave a short laugh.

“Yes we do.”

Daeron rolled his eyes and drank again.

“She is the daughter of Lord Redwyne.”

That actually made Baelor pause.

Maekar leaned forward slightly with furrowed brows.

“And she knows you.”

“Yes.”

“And you expect us to believe that a noblewoman of a good house has fallen in love with you.”

Daeron looked annoyed now.

“She has.”

“And where is this woman.”

“Somewhere in the castle.”

Maekar’s patience snapped.

“Oh for fuck’s sake.”

The words came out sharp enough that the servants nearby suddenly found something very interesting to do on the far side of the hall.

“You sit there fucking drunk as usual,” Maekar went on, voice rising, “and now you expect everyone at this table to believe you have invented a bride.”

“I did not invent her.”

“You invent things constantly.”

“This time I did not.”

Maekar pushed his chair back with a harsh scrape.

“Then bring her here.”

Daeron looked at him.

“You are serious.”

“Yes I am serious. Bring her here so we can all see the woman you claim exists.”

For a moment Daeron looked almost tempted to refuse.

Then he stood up.

“Fine.”

He left the hall without another word.

The table fell into a quieter sort of waiting after that. Baelor rubbed his temple like a man preparing himself for another disappointment from his nephews.

Maekar remained standing for a long moment before sitting again with obvious irritation.

“Fucking nonsense,” he muttered.

A few minutes passed.

Then the doors opened.

Daeron walked back inside.

And beside him was a woman.

He brought you straight to the table, stopping beside his chair like this had all been very simple.

“This is my lady.”

For a moment no one spoke.

You calmly bowed to princes present at dinner table despite the looks of interest and surprise from them.

Maekar looked you over carefully.

“You are the daughter of Lord Redwyne.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Your voice was steady.

Maekar leaned back in his chair and exhaled slowly through his nose.

“Well I will be damned.”

Baelor stood politely and greeted you, though he was still looking at Daeron with open disbelief.

Maekar looked between the two of you again.

“My idiot son tells us he is in love with you.”

Daeron looked offended.

“I am not an idiot.”

“You fell asleep in the stables last week.”

“That was one time.”

“It was more times than i can fucking count.”

Daeron ignored that and looked at you instead.

You sighed softly.

“Yes,” you said to Maekar. “He told me he said that.”

Maekar rubbed his forehead like the entire evening had suddenly become much more exhausting.

“And now he tells us he intends to marry you.”

Daeron nodded.

“I do.”

Maekar looked back at you again.

“And you agree to this.”

You hesitated just slightly before answering.

“Yes your grace, if that is not a problem.”

Baelor smiled gently at you “of course it is not.”

Maekar stared at his son for several seconds.

“You,” he said slowly, “have somehow convinced a respectable noblewoman to marry you.”

Daeron smiled.

“Yes.”

Maekar shook his head once.

“Unbelievable.”

Aerion raised his cup.

I’m

“I must say, this is the most impressive thing Daeron has ever done.”

Daeron leaned a little closer to you and murmured quietly,

“I told you they would not believe me.”

You answered under your breath,

“You also chose to tell them while drunk.”

He smiled.

Maekar pointed at him.

“You,” he said sharply, “sit down before you fall over and embarrass me further.”

Daeron sat.

You remained standing for a moment longer until Baelor gestured kindly toward the empty chair beside Daeron.

“My lady, please.”

You sat.

The drive to the family house felt longer than it should have.

Daeron kept one hand on the wheel and the other resting loosely near the gearshift, tapping his fingers now and then to calm his nerves. The late light moved across his face as the road turned, catching in his pale hair, and you watched him more than the passing houses.

He had promised it would be fine. He had said it more than once.

“They will like you,” he had told you earlier, easy and careless, as if it were already settled.

But the closer you came, the less certain you felt.

You shifted in your seat and smoothed your hands over your skirt for no reason at all.

“Do they always do this,” you asked, “all together like this?”

“Every month,” he said. “No escaping it.”

“You do not sound pleased.”

“I am not,” he said simply, though there was no bitterness in it.

He glanced at you then, softer.

“You will be all right.”

You nodded, though your stomach still felt tight.

“You said I have met the easiest ones.”

“You have,” he said. “Egg likes everyone. And Valarr polite like his father. The rest are less predictable.”

You hesitated before asking the question that had been sitting in your chest since he first invited you.

“What about your father?”

Daeron let out a quiet breath that might have been a laugh if it had held any humor.

“He will be polite.”

That was not the same as approval and you both knew it.

“And Aerion?” you asked.

“He will snarl at you or ignore you.”

That sounded worse than outright dislike.

You leaned your head back against the seat.

“I should not have come nervous,” you said. “That makes it worse.”

“It will be alright, It is the sensible approach.” He said softly.

Despite yourself you smiled a little.

He reached over then and took your hand, squeezing it briefly before returning his hand to the wheel.

“You are the best thing I have brought into that house,” he said. “They will see it soon enough.”

The words were simple but they settled something in you.

By the time the car turned onto the long familiar road your nerves had returned, but they felt steadier now. Real instead of overwhelming.

Daeron parked and cut the engine.

For a moment neither of you moved.

You could see lights glowing through the windows.

You felt suddenly very aware that once you stepped through that door there would be no turning back.

Daeron reached over and brushed his thumb across your knuckles.

“Come on,” he said quietly.

Inside the house the noise reached you at once. Voices from the dining room carried easily through the hall. The sound of it made your chest tighten despite everything you had told yourself on the drive.

Daeron hung up his coat and took yours without being asked.

Everyone was already in the dining hall when you stepped in, and for a moment the chatter seemed to pause as all eyes found you.

Egg was the first to move, bounding forward with his usual enthusiasm. “Finally! I was beginning to think Daeron had brought a ghost instead of a girlfriend.” He grinned and tugged you into a quick hug. “I told them you were real.”

Valarr came after, calm and polite, giving you a measured handshake and a nod. “It’s good to meet you properly.”

Baelor rose and offered a courteous smile. “Welcome. We’ve heard a little about you. I’m glad to meet you.” His tone was respectful but his eyes curious, as though trying to place you.

Aerion did not stand. He leaned back in his chair and gave you a slow, appraising look.

Daeron shifted beside you, clearly uncomfortable.

Egg whispered to you. “He likes to stare, ignore him.“

Dinner began after the initial introductions. Plates were passed, and the chatter slowly resumed, with Baelor asking easy questions to break the ice. “So, what do you do?”

You hesitated, and then smiled faintly. “I’m a figure skater. I compete professionally.”

A pause fell over the table. Then a low murmur ran through them. Baelor nodded thoughtfully.

Maekar leaning back in his chair, fixed you with a stare that made your stomach drop. “And you choose to waste your time with my son?” His tone was cold, cutting, like a blade folded into silk.

You felt Daeron’s fingers brush yours under the table, small reassurance that you were not alone. “He’s not a waste of my time,” you said carefully. “He’s… important to me.”

Maekar’s eyes flicked to him, lingering. “Hmph.”

Egg, eager to shift the mood, grinned. “Come on, tell us how you two met!”

You hesitated, a faint smile tugging at your lips. “Well…” you began, and then shrugged with a faint laugh. “We met at a bar, and he was very drunk he accidentally vomited on me.”

The table froze for a beat. Then laughter erupted from Egg, Valarr, and even Aemon chuckled softly.

“That figures,” Aerion muttered. “Exactly the sort of thing he would do.”

Daeron groaned quietly, “I was drunk—”

“You were,” you agreed, laughing lightly, “but I forgive you.”

Maekar’s expression remained unreadable, but his eyes flicked to Daeron sharply. “I should hope she did,” he said. “It would be unfortunate otherwise.”

The rest of the meal passed with questions about your skating, competitions, and your family. Each time you spoke, Daeron kept his shoulder brushing yours, his hand finding yours under the table, grounding you as the family studied you, questioned you, and gradually, in small ways, seemed to accept you.

Throughout it all, Maekar watched. His questions were fewer, his comments cutting and measured, but each glance reminded you that he was weighing your presence beside his son. You answered carefully, steadily, and with as much confidence as you could summon.

Daeron leaned toward you under the table, thumb brushing over yours. “See? You handled that really well. Even Aerion didn’t manage to scare you off.”

You laughed softly, squeezing his hand. “I’m not scared.”

He grinned, nudging you gently with his shoulder. “Good.You’re tough cookie to crack.”

You caught his eyes and let out a small laugh.

He tilted his head, brushing a strand of hair from your face, his fingers lingering just enough to make you shiver. “You’re… pretty easy to like.”

“Flattering,” you teased. “But I think you’re a little biased.”

“Maybe,” he admitted with a lazy smile, leaning back in his chair, one hand on the wine glass and the other stayed entwined with yours under the table. “But that’s the fun part, isn’t it?”

The afternoon sun poured warm and golden over the inner gardens of the Red Keep, and the air carried the soft sweetness of late roses and steeping honeyed tea. A long linen cloth had been spread across the grass beneath the shade of an old elm, its branches sighing faintly whenever the breeze passed through. Porcelain cups painted with tiny red dragons gleamed beside trays of sugared almonds and lemon cakes, and your ladies in waiting sat close around you, their gowns bright as summer birds while their laughter rose and fell in easy rhythm.

You were listening to a tale of some young knight who had sworn eternal devotion after a single dance when the mood shifted, subtle as the turning of a tide. One of your ladies faltered mid sentence, her gaze lifting past your shoulder. Another pressed her lips together in poorly concealed amusement.

Across the green, walking barefoot through the grass with all the careless grace of a man who had abandoned propriety somewhere behind him, came your husband. His boots dangled from two fingers, forgotten as soon as they were removed. His black doublet hung unlaced at the throat, revealing pale skin warmed by wine and sun alike. His ashy hair had slipped entirely free of its binding and fell about his shoulders in soft disorder, catching the light so brightly that he seemed almost otherworldly despite the very mortal scent of Arbor red that clung to him.

His violet eyes found you at once.

“There you are,” he said, as though he had been searching for something misplaced and at last recovered it.

“My lord husband,” you answered, though your lips were already curving despite yourself, “should you not be enduring matters of state.”

“I have forcefully endured three lords disputing grain tariffs,” he replied gravely. “I deemed myself sufficiently valiant.”

Soft laughter rippled among your ladies, and Daeron inclined his head to them with exaggerated courtesy before stepping closer. He swayed only slightly, enough to betray that the wine had been steady rather than sudden.

Without asking permission, without even pausing to consider how it might appear, he lowered himself onto the grass at your side and stretched out with a long sigh of relief. Then he turned and placed his head squarely in your lap as though it had always belonged there.

You inhaled sharply at the familiar weight of him against your thighs, but your hand was already moving to his hair, fingers slipping through the pale strands that were warm from the sun. He closed his eyes at once and exhaled, a sound so contented that several of your ladies could not hide their smiles.

“It is cooler here,” he murmured, shifting slightly so that his cheek pressed more fully against you. “And infinitely kinder.”

“You are meant to sit upright at least,” you said softly, though there was no heat in it.

“I have sat upright all morning,” he answered. “I shall not do so again until forced.”

He slid one arm loosely around your waist, drawing himself closer, and the boldness of the gesture might have startled anyone who did not know him. Yet there was no arrogance in it, no display meant for courtly gossip. It was instinct, pure and simple. He sought you the way a weary man seeks shade.

One of your ladies ventured delicately, “Shall we leave Their Graces.”

Daeron opened one eye just enough to regard her.

“If you depart, they will drag me back to council,” he said. “If you remain, I may claim I was captured by formidable company.”

You laughed quietly and bent to press a soft kiss to his temple, feeling the faint heat beneath his skin.

“You are incorrigible,” you told him.

“I am in love,” he corrected without hesitation.

The words were spoken lightly, but his gaze when it lifted to yours was clear and unwavering despite the wine. The haziness that clung to him at court had softened into something gentler here. His thumb traced idle circles at your waist as though assuring himself that you were real and present.

“You fled again,” you said, brushing a stray lock of hair from his brow.

“I did not flee,” he protested faintly. “I retreated strategically toward my greatest strength.”

“And that is.”

“You.”

The simplicity of it stole your breath more effectively than any grand declaration could have done. He watched your reaction with quiet satisfaction before closing his eyes once more, leaning more fully into your touch.

Your fingers combed through his hair in slow, affectionate strokes, and he responded as he always did, the tension leaving his shoulders inch by inch until the restless prince who wandered half lost through halls of stone gave way to the man who trusted you enough to be still.

“I dream less when I sleep near you,” he murmured, voice already thickening with drowsiness.

“Then sleep,” you whispered, your hand gliding down to cradle the back of his neck.

He shifted slightly, drawing one of your hands down so that he could press a lingering kiss to your palm before resting his cheek against it. The gesture was tender and unguarded, nothing like the distant composure he wore before the court.

Your ladies resumed their quiet chatter, careful not to disturb him, and the elm leaves whispered overhead while the sun warmed both of you where you sat entwined upon the grass.

Within moments his breathing deepened, slow and even, his arm still wrapped loosely around your waist as though he feared you might vanish if he let go. In sleep his face softened completely, the melancholy that so often shadowed him fading into something almost boyish and entirely trusting.