Bad Day
By Misha
Disclaimer- Not mine. I’m just borrowing them and will return them when I am finished.
Author’s Notes- This is the response to a request for “quick, goodbye kiss” and “Tracing the other’s lip after kissing them because those are the softest lips you know and you kissed those lips”. This one went angstier than I’d intended. Maybe because the book has me so worried about Liam and Eleanor and what will happen to them. This is set exactly one year after the coronation.
Pairing- Liam/MC
Rating- PG
Summary- Eleanor wakes up with an off feeling and then remembers what day it is.
Words- 930
I blink awake to the feel of lips brushing against mine. But by the time I’ve opened my eyes and registered my surroundings, the sensation is gone and I sit up just in time to watch the bedroom door close.
I sighed.
Liam must have had an early morning meeting and not wanted to wake me.
Since I was awake, I got out of the bed and grabbed a robe, heading into the main area of our suite, hoping to catch him before he left. I succeeded because he was just putting his shoes on.
“Oh, I didn’t meant to wake you,” he told me apologetically. “
It’s ok,” I assured him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
Liam held me tight for a moment and then groaned. “As enjoyable as this is, I have an early breakfast meeting.”
I nodded and stepped back. One of the hardest things I’d had to learn was not to be resentful or irritated about Liam’s schedule. I’d known who he was when I’d married him and our courtship had given me plenty of time to come to terms with the fact that I’d be marrying the king as well as the man.
He leaned down and brushed his lips again mine again. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” I assured him.
After he left, I went back to the bedroom to get dressed. I couldn’t figure out why I was feeling out of sorts about the encounter. While, it didn’t happen often, this wasn’t the first time Liam had left (or attempted to) before I got up and I usually took it in stride. After all, I knew he’d always come back to me.
That slightly unsettled feeling was still with me as I took out my day planner to see what appointments I had that day and then I froze, the date hitting me. It was one year from Liam’s coronation.
One year from the day we had gone from ecstatic to heart-broken in the matter of minutes. Even though that was behind us now and Liam and I had been married for four months now, the memory still hurt. How close we had come to losing everything. After all, that night had just been the beginning of the nightmare.
“But that’s behind you,” I said out loud, taking a deep breath. We had come so far since that night. I headed towards my office, but on impulse I made a detour to Liam’s. He wasn’t there, of course, but his personal assistant was.
“Your Majesty,” he greeted me politely, “may I be of service?”
“Can you have the king stop my and see me after his breakfast meeting?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“Of course,” he answered immediately.
“Thank you.”
This time I headed towards my own office, going through the stack of notes that had been left for me. Information that pertained to the free education bill I was trying to draft. I was hard at work when there was a knock on my door. I looked up to see Liam standing there.
“Is everything alright?” He asked as he crossed the room, his concern evident.
“I’m being foolish,” I admitted, “I just… I needed to see you.”
“Well, I never turn down the chance to see you,” he assured me, leaning down to kiss me, a deeper, more satisfying kiss than I’d gotten earlier. “But what brought this on?”
I sighed. “The date.”
Liam paused for a moment and then understanding dawned on his handsome face. “Oh, Ellie…”
“It’s silly,” I repeated.
“No, it’s not,” Liam told me, resting his hand on my back. “That was a bad night. We almost lost everything. I think I’d blocked out the fact that the anniversary was coming up.”
I winced. “And now I’ve reminded you.”
“I’m sure someone would have remarked on the first anniversary of my reign,” Liam pointed out, “and besides I don’t want you to ever feel like you can’t talk to me.”
“I don’t,” I assured him, standing up. I rested my head against his chest. “I didn’t even realize how I felt until after you left.”
“I’m glad you had me stop by,” he assured me, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on his lips, “I always want to be here for you, Eleanor, whenever you need me.”
“I know,” I said, tracing his lips with my fingers. The lips that had just kissed mine. They were so soft but they could be so firm, so passionate when the mood took him. “I feel better now.” And I did, somehow just talking to Liam, leaning against him like this soothed my worries.
“Good,” Liam told me, kissing me one last night before sighing regretfully, “as much as I’d like to stay here all day, I-“
“Have king duties to attend to,” I interrupted, taking a step back. “And I have queen duties.”
“But tonight, I’m all yours,” Liam promised me as he headed towards the door.
“I can’t wait,” I assured him.
We exchanged another tender smile and then he was gone. I returned my attention to my work, but I was smiling. There was still a little uneasiness, but I was trying hard to dwell on the past and focus on the present.
Liam and I were together, we’d gotten married and started a life together. Soon we hoped to start a family. The coronation had been an ugly day, but really it was just one day and it didn’t define us.
Not when we had a lifetime ahead of us.
- End
