#tiger and tria

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Book: The Royal Romance (After Book Three, but no TRH)
Pairing: Bastien Lykel x OC Rinda Lykel, Henry
Word Count: 1,980

Triggers for COVID-19 topic, reference to speculation of death/at risk populations, family separation when a parent is high-risk because of their career

I realize this is a sensitive topic, and my intention was to treat the COVID-19 pandemic, and the people who have been influenced by it, with respect.

My heart goes out to everyone who has been impacted. My condolences. My love and respect to everyone who sacrifices so much to keep the rest of us safe—especially people who are on the front line like health care professionals, cashiers and shelf stockers, delivery workers, and so many more.

Thank you!

Author’s Note: Obligatory disclaimer that Pixelberry Studios owns the TRR characters and my pocketbook with those darn diamond scenes. Rinda and Henry with all of their quirks are all mine. 

Drabble Summary: This takes place in late winter 2020, when countries were beginning to realize just how serious the coronavirus really is. There’s also a little NSFW.

Promises

Everyone was quiet during the ride home from George and Brigitte’s house. Henry was in the backseat, staring absently out the window as he stroked Ollie’s head. The dog had fallen asleep after a traumatizing day of avoiding the neighbor dog’s attempts to hump him.

Rinda was sitting in the passenger seat, her hand resting on Bastien’s thigh as she alternated between watching Henry and staring at her husband’s profile. He was deep in thought as he drove, his eyes occasionally darting to check his mirrors before turning back to the road in front of him.

“Hey.” Rinda’s voice was low and although Bastien focused on his driving, Rinda knew he was listening. “I know, Tiger. And it’s okay.”

Bastien pursed his lips but didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. When he briefly took his eyes from the road to look at her, Rinda saw it in his eyes. The agony of a father and husband who needed to leave his family so he could protect his country. The agony he would hide as he slipped into his role of Colonel Lykel, the head of the Cordonian National Response Program. The man who would be responsible for enforcing the King’s mandates to close borders and order people to shelter in place.

The career that was meant to keep him safer and closer to home. But no one was safe anymore and it was his sworn duty, and his privilege, to protect his King and Country.

… . .

After Rinda and Bastien tucked Henry into bed, Rinda stepped out so Bastien could say goodbye. “Knuddelbär?  I need to work with the King to keep people safe during the coronavirus, and I don’t know how long that will take.”

Henry nodded. “I know.” His voice was very quiet. “We’ve all been watching the news, and mom told me that President Trump already closed U.S. borders to China. And that other countries think he’s being too extreme.”

Bastien nodded. “That’s right. King Liam, Queen Riley and I need to talk about those kinds of things. We want to keep people safe, but we also don’t want to turn people away or close businesses and schools. Those are really big decisions, but if we do have to do that, I’ll be away for a long time. I don’t want to get you and mom sick, so it’s important that I stay at the palace while you stay here where there are less people.”

Henry suddenly scooted away from Bastien and called for Ollie to jump into bed with them. When the dog jumped onto bed Henry made a production of talking to him, asking Ollie about his day, as he scratched his belly. “Who’s the good boy who got humped by a smaller dog? Huh? Is it Ollie? Did Ollie have a ‘RUFF’ day?”

Bastien waited patiently, knowing Henry needed his space. Henry needed to deflect while he compartmentalized his thoughts and worked through the best way to share them. And when he shared them, the really embarrassing or really serious things, he wouldn’t make eye contact. He would quickly, without warning, begin rambling the rest. If you didn’t know how Henry processed things, you’d miss it. Or you’d think it came out of nowhere.

But Bastien knew Henry, and he knew he had to be ready to listen.

And he was.

“Ollie. Will you snug in bed with me tonight? Will you be my guard dog? And we’ll both protect mom together, okay? Just until Bonk comes home. And mom says we will deliver groceries to Mr. Ariti and Mr. Halkais, but we have to be really, really careful because they’re higher risk to get sick. But we can help take care of them.”

Henry was starting to cry, so he laid down in his bed with his head turned from Bastien. He pulled the covers over his head and snuggled into his stuffed animal, Buddy. Henry was embarrassed and retreating into himself. No one could see him like this.

“Henry? I have to leave early in the morning for the palace. We need to figure out what’s going on so we can stop it. I know this is the worst time for me to leave you and your mom, but I’ve already talked to Drake and Laura. They’re going to help you take care of everyone. Mom too. But in the meantime, I need you to stay close to home and not go in public places. Just play outside with friends and be inside before the sun even begins to set. Phillip too, okay?”

Bastien kissed the blanket where it covered Henry’s head. “I promise that I love you and your mom more than anything else in this world. I promise that I want to come home as soon as possible. And I promise that I will do everything I can to stay safe while I do my job so I can come home to you and mom.” Bastien knew he could never make a promise that he’d come home safe. Not to a child who lost his father in the line of duty. He never said it to Drake or Savannah, and he didn’t say it to Henry, either.

But there was more. Bastien always thought he was too practical to be superstitious—or even spiritual. In spite of this, he knew Jackson still protected Drake, Savannah, and their families. He knew Jameson and Grandma Lorinda still protected Henry and Rinda. And every night Bastien would say a few words to each of them, thanking them for helping him keep their family safe.

And this is what he reminded Henry of as he rubbed his back and said goodbye. Jameson and Grandma Lorinda, and Jackson. They were guardian angels who would protect all of them, and they would also help Bastien, Rinda, Drake, and Laura to keep Henry safe. And there would be other people, too. Other people who would work together to keep everyone in Cordonia safe.

Bastien was about to leave, but Henry emerged from his blanket cocoon. “Bonk?”

“Yes, Knuddelbär?”

“Will Mr. Ariti and Mr. Halkais die if they get it? Will you die too?”

“I don’t know. Older people do get really sick, and yes. Right now a lot of them die because we don’t know how to deal with the coronavirus yet. So Mr. Ariti and Mr. Halkais would probably die, and that’s why we’ll all work together to keep them safe. And that means staying away from them and washing our hands a lot. And I’m going to be careful too.” He booped Henry’s nose. “I’m not THAT old, Knuddelbär. But yes, I might get really sick if I get it and need to go to the hospital. And it might take a few weeks for me to be healthy again.”

Bastien locked eyes with Henry. “Make me a promise.”

Henry pulled the covers away from his face and sat up in bed. “I know, Bonk. I promise that I’ll take care of mom.”

Bastien shook his head. “No. Promise that you’ll take care of yourself. Henry. Listen to me. Your safety is the most important thing to me and to your mom. And to your dad.” Bastien paused when Henry turned away. “Henry, you need to look at me.” He waited for Henry to shift his eyes and focus on him again. “Before your mom and I started dating, she told me that she understood the King and Queen’s safety always had to be my top priority. But she made me promise if there was ever a situation where I had to choose between you or her … or if any members of the guard had to choose between you or her, it always had to be you. It’s the promise she and your dad made to each other, and now it’s the promise we made to each other. You know I will take care of you if anything happens to your mom. And you know that Drake and Laura will take care of you if anything happens to me and your mom. You have to live. YOU are the most important thing. So no matter what happens, you have to promise me. You have to promise me that you will live, even if it means staying with someone else if mom and I are in the hospital. Even if it means you can’t see us or visit, because it’s safer to stay at home.”

Rinda heard Henry’s loud sobbing and she came back into the room to see Bastien holding their son, tears in his eyes as he recklessly promised Henry over and over again that it would all be over soon, that they’d all be safe and home together again soon.

He promised.

… . .

Bastien had one more goodbye. He took off his shirt, carefully folded it, and placed it on the dresser. He knew Rinda would need it to help her sleep while he was gone.

Rinda’s eyes were aquamarine, but she smiled bravely for her husband. “Don’t worry about us, promise? You need to focus on figuring this out and keeping yourself safe.”

“Tria …” He cupped her face with his hands. He already knew every detail of her face, from the laugh lines around her eyes, to the beauty mark on her cheek, to the small scar underneath her chin from a childhood sledding accident. But he looked at her again, as if he were seeing her for the first time. His brave, beautiful Tria.

She pulled him closer to kiss him. “Please, promise me.”

“I promise, Tria.” He kissed her again. “I’m going to miss you.”

“I’m going to miss you too.” She kissed his nose. “I’m going to miss your nose.”

Bastien grinned and kissed her forehead. “And I’m going to miss your forehead.”

Their little game continued as Bastien carried Rinda to their bed, each of them kissing the parts they’d miss. Their ears. Jawline. Neck.

Now lower.

Breasts. Abdomen.

Now silly.

Belly button. Toes.

Now higher.

Calves. The inside of their thighs.

Trailing teasing kisses.

Tongues twirling around the intimate areas they would miss. Rinda gasping Bastien’s name, Bastien groaning hers as they joined. Slowly. Something to be savored, in case it was their last time. It was what they’d both miss most of all.

Being together.

… . .

Bastien spooned against Rinda, pulling her close as his leg sprawled over her hip, his foot tucked between her calves.

Rinda took deep breaths, trying to steady herself. She knew Bastien wouldn’t sleep until she did. She knew he needed his sleep, but her mind raced with all of the “what ifs.” But he felt her shaking and felt her hot tears drip onto his arm. “Shhh, my dearest Tria. Just be here with me, in this moment.” He held her as the tears continued to pool onto his arm. “I’m here right now. I’m with you. Even when I’m gone, I’ll be with you. And I will always, always love you.”

When Rinda woke in the morning, Bastien was already gone. But he left his shirt lying next to her and she held it close, inhaling his scent. She missed him already.

When Rinda got out of bed that morning, she saw a Ziplock bag on the dresser that held another one of Bastien’s shirts. She reached for it with tentative hands, clutching it, careful not to open the bag and release its comforting scent too soon.

And when Rinda collapsed on the floor, clenching the bag tightly as she rocked back and forth, her grief becoming a keening wail that could be heard outside the house.

Bastien already knew that he would be gone for a long time. Longer than Rinda had been ready to admit to herself.

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