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Faceclaim: Daniel di Tomasso as Drake Walker, Elizabeth Olsen as Anna Grey and Paul Wesley as King Liam
Book: The Royal Romance
Word Count: ~ 3,200
Rating: M for language
Prompt:
Remembering the most memorable nights in Anna’s life makes her feel nostalgic, if only she knew just how much tonight will be memorable perhaps she’d made different choices.
There’s many questions running around people’s minds, many of them will never be answered and some not even asked but what happens when you do ask your important questions? Are you going to be happy with the answer or will you wish you never asked in the first place?
Author’s Note:
Hello dear choices fandom!
I know it took me a little longer to update and I apologize but my personal life has been crazy these past days, hopefully I’ll be able to update weekly from now on so YAY!
This chapter was kind of hard to write because there was a lot of emotion involved and well, it was just hard but I really liked the result so I hope you’ll like it too.
Yes, I named my dog ‘Dude’ because I watch too much Disney movies(Descendants) so just go with it ok? I have big plans for this series so be sure to check it out and give me feedback!! A special thanks to my bae @the-everlasting-dream for helping me with the review <3
Always let me know if you wanna be in or out of the tag list and I appreciate feedback!(And I’m not sure the tags are working)
Disclaimer: The characters don’t belong to me(except for Anna Grey), I just borrow them from Pixelberry!
Don’t ask the question if you don’t want the answer
“I wanna hold you when I'm not supposed to
When I'm lying close to someone else
You're stuck in my head and I can't get you out of it”
Anna’s had a couple of really memorable nights in her life, each one for a completely different reason but all equally important.
Most likely the first she remembers, her first school play when she was only 7 years old and her parents seated in the crowd applauding like crazy as their little daughter understood for the first time what it meant to have passion about something. It was the first time Anna smiled so much that her cheeks burned for a while later, that’s when she decided acting was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, without even knowing it’s an actual job, and a very hard one. That night her parents gave her a bouquet of lilies and a gold charm bracelet, that came with a caduceus symbol to represent her father’s part since medicine was his passion and one with a shell to represent her mother’s part because she was crazily in love with the ocean and a huge heart in the middle.
“This heart represents yours, so don’t ever forget how big your heart is and how goodness should always be present in your life” were the exact words her mother told her and until today sometimes Anna clings to the bracelet and recites the words in her mind, remembering the grin on Ian and Eleanor faces when they gave it to her. They hoped to be around for a long time, time enough to see her fill the bracelet with dreams and accomplishments, but again, she could only hope.
Then there was the most horrible night of her life, as she was eating ice cream before dinner because her grandma couldn’t resist her pretty face of an adorable nine years old Anna Grey, the big round cheeks and the already intense grey eyes. She was about to finish the chocolate part when grandma entered the kitchen, tears welling down her eyes and falling quickly as she looked at her granddaughter, the newest orphan in town. It was the night she found out her parents died in a car accident, the night her whole world fell apart. Athena stayed awake most of the night, holding her granddaughter while she cried silently and in the morning she told Anna they were all each other had from now on. It was the same night that little Anna Grey understood what loneliness meant, the first time the weight of living passed on her still young shoulders.
The night she moved to New York was a night after Athena passed way, she was only fifthteen and didn’t want to be taken by the social services, it was pouring rain and so cold she almost froze to death sitting in the last row at one of the dirtiest theaters in town but it was the only place she could break in without being caught. It was the beginning of her beautiful journey in big city of New York, and full of dreams, or at least that’s what she thought back there. Today she saw the whole thing as the last day she stood by and let everything just happen to her, after that she learned that you gotta take the reins of your life before it’s too late. But it wasn’t until the next memorable night of her life that she actually took the reins, the most important night of her life until now.
New York is one of the biggest and most populated cities in the world, with the amount of bars almost as high as the people and yet Maxwell and Drake choose exactly her bar to celebrate Liam’s bachelor party. It was a hot and busy night, Anna was counting the minutes until she could get home to her comfy and lonely bed, well actually she wasn’t looking forward that much. Times were rough for her with the actress future seeming every day further away from her, the weight of having nobody to lay on besides herself and with her annoying boss reducing her pay she was broke too. That’s why when Daniel asked her to take care of the bachelor party that had just arrived she said yes, having nothing better to do and hoping the tips would be good, not even in her dreams wandering she would be meeting the love of her life. But most importantly, this was the night that changed everything.
Anna’s had a few really memorable nights in her life but none of them could compare to tonight.
She knew that the minute Liam came out of the shadows, a tiny smile hiding in his expression as he steps closer to her.
“Was that Olivia?”
“Yes.”
“Did she bother you?”
“No. Not at all, she told me something I’ve been needing to know for a long time.”
“Oh.”
Liam looks truly surprised and shrugs at the subject before giving it too much thought, because he has something more important do deal with right now.
“I’m glad you’re here Liam, I needed to talk to you alone.”
“Then why don’t we go to the maze? It’s a more… private place to talk.”
He nods in the direction of a few drunken nobles who stumble at the palace garden door, only a few feet from them. That makes Anna agree, placing her hand on his arm and starting to plan a speech in her head while they walk.
“But first…”
Liam stands in front of her and touches her nose with his hand, causing Anna to chuckle and blush in an adorable way as he holds her face with his hands. Their eyes meet and with her still smiling they share a gentle but passionate kiss.
“You look cute when you blush.”
“Well, you would know since you’re the person that makes me blush the most. Like in the entire wide world.”
Anna knew she was dodging the subject, letting herself get loose in the caring way Liam treats her and how good it feels to have someone who truly loves you. Her guilty thoughts are interrupted by his voice.
“Would you mind if I speak first?”
“No. Not at all.”
‘One hour you’re gonna have to face him, but maybe later tonight?’ The American hoped as the classic music coming from the ball slowly started to get lower and lower.
The night was chilly and she could feel herself growing colder, hints getting herself closer to his body that emanates heat. Before Liam can offer her his blazer they arrive inside the maze and a shiver runs all over her body, knocking the wind from beneath her.
Anna always thought the maze was a special and beautiful place, very meaningful to both of them but tonight it looks just breathtaking. There are fairy lights everywhere, creating a romantic and cozy atmosphere, a trail of red roses traces the path to the swing, where a huge bouquet awaits with roses matching the maze’s. Liam grins proudly at her side while they walk towards the swing, her hands touching the lights around the bushes and a huge smile forming on her lips.
“This… is…”
There aren’t words to describe her surprise as she stares at the beautiful man standing in front of her, handing her the bouquet.
“I meant to do this in New York, at our spot near the Statue of Liberty, where it all started, however with my father’s condition and our rushed back here I thought it was better to wait. To do it in the right way.”
“Liam it looks beautiful. Reminds me of…”
“The Coronation.”
She nods smelling the flowers and Liam reaches for her hand, feeling overwhelmed by the beautiful woman he’s about to propose to.
“That night didn’t go as planned and I promised there would be another night where I could make everything right again. I was going to propose to you that night, in front of the entire court. Not doing so will remain the deepest regret of my life. Still, perhaps it’s destiny that it happened this way because tonight’s perfect, just you and me.”
Liam’s ocean blue eyes are burning onto her grey ones as Anna’s mind wanders to the memories of Coronation, the night everything went down for the first time. She fights the images in her head, from the first time she kissed Drake and the first time he wore a suit to impress her, taking her breath away with the glimpse of his smile until the moment he tried to protect her from the guards. She’s not supposed to be thinking about Drake right now so she closes her eyes for a second and focuses on the memories of Liam’s promises that night, the way he looked at her and how she felt utterly happy that someone cared about her again. How their connection made her heart feel warm and safe again, that she’d finally have somebody who wouldn’t leave her. That night she would have said yes to him, but tonight she’s not that sure.
“Well, not exactly just you and me.”
There’s a sneaky and playful smile on his lips as he whistles, pats on his leg and calls Dude who comes running from a near bush in his adorable little suit. She notices there’s something bigger than his normal dog collar, Anna’s still stunt with the surprise.
“I hope you don’t mind my borrowing him tonight. He looks too good in his suit to pass it. Don’t you Dude?”
“What’s he here for?”
“I’ll see in a minute.”
“Anna, you’ve opened my eyes… It has been a true honor to witness your strength in the face of every challenge you have overcome. It’s a strength which lends me courage. I know that I will be a better man for having you by my side. All I want in this world is to dedicate my life to being the best man and king that I can be… for you.”
The king sinks to one knee, taking the little box that hangs from Dude’s collar and presenting it to Anna.
“Duchess Anna Grey, queen of my heart, I have yearned to say these four words for a very, very long time…”
“Liam.”
Both of their hearts are beating so fast it seems like it might come out of their bodies, emotion taking control of every single nerve inside them but for completely different reasons.
Liam opens the box with the biggest and brightest smile he’s ever had, exposing a ring as bright and beautiful as his own smile. The words that waited so long finally coming out of his mouth and Liam knows they’re probably the most right thing he will ever say in his life.
“Will you marry me?”
The answer makes time stop for Anna, her head being crashed with memories of those few memorable nights and the many more there’s to come, it’s time to decide with who she wants to spend it. She thinks about how this decision will affect every single relationship she has, trying to wrap her mind around the fact that this sets not only her future but Liam’s, Drake’s, House Beaumont's and even Cordonia’s.
And her decision is taken by that same thought, because as soon as his name appears in her mind, it’s like she can feel him here again and all those sentiments floating around her and as usual, he doesn’t leave even when she desperately wants him to. Anna finally sees that there was never a decision to be made, they’re completely in love with each other and as much ash they fight against it, it’s the simple and plain truth.
Drake.
“I can’t marry you. I’m in love with someone else.”
Liam stands up again and Anna puts the bouquet back in its place over the swing, her grey irises cautiously looking for his blue warmth but finding and ice cold instead. Tears start to build in both of their eyes as they hold each other’s gaze.
“Who?”
It’s like there’s a knife entering his heart, the worst part being that he knew something was going on between her and his best friend however Liam was fool enough to believe in the end she would choose him.
“Drake.”
The name is almost a whisper that they both say, a taunted and sour taste to Liam’s mouth since there’s a hint of love for him on her sweet tone. He can see how sorry she is, Anna’s face is twisted in a pain expression that makes his anger dissipate just a little bit.
“You knew?”
Liam inhales deeply, focusing his gaze on one of the sparkly lights behind her because to him face those grey big eyes would be to much. Her question makes him regret saying anything, the fear of admitting how he ignored their feelings and blindly choose to believe on her sentiment for him prevent him from answering right away but Anna is waiting anxiously.
She knows how hurt he must be so she lets him take his time, simply stands there with her hands fold and the eyes staring at the blankness of the night. Hoping the hard part of the night is over and in just a few hours she will realize just how misplaced that hope was. Liam sits on the swing and gives space so that she’ll sit by his side, both without the courage to look anywhere but their own feet.
“I didn’t knew. I mean, I saw the long looks and the way you both seemed happier around each other. You’re a pretty good actress so you made a really good job hiding your feelings but Drake, not so much. Especially for someone who has known him his whole life.”
At the mention of him she turns to him, a big and heavy question forming inside of her head as she calculates either to ask it or not.
‘Hell, I’ve already broken his heart by saying no, how can one question make it worse?’ is the thought followed by her shaken voice in a:
“Then why did you propose?”
“Because I thought in the end, you’d choose me.”
Finally she looks up, staring at his lowered head and feeling the pain in his words and taking a deep sigh before caressing Liam’s arm. The words that leave her mouth are so true, so full of sentiment that Anna plans to keep hidden for a long time but that somehow found their way out.
“Who I love was never a choice.”
It’s time for Liam to look up, the blue-green-ish irises filled with tears that he planned to hide from her because he knows she’s telling the truth however he too sees her when she answers his next question.
“But lying to me was, so it’s my turn to ask, why?”
The moment she sees his tears, her own start forming and she understands just how much her past made her who she is now. Her scars appear from beneath the surface and she feels everything again so intensely.
“Because of this…”
Anna picks up the hem of her dress and lifts it up enough for him to see a charm bracelet wrapped around her ankle, with four gold charms hanging over and immediately he recognizes it. It’s the bracelet she always has on her wrist, he also remembers that she never mentioned anything about the jewelry.
“You always use it in your wrist.”
“Yeah, Olivia didn’t approved with the outfit so I had to hide it under the dress.”
“I’m still not sure how that explains your lying.”
“My parents got me this when I was seven, after my first school play. The caduceus symbol represents my father, since medicine was his passion and the shell represents my mother, considering how much she loved the sea and it reminded her of the Greek Islands where her parents met. And the big heart in the middle, that’s my symbol, it’s supposed to express my biggest feature. They told me that night that this bracelet meant hope, that it was supposed to be filled with dreams and important things to me, it’s meant to make me embrace the past and believe in the future.”
Tears leaver her eyes and the last words are no more than whispers, memories echoing in her mind by the mention of Ian and Eleanor. Liam cleans them with his thumb and waits for her to continue.
“They died two years later in a car accident. Leaving me alone with only my grandma Athena, who took me into her home and raised me until I was fifteen. My father’s family was small and by the time I was born, he had already lost most of them and had only me and mom. My mom’s family, or better saying, my grandma Athena’s family lived in Greece where she was born but expelled from because she got pregnant before the wedding. So when Athena died I was fifteen and completely alone, I ran from my hometown Chicago and got shelter at New York so that the social service wouldn’t find me and send me to a foster family. The owl represents my grandma Athena since the it’s the symbol of the great goddess, it was the first thing I bought when I arrived in New York.”
“I had no idea that you’ve had such a difficult childhood.”
“I don’t usually talk about this with anybody.”
“Why?”
“Because I had to keep that hidden for a long time, until I was eighteen nobody could know that I was totally alone. I guess I got used to hiding it after because it just hurts too damn much, so it’s not something I bring up in a date with the King of Cordonia.”
She lets out a smirk and holds his hand, not so sure if she’ll be able to fully express her feelings without breaking down in sobs and tears. But she has to try, she owes him to at least try.
“The thing is Liam… I lied to you because my whole life I’ve been alone, felt so lonely that sometimes it was hard to even breath, I had nobody on my corner outside from the ghosts of my family. So I hold on to anything that means love and when I came here, there was so many amazing people who seemed to care for me and I was so scared that if I hurted any of you, you would leave me. And I couldn’t be alone anymore. But I guess I hurt you even more by lying, I’m so sorry.”
His gaze softens when he looks at her again, the tears rolling down her face in silent and the grip on his hand becoming stronger. Anna can’t control the emotion inside herself, talking about the past and her parents, revealing to him how vulnerable she actually is makes her wounds too exposed to cover.
Liam catches both of her hands on his and turns to her, looking into her eyes to assure her of how sure he’s at the next words.
“I’ll never leave you. No matter what happens. And here,” he gestures to their surroundings before getting back to her eyes again.“You’ll never be alone.”
