it was no secret sean prescott was a bastard, the town of arcadia bay hated him for a reason. seeing caroline make an appearance anywhere was strange -- a reminder that someone at some point did love the town tyrant, but anyone could tell that it had taken it’s toll on her. 

years later, rachel is nursing her first child. the small bundle tucked safely in her arms as she watches nathan quickly look over the house to make sure everything was tidy and perfect for his family’s arrival. rachel had only seen caroline prescott a handful of times, but now she was coming to their family home to meet her granddaughter for the first time and rachel as nathan’s wife.

“don’t be nervous,” she feels stupid saying it, of course he was going to be nervous. “it’s going to go smoothly, your mom is going to be so caught up in this cute little girl right here she’s not even going to be able to focus on anything else.”

“nathan?”

hand clasped in his while she seemed to sway just slightly as she followed him. there was no thought of whether or not she should actually let him lead her or where they were going. against all the advice from just about everyone, sam actually seemed to trust the prescott heir. and she did have a habit of putting her blind faith in others or simply giving them the benefit of the doubt. it was maybe that reason that she had sought nathan out again at the party to ask him to take her home. or anywhere, really. she was a lightweight, of course, but seemed to manage pretty well for the fact that she was drunk. all she was actually doing was clinging to the other’s hand and humming as she followed him. 

‘   please just leave me alone .   ’   your lower lip is trembling and you close your eyes ,  hoping if you block out the other they’ll just disappear .   ‘   i’m fine ,  it’s no big deal ,  i’ll get over it .’   just being OVER SENSITIVE as usual .

happy happy birthday to my amazing girlfriend @manicpower / @racismlost ! im incredibly thankful and in debt to whatever higher power brought you into my life a few years ago. my rachel would never be the same without your amazing writing and characterization. you’re truly one of the most talented writers i know and you inspire me to continue learning and to be better. you brighten my day everyday.

i love you.

“Okay, fine -- let’s talk,” It sounded like a challenge, her eyes read ‘Do you really want to go there now?’. Rachel found it hard to ignore the urge to walk away, especially with her previous ‘love them and leave them’ mentality only having changed within the last year or so. The ring on her left hand felt heavy, keeping her in place with him for the conversation she knew would be coming someday.

“No bullshit, just a serious conversation.”

Admittedly, the news came sooner than she would’ve liked but the best things in Rachel's life often came unexpected.

When the day finally arrived, she had feigned sickness (or well... a different kind of sickness). Their Valentine’s day plans had changed, their night out for dinner became a night in with bad romantic comedies. She wanted the experience to be solely their own.

Strangely enough, it was harder to sit on the information now that it was close. Rachel found herself busying her hands as they cuddled together, fingers moving the ring on her left hand back and forth as they watched Alicia Silverstone fall in love with her step brother (’Isn’t that kind of fucked?’ Nathan had scoffed, ‘All the best love stories are,’ Rachel teased). When their take out Chinese arrived it was time to exchange their gifts. 

For how nervous she was, she couldn’t stop from smiling as she handed the envelope over. Inside the red envelope was a card, the front of it ‘A New Adventure Awaits!’ was written in adorned gold lettering. On the inside, Rachel had handwritten a note for him, ‘Hope every new adventure begins and ends with you. ♥ Happy Valentine’s day to a wonderful husband and expecting father’.

“Do you want to open our gifts at the same time?” 

“No one should come and go and have no one know...he was ever even here.”