"There is the love of my life. My queen of hearts… the queen of my heart. How could I possibly be any more in love with you than I am at this moment?" Liam says as you approach the old willow tree he has perched upon right outside the palace. You suppress a smile before stopping next to Maxwell who was keeping watch over him until you arrived. "Liam, what are you doing in the tree?" "I am the king, and I wanted a better view of my kingdom. You should join me My Queen, this can be our new throne."
Just moments before, you were asleep in your room inside the palace when you were awakened by a frantic knocking on the door. You open it to find Drake slightly swaying in the doorway as he props his hand on the frame to balance himself. "Drake what are you doing here? Do you even know what time it is?" "Yep it's quarter to twelve, but His Majesty has beckoned your presence out on the lawn." "Drake… are you drunk?" "Me? Don't worry 'bout me… hick… you got bigger problems outside." "I should have known you'd get him drunk…" You throw on a robe over your pajama's. "Hey, we didn't force him to. Can't blame me if he can't hold his liquor." You mumble under your breath, "Like the pot calling the kettle black…" "You say somethin'?" "Nothing show me where he is." You follow a staggering Drake outside…
The 'boys' took Liam out for yet another bachelor party at a bar they hired out for the night. Being the King of Cordonia meant there would be security issues to consider, so Bastien had assisted in setting things up. Liam didn't particularly want to go… "I really think this is quite unnecessary. I don't need a third bachelor party." But you continue to encourage him. "Oh Liam, it'll be fun. It'll be the last time you get to go out and live it up as a single man." You adjust his jacket as he stands there protesting like a small child. "Must I really do this again?" "Yes, it's important to the guys to have this one last celebration with you before becoming a married man." "Well, we did that in New York and I would much rather spend this time with you my love." "We'll have plenty of time together once we're married. And besides, the girls have something planned for me tonight anyway." "I know but…" "No buts Liam, I don't want you to think about anything else but having an enjoyable time." "I'll go but just for the record, it's against my will." You chuckle and then ease him toward the door. Maxwell, Drake and Bastien are waiting for him at the foot of the stairs.
Maxwell shouts from below, "Let's get this party started!" Liam kisses you lovingly and then sighs as he heads down the stairs to his awaiting entourage. You wave as he turns back one last time before exiting the palace. Meanwhile, you go get ready for your evening with the girls.
Back outside… "Maxwell, where's Bastien?" "He went to bed after we got back. Said he had an early day tomorrow." You turn your attention back to Liam who sits curiously on a branch. "Liam please come down. That tree doesn't look stable." Liam starts bouncing on the branch. "It's perfectly safe, see? Nothing's going to happen." Drake chimes in, "Yeah being the king makes you invincible I guess." You punch Drake in the arm. "What was that for?" "You shouldn't encourage him. What if he falls?" Drake rubs his arm. "Beckham, he's climbed trees before… and you gotta stop punching me in the arm. I think I have a permanent bruise." You give him a stern look but then focus your attention back to Liam, who is now standing on the branch and jumps down to the one below it. You watch in horror as he slips and tumbles a few branches from the bottom and once he lands, he raises his hands in victory. "Oh yeah! Hey Drake… I guess you're right. Being a king does make me invincible." By now your fear has turned to anger. "Liam! Get your ass down from there, right this instant! I've had enough of this!" He looks at you with a drunken twinkle in his eyes. "Did anyone ever tell you, you're sexy when you're angry?" "Well I guess that makes you the luckiest guy in the kingdom about right now…" You cross your arms and stand firm, glaring at him. "Why did you even ask me out here?" "I wanted to see my lovely fiancé…" "Why didn't you just come upstairs and knock on my door?" Liam shakes his head and moves his finger back and forth. "Tsk, tsk… it wouldn't be proper for a king to sneak into a beautiful woman's room at this hour. It wouldn't be respectable." "Oh, I suppose it's more respectable to swing in the trees?"
Maxwell is now standing beside you. "Hey Liam, see if you can somersault off that last branch." You turn around and pinch the underside of his arm. "Oww… stop." "Maxwell, you're not helping!" "I was just trying to help get him down…" "I need him down in one piece…" "Okay but… you didn't have to pinch so hard…" Maxwell rubs his arm to ease the stinging. Just then you hear a crack and look over only to see Liam tumbling out of the tree and hits the ground with a thud.
"Liam!" You run over to him and kneel at his side. He is lying on his back writhing in pain and swearing furiously. "Dammit! Stupid friggin' branch." "Liam are you alright?! Where does it hurt?" After a few minutes he catches his breath and looks up at you. Seeing the concern in your eyes causes him to sober a bit and he takes your hand from his chest, kissing the palm. "Catherine I'm sorry." "Liam… are you okay?" "I think I bruised my ego amongst other things, but yes I'm okay."
Maxwell and Drake stand on the other side of Liam, who is still lying in the grass. "Dude, that was awesome! I've never seen anyone dive out of a tree before." Maxwell says, and then Drake chimes in. "Yeah, pretty damn graceful Your Majesty." You look up at both with clinched teeth and an icy glare. Maxwell rubs his arms as if chilled. "Wow did the temperature drop all of a sudden or is it just me, brrr?"
Liam winces as he raises to sit up. "Liam are you sure you're alright." "Yes love, but I might need some assistance." Maxwell and Drake reach for him as they both pull him into a standing position. You stand on one side as Maxwell stands on the other and slowly walk him into the palace and upstairs to his bedroom with Drake stumbling behind. Not a word is spoken.
By the time you reach his room, he has let go of Maxwell, but moves his arm from your shoulders to your waist as you walk him to the bed where he sits down. Maxwell and Drake stand in the doorway.
"Guys, thank you for an enjoyable evening but we should all get some rest now." "Uh, sure Liam. Hey, any chance you might make good on that bet you lost earlier?" "Heh, let's talk about it in the morning Drake." "Catherine, you want any help?" No thank you Maxwell. I've got it from here."
They both leave and close the door behind them. Liam looks at you with a smile. "What's that look for Liam?" You kneel to take off his shoes and socks. "It's just nice having you here to take care of me." He starts to remove his jacket and cringes when he gets to the shoulder area. "Here, let me get that." You reach and carefully pull the jacket down each of his arms and then the shirt, hanging both on a nearby chair. "Thank you, my love." You turn back around to him with a solemn expression. "Liam you could have a broken rib or something. Maybe I should take a look just to be sure." "By all means." He grins and then lays back with his head on a pillow, his eyes never stray from you. You sit beside him, pressing gently along his chest and then down each rib. "So, what do you think doctor? Am I going to live?" You purposely ignore his statement, trying to stay focused on any possible injuries he might have sustained. "Does it hurt anywhere?" "No, I don't feel a thing." You stand up. "Good. Do you need some help with those trousers before I go?" By now it's clear to Liam that you are not amused by his shenanigans and he suddenly feels ashamed.
"Catherine. Please come here and look at me." You turn in his direction and reluctantly make eye contact. He sits up and takes your arm, motioning for you to sit back down. "Catherine are you angry with me?" You sigh, not really wanting to talk about this right now in his inebriated state, but he takes your chin and lifts your face up to look at him. "Catherine, talk to me." "I'm not angry Liam… it's just… what were you thinking out there? You could have broken something or worse…" By now Liam's buzz is all but gone and it is now replaced with remorse for causing you grief. He rubs your back affectionately. "I'm so sorry Catherine, I don't know what came over me. You're right, it was a ridiculous thing to do." Hearing this declaration, your tension eases a bit and without hesitation you turn to him and place your hand to his cheek. "Liam, we are so close to our wedding day and... I guess selfishly I just don't want anything to go wrong. And when you fell from that tree, I..." He wraps you in his arms and you lay your head on his chest. "I know… it was all so foolish. I won't be doing that again." You look at him questioningly. "I wanted you to have fun tonight, but I didn't plan to worry about you getting hurt... Promise me you'll be more careful." "Yes, I promise." He leans in dropping sweet kisses on your lips. "I should probably get back to my room but will you be alright?"
"I was hoping you'd stay with me tonight. I need to feel you close to me." "But how will that look to everyone Liam? I don't want to jeopardize your good standing with the nobles... or mine for that matter." "I suppose you're right, but what if someone sees you sneaking out of my room right now? I mean wouldn't it make more sense to leave when we're absolutely certain that the coast is clear? Like maybe, early in the morning?" "I suppose I could set an alarm… and under the circumstances it's probably not a terrible idea." "I'm glad we agree."
He knows you well enough by now that in his current condition you wouldn't allow things to go too far, but somehow, just being able to hold you and touch you is enough for tonight.
You help him out of his trousers and he slips under the sheets. "Do you want me to turn off the light?" He holds up the covers for you. "I have a switch right here. Come my love. I want to hold you." You slip into the bed as he swathes the sheet around you and then turns over to switch off the light. He reaches for you in the darkness as you curl up against him. He leans down searching for your lips and kisses you tenderly. "Good night my love." "Good night Liam."
The warmth of his arms around you, coupled with the sound of his steady breathing, lulls you into a deep and peaceful sleep.