Important – my ‘Liam’ is called Istvan, my TRR MC is Viktoria Petit
Set – some time late in the first book of TRR towards the end of the social season. This was one of the first fics I ever posted on Tumblr.
Disclaimer – Characters belong to Pixelberry not me. I’m making no money/gain from this, it’s fanfiction for fun.
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As she walked across the grand function room Viktoria let out a delighted squeak and flung her arms around someone, animated and full of energy; Istvan shifted position in his seat to see who it was. Maxwell. He smiled. Viktoria loved Maxwell; she told Istvan that ‘Max’ was like the brother she never had but always wanted.
Istvan watched their interactions from across the room, he couldn’t hear what was being said but their actions and antics amused him greatly. Viktoria’s gestures and expressions in conversation were never as dramatic as when the younger Beaumont was there, hyping her up, matching her body language with his own zany-ness and encouraging her silly side.
He was really good for her.
Cordonia’s journalists had tried to cause some speculation about their relationship a while back; Istvan had shook his head sadly when he realised where the press were going with their questions. He wondered how anyone who saw Viktoria and Maxwell together could see anything other than pure affection and genuine heartfelt friendship. They were like a couple of little kids, excited by life and the joy of causing mischief together. Justin had quickly diverted the line of questioning and it hadn’t resurfaced recently at least. Thankfully.
He was positive her feelings for Maxwell ran as deep as her feelings for him, just in a totally different vein. Sometimes he found himself a little sad at how free and easy everything was between the two friends, he loved Viktoria and knew he held her heart entirely, but there was often so much protocol surrounding them and the time they shared, it would be fun to be so carefree as Maxwell Beaumont he thought to himself…
Viktoria had no siblings. Her father was never really around and her mother had died some years earlier. She was fiercely independent, out of necessity, but she dreamed of love and belonging. She’d some nice friends in New York but they all had families and partners of their own; it could get lonely. She felt like she’d found what she craved not only in Istvan but in House Beaumont, and specifically Maxwell. He’d been championing her since they left NYC, he was a never ending source of encouragement, always willing her to succeed, always wanting the best for her. He was a ray of sunshine in her world.
One late night when returning from yet another social function, they flopped down together on the sofa. Viktoria kicked off her high heels and sighed dejectedly.
“What’s wrong Blossom?”
Maxwell enquired, half-knowing the answer…
“Starts with O. Ends with Livia”
Viktoria frowned.
“Uhhuh.”
Maxwell pulled a sympathetic face,
“Don’t worry about her Vik… she’s got nothing on you!”
Viktoria rolled her big blue eyes.
“That’s just it though Maxwell, she does. She’s known him since he was like 7. I just can’t compete with a lifetime of memories and fun and shared feelings and in-jokes and whatever… do you know what I mean? He absolutely cares for me. But they’ve got so much history.”
Maxwell looked at her thoughtfully and shook his head,
“I hear what you’re saying but I disagree Vik. You know things about me that people I’ve known my whole life don’t. Just because you weren’t there when it happened, doesn’t mean a thing”
He beamed at her, “Other than Bertrand, I think you know me better than anyone actually. The people you know the longest aren’t always the closest.”
She smiled and thumped his arm playfully,
“You always know how to make me feel better. No wonder you’re my BFF?!”
He ruffled her hair and she squealed.
“BFFs for Foreeeever!”
he giggled.
Viktoria looked at him,
“You know one of those F’s means “forever”, right?”
They laughed together then suddenly Maxwell looked serious and blurted out, “I had a sister you know.”
Viktoria looked startled,
“Had? Oh… Maxwell I’m sorry… I didn’t know.”
She shook her head swallowing hard. He smiled ruefully,
“It’s ok, I don’t really remember her. She died in infancy, I was only 5. But I’ve always felt like something was missing. I mean there’s only me and Bertrand, if Rosa had lived, I’m sure the dynamics in House Beaumont would have been pretty different… I feel like you coming to Cordonia and us being total besties has closed part of that hole left in my life, I feel like I have a wonderful sister in you Vik. This is how I imagine my relationship with Rosa would have been. Taking her to buy her prom dress, chatting about boyfriends, having dance offs, singing karaoke, planning parties and just having so much fun together. It’s so sad we never got to do any of that. Thank you, Viktoria, for giving me ‘the sister experience‘. I love you.”
He reached over and pulled her into a huge hug. Viktoria hugged him back tightly and whispered,
“I love you too Max. And I know Rosa would have too. I can’t believe I came here chasing a romance and ended up with a family of my own. I’m the luckiest girl in the world. Thank you so much.”
She kissed her best friend on the cheek and blinked away the tears of happiness glistening in her eyes.
End – VP 💖
