WARNING: Dowton Abbey spoilers ahead! (Only S1 and S2, but if you have never seen the show, and I strongly suggest you do, I don't want to ruin it for anyone.)
Thanks for the review/follows!
"WHAT! IS LADY SYBIL WEARING PANTS?"
Helena was jolted awake. Disoriented and hung-over, it took a minute to remember where she was, as the familiar sounds of the Downton Abbeytheme song played over the closing credits. She looked over to find MacFarlane, in her bed wearing only his t-shirt and boxers, staring in disbelief at the television.
"Shit. Did I wake you up? I'm sorry, but that Lady Sybil is quite the shocker. Does she end up with Branson? Wait, wait…don't tell me. And that Lady Mary! She's got Turkish diplomats dying in her bed and she asked her maid and her mom to help her move the body? Christ, what a piece of work. Poor Matthew Crawley. All he wants to do….."
He kept rambling as Helena stared at him blankly. It was official: Seth MacFarlane was now a Downton Abbey fanboy. Unable to deal with this turn of events in her current state, Helena rolled over and fell back asleep. She could deal with this in a few hours.
The afternoon sun came through the penthouse's windows and jarred Helena awake. Shielding her eyes, she looked up at the alarm clock next to the bed and discovered it was nearly 1PM. Grimacing as she rolled over, she discovered MacFarlane fast asleep next to her, clearly tuckered out from his adventures with Lady Mary and Matthew Crawley. His mouth was wipe open as soft snores escaped from him.
He looks so innocent when he sleeps, Helena thought to herself. After briefly considering defacing MacFarlane with her eyeliner and mascara, hunger pains from her stomach quickly overturned that thought. She shook MacFarlane awake.
"TIME TO GET UP, CARTOON BOY! It's 1PM"
He woke up slowly, his face twisting in pain due to the sunlight and the hangover. Helena grinned at him.
"Did you enjoy your Downton experience?" Helena asked.
Seth giggled. "Okay, I thought it was going to be typical stuffy PBS stuff, but it sucks you in. I made it to the flower show, where Cousin Violet lost. And, you were right, Maggie Smith is awesome."
Helena smiled in approval. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. I would be happy to watch the rest of the season with you, but first, I need some runny eggs and pancakes. Room service?"
"Sweet Merciful Jesus, yes," Seth responded. He groaned as he tried to move his body. "Can we just spend the day in bed watching the show? Please? I honestly don't think I can handle anything else right now."
Helena picked up the phone and ordered the greasiest food she could off the hotel's menu. "I'm going to take a shower. Do you want to wait for room service or head to your room for a quick shower?"
Seth considered his options. "Let me run to my room real fast. I can smell the booze on me. That cool? I'll be back in fifteen minutes."
"Totally. Shall we meet back in this bed in 20?"
"See you then."
Seth smiled at Helena as he grabbed his discarded suit jacket and headed for the door. Helena gingerly rolled herself out of bed and headed towards the bathroom for a much need toothbrushing. As she stepped into the shower, she thought about the night before. Did she really just sleep in the same bed platonically as MacFarlane? And he didn't try any funny business? Impressive, thought Helena. So far, all of Helena's notions of MacFarlane had turned out to be wrong.
Helena got out the shower and put on her Lululemon yoga pants and slouchy shirt. She put her hair up into a mess bun and didn't even bother with make-up or a straightener. After all, today was a lazy day. After attempting to make the bed, she heard a knock at the door. Looking through the peephole, she found both MacFarlane and the waiter from room service. Perfect timing.
"So I personally made everything on this cart. Not only am I millionaire television savant with an awesome body, but I am an expert chef." MacFarlane joked with a giant shit-eating grin on his face. Helena rolled her eyes and let them both in. After giving the waiter a giant tip, the two helped themselves to plates of pancakes, eggs, waffles, and fruit. Seth poured each of them giant cups of coffee and both settled into bed.
"Ready to return to Downton?" asked Helena,
"Let's do this! Team Anna and Bates!" MacFarlane cheered with a mouthful of chocolate chip pancakes in his mouth.
It was nearly eleven o'clock by the time Helena and MacFarlane finished binge watching Downton Abbey. They had laughed, they had cried, they cheered when Lady Mary and Matthew finally ended up with each (and perhaps cheered louder when stupid Lavinia finally died. Seriously, Mary and Matthew were meant for each other. Who was that bitch to get in the way of that?)
"Alright, there is one more season, but I think we need to save that. My ass is literally sticking to the bed right now," Helena joked.
"Fuck, it's been a long time since I laid in bed and did this. It feels good. 9/10, would do again," cracked MacFarlane.
"You know," Helena started, "I think this is the longest I have spent in bed with a platonic male friend."
"Gee, thanks. I can see the headlines now: Helena Morganston and platonic male friend, Seth MacFarlane, seen spending the day in bed watching TV. Nothing sexual happened, as it was purely platonic."
Helena looked at him and laughed. "What? I didn't mean it like that. You're a friend. Nothing else is happening here."
Seth looked at Helena with hurt eyes. He let out a deep breathe. "Stuck in the friendzone. Not a new place for me, honestly."
Helena looked at Seth, shocked. Did he think this was going somewhere? Has he been trying to bang me this entire time?
Seth kept looking at her, waiting for a response.
Helena took a deep breath before she continued. "I didn't know you felt that way about me. Is that why you flew me out here? Were you really trying to get in my pants, but playing it off as an apology?" Her anger grew with each sentence she uttered.
Seth panicked. He jumped out of the bed and quickly tried to explain himself. "No…no…Helena…no. Everything I said on the plane was true. The plane ride and dinner last night were my attempts to apologize for my behavior. I was out of line that day. But, to be totally honest with you, my intentions for our first meeting were not entire honest. Frankly, I've had a crush on you for a long time. Ever since I saw you in Woody's movie and I'd see you at parties, but I was way too much of a pussy to approach you."
"Yes, me, Mr. Powerful TV Man, with all his power, fame, money and glory; I couldn't walk up to the woman I admired from a far and introduce myself. I was that transfixed by you, Helena. But I was too much of a pussy, so I watched you from a distance, cursing myself each time I let you walk away without even saying hello. "
Seth was now pacing the floor, his hands failing wildly, as Helena watched him, taking in his confession.
"So when my casting director told me she set up a meeting for the two of us to discuss a part in my next movie, I fucking freaked out. I literally didn't know what to do. When you walked in that room, with your gorgeous smile, bright eyes, perfect hair, perfect everything….I went into douchebag mode. I thought by being the big man, I would win you over. I was a fucking idiot, Helena. I was. I still am."
Seth stopped his pacing and looked at Helena, with nothing but pain and honesty in his eyes. His breathing was heavy and he looked like he was in physical pain. Yet, he continued.
"I would do anything for a chance to be with you. I don't know what this is and I don't know how this will end, but I know I will regret everyday I am alive if I never told you how I felt about you. "
Helena looked at Seth, flabbergasted. She didn't know how to respond, this was happening so fast. 36 hours ago, she hated this man and now he was pouring his heart out to her, confessing his feelings for her. Seth searched her face, looking for any sign of a response.
Helena looked Seth in the eyes. "Seth, this is happening so fast. We barely know each other…."
Seth face quickly sunk, as a dejected look came across his face. Helena quickly stood up and walked towards him, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"Seth, listen to me. That's not what I meant. Neither of us have had a chance to process this. I had no idea you felt this way about me. Hear me out, we are both here for the next two weeks. Let's take this time to get to know each other. I'm willing to explore these feelings too, Seth. And I don't know how this all ends either, but I want to see what happens. "
Seth looked up at Helena, as a slow smile came across his face. "You know, that's the first time you've called me 'Seth'."
Both laughed, the tension in the room finally breaking. Seth put his arms around Helena, pulling her into a hug. Helena looked up at Seth, gazing in his eyes. The two locked into a kiss, their first of many.
