Author’s Note: This is a light, funny story taking place directly after Morning Surprises. This incorporates three fic requests and I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll explain after the fic. 😉
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“Drake, slow down!” Emma scurried as quickly as possible after her irritated husband, who was marching furiously down the hallway of their manor. She was having a hard time keeping up with his long strides and he seemed to have no intention of slowing his pace. “Drake, you know he means well!”
Drake halted in his path and turned around to stare at her, his eyes aflame with anger. “Really, Emma? You’re defending him right now?!?!” He inhaled a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves as he exhaled slowly. “Look, I know that he means well and he never tries to be rude on purpose. But he needs to think about what he does before he acts on these random impulses. I mean, he just witnessed you halfway naked! Doesn’t that bother you?” He stared down at her, trying to portray his honest concern and frustration.
Emma rubbed his arm reassuringly, a faint smile on her lips. “Honestly … no, that doesn’t bother me. Maxwell has seen me in less clothing than that when trying to help me choose gowns and outfits for events.” She quirked an eyebrow at him in amusement. “I think maybe you are more embarrassed about Maxwell witnessing you in a fit of rage with nothing but a pillow on?” Drake’s cheeks reddened slightly at her accusation. Touché, Walker. “Besides he’s a guest in our home … we should be glad he feels comfortable here.”
Drake groaned defiantly. “Exactly, Em! He’s a guest here! He should know better than to harrass the Duchess of Valtoria at 7am in the morning!” He straightened his shoulders in determination before turning to continue towards the dining room. “And I am going to say something to him about it!” He called over his shoulder.
Well here we go ... Emma resigned, pausing for a moment before following him to the impending confrontation at breakfast.
Maxwell was sitting at the breakfast table with Hana, both of them fawning over their three-year-old nephew Bartie to eat his oatmeal and fruit. “Good morning Drake!” Hana piped up cheerfully. “Say ‘Good morning, Uncle Drakey!’” she encouraged the young boy, tickling him under his chin and eliciting a little giggle.
“Ahem, good morning Hana, good morning Bartie … “ Drake responded, trying to keep his cool. “Where are Savannah and Bertrand?” He questioned, searching the room for his sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law. Emma walked in at that moment, relieved to find others in the room to help quell Drake’s anger.
“Maxwell and I are watching Bartie this morning so Savannah and Bertrand can have some alone time.“
Maxwell chuckled quietly under his breath. “Apparently the Walker bloodline is prone to friskiness in the morning.” He looked up at Drake expecting a smile, but quickly shirked back in his chair at the furious glare he received.
“Maxwell …” Drake grumbled. “We need to talk.” He motioned to him to stand and started walking to the hallway. Maxwell rose hesitantly, head dropped, and followed behind him like a dog with his tail between his legs.
Hana looked to Emma, obviously confused as to what was going on. Emma tried her best to explain the situation delicately. “Erm … Maxwell may have, um, interrupted us this morning … while we were otherwise occupied.” Hana’s eyebrows raised in acknowledgement, nodding her head. Emma bent down closer to her and whispered behind her hand. “And then Drake may have opened the door with nothing but a pillow.” Hana stifled a laugh as Emma looked back over her shoulder to monitor the situation in the hallway. ”I should probably go supervise to make sure no one gets hurt or says anything stupid.” She winked at her friend before turning to the door to meet her husband and surrogate brother in the hallway.
“… but there have to be boundaries. Emma and I are married, and this is our home.” Drake lectured. He wore a serious authoritative expression that was reserved for special situations such as Bartie coloring on the walls in their parlor, Emma scraping the side of his truck … and apparently when a friend interrupts you mid-coitus at 7am in the morning. “We deserve some privacy … especially between the hours of 11pm and 8am when we SLEEP!” He paused to take a deep breath, then stopped himself from continuing as Emma laid a hand on his arm.
Maxwell finally looked up after a brief moment of silence, a serious but jovial expression on his face. “I get it, Drake, and I do apologize. It never occurred to me that I’d be … disturbing anything.” His smile grew wider and his eyes flitted between Drake and Emma. “But good for you guys for keeping that passion alive! I just never imagine you two as a morn- “
“Maxwell …” Drake snarled.
“What?!?!” Maxwell continued adamantly. “You guys are setting a great example for the happy couple about to be married. You know it wouldn’t kill you to talk abou-“
“MAXWELL!!!” Drake interrupted again, shouting this time. “What doesn’t kill me might make me kill you. And I do not want to discuss our love life or my sister’s love life, especially not in the same sentence. Period. End of discussion!!!” Drake’s nostrils flared and his eyebrows furrowed in a scowl as he glared astutely at Maxwell.
“Hey hey, okay now … “ Emma rubbed Drake’s arm in a calming motion, giving him a minute to settle down before she spoke. After she saw his features soften, she turned to speak to her friend. “We know you didn’t mean to interrupt Maxwell, but Drake is right … we do expect some privacy and I hope you can respect that.” Maxwell’s eyes dropped at the polite scolding, but he nodded his head in agreement. “Now, you came to see us this morning because you had a question. What did you want to ask us?”
Maxwell blinked a few times as he searched his memory, then his eyes lit up as the realization came to him. “Oh yeah! It’s about the bridal shower tomorrow.”
Drake rolled his eyes. “You woke us up to discuss the bridal shower???”
Maxwell responded swiftly. “I actually, ahem, didn’t wake you up.” Drake blushed again and kept his mouth shut, fearing further embarrassment if he said anything else. “Anyway, Em … I know Savannah loves the old Roger & Hammerstein’s musicals, so I was thinking we could do a musical-theme shower. You know, have South Pacific punch, Edelweiss floral arrangements, a Getting to Know You icebreaker game. All while playing a compilation of the soundtracks for musical ambiance!” Maxwell finished his proposal with a slight flourish of his hand.
Drake stared at Maxwell, a look of shock and horror in his expression. “This is your idea, Beaumont? And you’re … excited about it?”
“Yes I am excited about this, Drake. And your sister will be, too. So … you’re welcome.” Maxwell grinned as he did a little bow.
Emma’s grasp left Drake’s arm as she bounced over to Maxwell. “Eeeeekk! That is an amazing idea! Savannah is going to love it! And I know I have most of the soundtracks already downloaded on my ph-“
Drake had continued staring at Maxwell during the whole exchange, the wheels inside his mind still trying to comprehend how this supposedly heterosexual man was not only helping to plan a bridal shower but also trying to incorporate showtunes as a theme. Drake was honestly perplexed. He didn’t even hear Emma speaking when he interrupted. “You are a very strange person.”
Both Maxwell and Emma stopped in their tracks to look at Drake. “Well, thanks for noticing!!” they say in unison, immediately turning back to look at each other and bursting out in laughter. The two are laughing so hard that they’re reaching out to hold each other up, and tears were beginning to stream down Emma’s cheeks.
Drake shook his head in annoyance. “N-no, Em. I wasn’t .. I wasn’t talking to you.” The other two continued their howling as he tried to explain himself. “Argh! Oh, never mind!”
Emma came back over to his side, wiping the tears from her eyes as she hooked her arms around one of his and pressed against his side. She tried to suppress the giggles as she spoke, but she couldn’t hold back a few stray chuckles as she spoke. “Oh no, Babe. I know you weren’t talking to me. It’s fine!” She stepped up on her tip-toes to place a quick kiss to his cheek. Fighting back another laughing spell, she turned back to Maxwell. “Maxxie, I think that’s a great idea. I will definitely need yours and Hana’s help. Why don’t I come back in there in a few minutes so we can discuss over breakfast? Let me talk to Drake for a minute alone, please.”
“Of course, my Little Blossom. Er, sorry again Drake about … the incident.” He stifled a chortle and quickly brushed past the couple on his way back to the dining room.
Once they were alone again, Drake raked a hand through his hair and let out a deep sigh. “Sooooo … yeah. This entire conversation has been a huge disaster. I think I should excuse myself and go take a walk by myself.” He shook his head, glancing down at her in amusement. “I know you love Maxwell, but sometimes I swear he brings out the crazy in you.”
Emma smirked devilishingly at his statement. “Hmmph! I’m not crazy. I’m just interesting.” She leaned in closer, her lips only a few inches from his, whispering. “But you know you love my crazy.”
This time it was Drake’s turn to chuckle. “By god, you know I do.” He leaned in to place a small peck to her nose and then her forehead. “Now, go get in there with the bridal shower genius and get to work. I’m going for a walk.” He turned to walk towards the entrance to the garden as Emma watched him.
“Hey Walker!” She called, causing him to turn back towards her and pause. “Thanks again for the early early morning wakeup call today. You know, the one before and after Maxwell interrupted us.” She had a smug grin on her lips and that naughty little twinkle in her eyes.
Drake smiled and nodded his head at his beautiful, crazy wife. “Anytime, Mrs. Walker. Anytime.”
END
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Author’s Note (continued): I always enjoy a good funny Maxwell story, don’t you? 😂 He’s seriously so much fun to write, especially his relationship with Drake.
So this story incorporates one request from @lizeboredom for Sarcasm prompt #116 – “What doesn’t kill me might make me kill you” and two requests from @lazychic28 for #118 “I’m not crazy. I’m just interesting” and #94 “You are a very strange person.” “Well, thanks for noticing.” This last request (#94) had very specific instructions to have Maxwell and MC responding simultaneously – thanks for keeping me on my toes @lazychic28. This was challenging but I’m happy with the result. I hope you two ladies like the way this turned out!
Thanks for reading! 😘