Tippy’s note: This is Part 3 of the Home series. If you have not read the previous parts, you should do that. I linked them below because I am awesome. This Part catches up with Liam after Halle has left. Weirdly enough I had the song “Teach Me How to Fight” by the Junior Boys playing in the back of my mind as I was thinking of and writing this. Lyrically I am not so sold on how it fits with this, but sonically it sets a mood.
Disclaimer: Choices owns this and I do not
Liam sat in his study holding up a tumbler of whiskey to his face. His bleary eyes attempting to examine the amber liquid. He lost count of how many fingers he had drunk over the last however many hours or days that passed by since Halle abruptly left the palace.
Liam still didn’t understand why she felt that she needed to leave. He could acknowledge that Halle wasn’t herself in the past few days, but he just thought it was cold feet. Pre-wedding jitters. His mind kept reliving the previous days looking for the moment that made her feel like leaving was the answer. Wondering if there was a moment that he could have, no, should have, done something more. Maybe if he paid closer attention to Halle and not the process, she would still be by his side.
He thought back to their last dinner together. Halle was picking at her food instead of eating it. When Liam really thought about it, this wasn’t the first time she barely ate her food. Last night was the first time he noticed and said something. Maybe he should have pushed more.
It wasn’t just the food though. Halle has been more withdrawn. Especially since the exam. The exam couldn’t have been that traumatic. Probably more invasive than his exam, but not scarring. At least he thought so.
Liam remembered waiting outside for her during the exam.
This was just a routine, physical exam, Liam told himself as he waited for Halle. He was sure that everything would be fine and their lives could go forward. Each passing minute started to cast some doubts, but he pushed them out of his head.
Before the doubts became too much, the Crown doctor tasked with Halle’s exam exited the room.
“Your Majesty,” the doctor addressed him with a bow. “She is getting dressed and should be out in a few minutes.”
Liam nodded. The doctor turned to walk away, but Liam pulled him back.
“How is she?” he asked. “Is there any reason for me to be concerned?”
“Your Majesty, I cannot say for certain. We still have to wait on the bloodwork and the genetic panel for sickle cell anemia. Based on her physical exam, I can comfortably say that I do not see any medical reason why Lady Halle cannot have a child.”
Liam gave the doctor a small smile as he thanked him.
He sat back in his chair relieved that he didn’t have to worry about this minor formality becoming a formidable obstacle. Liam pressed his crown against the wall as his mind drifted to the day that he would be standing beside Halle outside of Cordonia Sinai as she was holding their firstborn. The thought brought a smile to his face.
A few minutes later, Halle came out of the exam room, smoothing down her embroidered sundress. She jumped when she turned to see him standing by the door.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“That’s okay. I just expected to see you outside of the hospital, not outside of the door.”
“I checked in with the doctor. We are still waiting on other tests, but thus far the doctor says that you’re okay. We can have a family.” Liam said, his grin lighting up his whole face as he pulled Halle in for a hug. She weakly wrapped her forearms around him.
“Can we go home, Liam?” Halle feebly asked.
“Sure. Is everything alright?”
“I’m just tired. That’s all.”
Thinking back he should have asked her to talk to him. Yell at him if that was what was required. How many I’m-just-tireds or I’m-not-that-hungrys did he need to notice that she was not okay? It was strange that Halle should have to submit to a thorough physical exam to marry him. Liam only learned exactly how invasive the exam was when he received the full report including genetic testing results a week-and-a-half later. It’s not like Halle had a full dossier providing proof that he was medically fit to be her husband.
None of that matters now. Whether there will be a wedding is up in the air. Luckily he didn’t have to cancel or push back any press or events. Those were about a week away. But what if Halle doesn’t come back?
Liam took another sip of his whiskey. Before he could get lost in his own thoughts, there was pounding outside of his door.
“Liam, I know you are in there,” Drake said from the other side of the door. “You can’t keep yourself locked away in there.”
This was one of many attempts. Drake tried to talk sense to his friend after he learned that Halle left from Bastien. Bastien unlocked the study so Liam could be consoled by Drake, but that went poorly.
Liam wasn’t in the mood for talking to anyone that wasn’t Halle. He has sent several texts and messages. They varied from checking in to make sure she was okay to demands to explain why she was doing this to him.
There was muttering outside the door. He heard a female voice and his ears perked up hoping that it was Halle.
“You are being too nice,” the high-pitched female voice criticized. “Liam does not need nice right now. Step aside, oaf.”
Liam heard the door to his study open and slam shut.
“I don’t need to guess what you have been doing for a day and a half. It stinks in here.” Olivia said inhaling the pungent odor of alcohol and musk.
“Hello, Olivia. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Liam sarcastically intoned as he raised his tumbler to her.
“The Chambray Ogre told me that Halle had some kind of breakdown and left and you have been drinking and crying ever since,” She said taking in the scene.
“I wasn’t crying the entire time, Liv.”
“Of course not, Your Majesty.” She kicked a decanter top with her toe as she entered further into his study.
When she got to his desk, she saw a shadow of her King and former love. His eyes were bleary and red. His face was unshaven. Seeing him so crestfallen broke her heart. If she weren’t confident that Liam could get her back, she would be on a plane to America to kick Halle’s ass herself. Olivia has never failed to bring bloodshed when she has promised to do so.
“So are you here to slap me into the man I was?” Liam asked.
Olivia raised a red eyebrow. “Man you were? Liam, you have always been a great man.”
“Then why did she leave?” Liam asked, his voice involuntarily cracked as he did.
Hearing his voice waiver, so full of pain and rejection pierced through all of her defenses. While she loved Liam with everything she had and then some, Olivia would have been blind to see what loving Liam was like for Halle. Halle wasn’t born here and wasn’t rich or noble. She wasn’t used to the way that he lived. Not the way Olivia was.
She headed over to the desk where Liam was sitting. Her hand gently rested on his shoulder; he tensed for a moment. She waited for him to flinch or shrug her hand away. When he didn’t Olivia rubbed his shoulder as she spoke.
“Liam, Halle came to Cordonia after spending just a few scant hours with you. While she was here, she had to adjust to a new country and way of life. Halle had to deal with people who wanted her gone because of how close she was to you including your father…”
Olivia took a deep breath before she uttered the rest of the sentence.
“…and myself.”
Liam looked up at her his eyes were wounded. Olivia couldn’t tell if it was pain from Halle’s absence or her admission. Regardless she continued.
“That is not to speak of the Engagement Tour where she watched you be in love publicly with another woman and then a Unity Tour that couldn’t mirror that experience.”
His shoulders rose and fell as he sighed.
“At the end of all of that Halle does get to at least marry you, but she also gets a lifetime of constant scrutiny and doubt in her, her abilities to serve you and our country. All of your failures will be attributed to her, especially because she is an American. It’s a lot to ask.”
“It’s not like she doesn’t get anything in return. She will have the world at her fingertips. A life of comfort and luxury. She also would have me. My love. She would be cherished.”
She paused and let out a sigh of her own. Olivia furrowed her brow, took a deep breath and continued. “You love her?”
Liam turned again to face her. “Yes, Olivia. I love Halle.”
She stopped rubbing his shoulder and crossed her arms as she left Liam’s back and stood in front of him.
“Then why are you here wallowing? Drowning yourself in Drake Juice,” she gestured to the decanter of whiskey on his desk.
“Last I checked the man who is King of Cordonia was a fighter. You didn’t let some devious monster threaten your country or your crown. You fought and showed him and everyone that you are the true King of Cordonia.”
“This is different.”
“I don’t see how” Olivia pushed. “You need to fight for Halle. Show her that you are willing to get her back. That you want to be there.”
She closed her eyes and took another deep breath. “I may not like Halle, but I can honestly say that she has always been there for you. You need to get up and do the same. So stop wallowing and being the Coward of Cordonia and go there as the King!”
Liam sat back in his chair with his eyes closed as silence filled the air.
“You’re right, Olivia,” he admitted.
“I am always right,” she said with a smirk.
Bastien stepped into the study, Drake followed behind him. “Your Majesty, is everything alright?”
“Everything is fine Bastien. I am packing up and heading to New York.”
Bastien narrowed his eyes and cocked his head to the side. “What business is there for you in New York?”
“I am going to get Halle back,” Liam replied, the strength returning to his voice.
“Going to New York is a waste of time, Hal–”
Liam snapped. “I am your King and if I say we are going to New York then New York we shall go.”
Bastien straightened his posture and put his hands behind his back. “If I may, Your Majesty, Halle is not in New York.”
“Then where is she?” Drake asked.
“She is in North Carolina. She landed 12 hours ago.”
“There is a North one?” Olivia quipped.
Liam took a deep breath. “Well, then I guess I am headed to North Carolina.”