Royal Retribution Chapter 3: Retreat

Series: Royal Retribution

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Liam x Riley x Drake (as a throuple)

Rating: R for general reasons

Warnings: mature themes

Word Count: 1,688

A/N: Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve updated this one. I have started, and finished, two whole series in the last few months. I have chapters for five other series in process, but for some reason, I sat down at my laptop and this is what came out. For those of you who even remember this series, here you go!

My other stuff: Master List.

“Where the hell is she?” I raged as Drake tried to calm me down.

“Hold on, I’ll talk to the clerk.”

I watched him as I paced around the waiting area that had been cleared by my guards. Alec and three other guards had followed behind us to the airport. It had taken them longer to get there, but once they did, the room had been cleared quickly. I could tell by the stormy expression on Alec’s face that he wanted to scold me about leaving without him, but he could tell by the expression on mine that it would be a bad idea.

Drake came back glowering, “They have no idea what-“ He cut off as his phone rang. Pulling it out, he answered it with a curt, “What?”

He listened for a moment then looked up at me, gloating and my heart leapt, “What is it? Where is she?”

“On her way to Ramsford.” He answered.

“How?” I asked in astonishment, the Beaumont’s had also been detained.

He held a finger up, finished his conversation then pocketed his phone with a grin, “Marco.”

“What?”

“Marco saw the commotion, saw you and I both trying to get to her. So he pulled four of his guys and they beat Bastien’s guys to the airport. He countermanded Bas’s orders telling them that he had instructions directly from the new king to take her into custody and detain her elsewhere.”

“And they bought that?”

Drake gave me an expansive shrug, “Even though he’s in a different unit, he was the highest ranking guard on the scene, so they really had no choice. He wasn’t sure the palace was safe, so he took her to Ramsford. He sent the other four guys home, so he’s the only one that knows where she is.”

I bounced up and down on the balls of my feet, brimming with glee, “Bas is going to be so pissed!”

“Yep!” Drake affirmed, “now let’s go get our girl!”

“Marco is getting a raise, a promotion, or maybe both!” I told him as we made our way back to the car.

“Yeah but….Li, we have to be very careful right now. You are technically king now, but we still don’t know whose loyalty we can trust. Not after tonight.”

He was right. I stopped walking and scanned the men behind me. I motioned for Alec, “Send the other guy’s home.”

“But sir-“

“Do it, Alec. You can ride in the car with me and Drake, but I only trust you. Do you understand?”

He pressed his lips together and gave me a steely look, then he blew out a breath and nodded, “Yeah, I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it.”

Drake and I climbed into the back of the gleaming black Devore GT, one of four I’d been talked into purchasing when Logan became my primary driver. He wasn’t wrong, the thing could outrun even the Venom GT intercepts used by, and modified for, the Cordonian State Police to patrol the motorways. My Devores were customized with full roll cages and bulletproof glass. Just in case.

As we drove, Alec and Drake strategized, “We’re going to need a couple of rank and file enlisted men that we can trust to keep their ear to the ground and see who’s siding with who. We need to know who we can and can’t trust, so we can clean house.” Drake was saying.

I pulled out my phone and put in a call to Lt. Everly, the head jailor. After giving him strict instructions to release the Beaumont’s, I called Lt. Jason Toussaint, the head of cyber security, someone I trusted implicitly because Drake did. He’d hand picked him and recruited him from the Cordonian Royal Air Force, they had served together before Drake transferred to the Royal Guard. I gave him several orders, then I placed my next call to Hana.

I desperately wanted to call Riley, but Drake informed me that Marco had made her give her phone up at the airport. We couldn’t be sure it wasn’t being traced or bugged.

“Hana, I can’t say much because I have no idea who’s listening.” I told her, “But everything is ok. I’ll explain it all when I get back. Meanwhile, you should have your things moved to my room and have anything of Riley’s that was left behind moved to Drake’s. You’ll be hearing from Lt. Jason Toussaint; he’ll bring you a new phone and the personal guard I’ve picked for you. Accept both the phone and the guard only from him, understand?”

“Yes, I understand.” She answered, “Take your time, I’m good here.”

“You’re a good friend, Hana.” I told her.

“You guys make it easy.” She said, “See you when you get home, goodbye.”

The ride to Ramsford was excruciating even though Logan broke every speed limit getting there.

I didn’t bother to knock, I barged right in like I owned the place. It’s not like Bert or Max were home yet anyway. “Riley!” I called out as I entered the foyer.

“Liam!” She hit my chest and was in my arms before I could draw in my next breath. “I knew you’d come for me!”

“I will always come for you.” I told her as I held her tight against me, the stress and anxiety in my center finally starting to uncoil as I buried my head in her hair and drew in her familiar, and comforting, scent.

“Goddamn it, Brooks, you scared the shit out of us!” Drake bellowed as he pushed his way past Alec to get in the door behind me.

“Drake!” She released me and flew into his arms.

He hugged her back about as tightly as I had, closing his eyes as he murmured, “Kardia mou.” Before dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

“So, first things first.” I told her, “I had to get engaged to Hana.”

“You….what?”

“Come, sit, let me explain.” I lead her into the formal sitting room so we could get comfortable. “Alec, make sure there are no staff around to overhear us.”

“On it, boss.” He said as he disappeared down the hallway.

I turned to the other guard, “Marco, I hope you didn’t unpack her luggage. If you did, put it back in your SUV.”

“Yes, sir, Your Majesty.” Marco gave me a grin and a salute on his way out.

Riley looked at me in surprise, “But I thought I was staying here until-“

“Absolutely not! This is the first place my father will look for you!”

“Your father? Your father is behind this?” Her face lost all its color.

“Yes, love, but don’t worry, we have a plan.” I assured her.

Drake closed the door, so it was just the three of us in the sitting room. I explained everything. Some of it even Drake hadn’t heard yet, there hadn’t been time.

When I was done, they both stared at me in horror. “Your father had your mother killed?” Riley was aghast and more than a little afraid.

“Jesus!” Drake drew a hand through his hair, “I knew he was a sadistic bastard but that….fuck, Li, I’m so sorry!”

“It’s ok-“

“It’s not!” Riley said as she moved to embrace me.

“The fuck it is!” Drake said at the same time, pulling me into an embrace from the other side.

I almost drew away, there wasn’t time for this. I had to get her somewhere safe. But the feeling of relief and comfort I felt there, wedged between the two of them, the love I could feel coming off them both in waves, overwhelmed me. I didn’t deserve it, there was nothing I’d ever done to possibly deserve either one of them, yet there they were, loving me. I couldn’t help it. I broke down a little. I cried softly into Drake’s chest while Riley pressed her body against my back.

“Sorry.” I mumbled when I finally got myself together, turning toward Riley.

“Don’t be sorry.” She told me softly as she ran a hand along my face.

“Never be sorry for having a heart, Li.” Drake echoed her sentiments as he rubbed a hand across my back.

“Riley, I have to ask…” I drew in a deep breath, not wanting to ask, but knowing I had to, “Are you sure you want to be with me? I know you love me, but this is more baggage than you signed up for. More than anyone should have to endure. If you want out, I won’t blame you, I won’t hold it against you. I can have the royal jet ready within the-“

“Liam.”

“What?”

“Shut. Up.” She grasped my face in both her hands and pulled me into a kiss. A long, lingering, passionate kiss. “I love you. I’m all in. No matter what.”

“But you will be in danger until we can-“

“I’m not going to lie and say I’m not afraid, but he only wants to stop you from marrying me, right? I mean, if he wanted me dead, he could have just killed me instead of going to the trouble to frame me, right?”

“She has a point, Li.” Drake agreed. “As long as you keep up the ruse of being engaged to Hana, Riley should be safe.”

I nodded as I wiped my face across my sleeve, “Right. But still, we need to take precautions and be proactive. He also wanted her out of the country, and we forestalled that. He doesn’t like being thwarted.”

“Agreed. That’s why we’re moving her.”

Riley looked back and forth between us, “So where-“

There was a knock on the door, Marco stuck his head in, “I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the Beaumont’s are on their way home and Bas has sent guards with them to look for Lady Riley here.”

I jumped to my feet and pulled her up with me, “Just get in the car, I’ll explain on the way.”

As we rushed her out to the car, I muttered to Drake through gritted teeth, “Bas is so fucking fired!”

San Antonio: A Bad Romance One Shot

Series:Bad Romance

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings for series: Riley x Liam, Liam x Max, Riley x Max, Riley x Drake, Riley x Rashad

Paring this chapter: Riley x Drake

Rating: NSFW

Warnings for this chapter: Lemons

Song Inspiration: None, really, but just because of the title I have San Antonio Stroll by Tanya Tucker stuck in my head.

Word Count: 3,054

A/N: This was random. The opening sequence was just suddenly in my head and from there, it lead to another snippet that had been rattling around in there (the lemony one) without context. So I connect my random scenes into something and now I pass it on to you.

My other stuff: Master List.

In a darkened corner at the back of the hottest new nightclub in San Antonio, Drake leaned against the wall talking to a blonde woman that was poured into her strapless fire engine red bodycon dress . His arm rested on the wall above his head, his body inches from hers. His eyes had just slid down her curves when Riley walked up. The blonde’s head was tipped back, her blue eyes trained on him. Riley recognized the expression on the woman’s face. Victory. She really thought she had him.

“Hey babe.”

Drake jerked his gaze away from the woman’s body when he heard Riley’s voice. He stood up straight and stepped away from the wall. “I wasn’t…I mean, I was just….”

Riley wrapped an arm around his waist and went up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on his cheek. He sighed in relief as he bent down to make it easier for her. She gave him a smile as she rubbed her lipstick off his cheek. Turning to face the other woman, she asked, “Who’s your friend?”

The blonde was vibrating with annoyance, “My name is Chloe, and you’re interrupting.”

Riley raised an eyebrow then glanced at Drake in amusement. “Am I interrupting?”

“Course not.” He scoffed, “We were just-“

“Yes, you are.” Chloe insisted, “We were just about to get out of here, weren’t we?” She turned her gaze back to Drake with a seductive grin.

“Uh….”

Riley’s eyes darted between them in amusement. “Well, if that’s the case, don’t let me stop you. Drake?” She calmly took a sip of her drink while she watched the confusion and terror slip across his face.

Chloe watched the exchange with frustration. “Can I speak to your girlfriend alone for a minute?”

Drake’s panic ratcheted up about ten more notches, “I…uh…I don’t think that’s a good idea, you have no idea what you’re about to-“

“Nonsense!” Riley exclaimed brightly, “I think it’s a splendid idea, cuddle bear. Why don’t you give us a moment?”

“Riley….sweetheart, this poor girl was just-“

“Drake,sweetheart. Go away.” There was a warning note in her voice that he chose not to ignore.

Both women watched him walk away, then turned back to face each other.

“Listen,” Chloe stepped close and with fake sympathy told her, “I hate to be the one to break it to you, but your boyfriend was totally checking me out.”

“I’m sure.” Riley said with a sanguine smile, then took another sip of her drink.

Chloe’s brows drew together in consternation, “I don’t think you understand. That man isn’t really yours.”

“Oh, I can assure you, he is.”

“No. He was flirting with me.”

Riley gave her an appraising look, “You mean you were flirting with him?”

Chloe gave her a condescending smile, “Listen, honey. I know it sucks but maybe I can at least give you some advice.”

“Oh, yeah? Like what?”

“Cuddle bear? Really?” She shook her head in amusement, “He’s not really the type of man to-“

“That man? That one right there?” Riley pointed to Drake.

“Yes.” Chloe said, wondering if Riley were slow.

Riley smiled, “Oh I know, he doesn’t look like the type to even want to cuddle, does he?”

“No, honey, and I’m sure-“

“And yet he does. That man right there is a world class cuddler. Can’t keep his hands off me, actually. I mean there are times it’s almost annoying.”

Chloe huffed in frustration, “I don’t think you understand. If I wanted to leave with your boyfriend right now, I could.”

“Think so?”

“I know so, honey. So why don’t you save yourself the embarrassment and-“

Riley threw her head back and laughed.

Chloe was getting exasperated. The girlfriend had usually scurried away in tears by now. “I don’t see what’s so-“

“Hold on.” Riley held up a hand then turned to wave Drake back over, “Drake, get your ass back over here now.”

“What’s up?” He asked when he got there.

“This woman is under the impression that you want to leave with her. So, I’ll make a deal with you.”

Drake crossed his arms over his chest, “Ok….”

Riley shrugged, “If that’s true, then I’ll allow it. You can leave with her, right now and I won’t hold it against you. I’ll go find my own entertainment for tonight and tomorrow we’ll just forget the whole thing happened.”

Drake’s eyes went from Riley to Chloe then scanned across the dance floor full of young, hot, eligible men. He moved closer to Riley and put his arm around her, drawing her close to his side, “You already know the answer to that. You’re the only woman I want.”

Chloe was seething with anger, “Excuse me?” Then to Riley, “You saw how he was looking at me!”

Riley glanced up at Drake, knowing exactly what he had been thinking. “Do you want to tell her why, or should I?”

Drake stared down at Riley for a moment then turned to Chloe with a sigh as he raked a hand through his hair, “Look, Chloe, I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea, but-”

“The wrong idea? I know exactlywhat-“

“Yeah…no, I was checking you out but that was for…I mean, it was because…I was going to ask if….”

“Oh, for the love of God!” Riley rolled her eyes at Drake, then to Chloe, “He was going to ask if you were up for a threesome. But now I’m thinking that’s only going to work if you’re into a little light bondage and spanking. You really should be punished for your presumptuousness.”

“I…..what?” Chloe was speechless, maybe for the first time in her life.

“I said-“ Riley tried to step forward but Drake had one arm around her waist and his other arm had crossed his body so he could twirl a lock of her hair between his fingers.

She slapped his hand away from her hair and pushed his arm off of her waist, “See? I told you. He can’t keep his hands-“

Drake ran a hand down her back. She gave him a look and he stopped, holding both hands up in the air, “Sorry. I can’t help it.”

“I know.” She smirked, “I usually like it, but I’m busy right now putting this basic bitch in her place.”

“Wait. Are you calling me a basic-“

“Yes,honey, I am. The idea that you could take a man from me…any man, but especially this man, would be laughable if it wasn’t just pathetic.” Riley stepped into the other woman’s personal space, “I was willing to share him, for an hour or two anyway, but I think I’d prefer someone a little more….grateful for the opportunity. Because let’s face it, he is the hottest guy in here tonight. I know it and you know it. Too bad you let your ego get in the way.”

Chloe’s eyes flicked to Drake, whose eyes were fixed on Riley as he stood behind her, playing with her hair again. “You’re both crazy, you know that, right?”

Riley smirked as she stepped backwards, bumping into Drake’s chest. “You have no idea.”

Drake’s arms encircled her, pulling her back closer as he moved her hair, so his lips could find the back of her neck, “I don’t need anyone but you. We could just go back to the hotel right now.”

“Ahh, cuddle bear, I thought we were going to find a playmate tonight.” She breathed as she leaned her head back against his body, one hand covering his at her waist, the other going behind her to tangle in his hair.

He gripped her tighter with a growl, grinding into her from behind, “I’m not against it, but we can do that another night. I don’t think I have the patience tonight. I need you now!”

“I’m still here!” Chloe burst out, “What is wrong with you two?”

“Oh.” Riley’s head snapped forward, “Why are you still here?”

“I….” She stared at them for a moment as her face flushed crimson, then she turned and stalked away with what little dignity she had left.

“I swear, Riley, she came up and started talking to me!”

Riley spun in his arms, “I believe you. And you’re allowed to speak to people, Drake.” She bucked her hips forward, pressing into him.

“Would you have really let me leave with that random woman?” He asked as his hands dug into her ass. He sounded hurt.

Riley wrapped her arms around his neck, “No. I would have gutted her like a fish.”

He hummed happily as he resumed kissing her neck.

“That makes you happy?” She tittered.

“Yes. I like your jealous streak.” He said tugging her closer. “It’s fucking hot when you stake your claim.”

“I mean, you are mine.” She murmured in his ear, running her fingers through his hair.

“Fuck! See? When you say shit like that, I just-“ His eyes scanned the room, then he drug her down a short hallway toward a door labeled ‘employees only’. He never took his hands off her as he kicked the door opened and pulled her through it.

Riley glanced around to find they were in a small storeroom. Drakes’ lips were at the hollow of her throat, and he already had her blouse unbuttoned.

“Drake, the door.” She breathed out, pushing him away.

He growled as he released her. He looked around quickly, then shoved a shelf in front of the door. He made his way back to her in three long strides, shoving her up against the wall. His hand slipped under her skirt, fingers gliding across the thin fabric of her panties. “Fuck. You’re already dripping wet.”

“That’s what you do to me.” She told him as her head thumped back into the wall.

“Good.” He replied as he knelt in front of her, pulling her panties down as he went. She stepped out of the them as he pushed her skirt up. Her hands gripped his hair as he leaned forward and inhaled deeply, “God damn you smell good.”

The first tickle of his tongue against her sent electric sparks thrilling through her, spiraling out from her core, suffusing her body with heat and ramping up her desire. He started slow, licking long, languid stripes from just below her opening to just above the clit as she moaned and thrust herself into his mouth. As her grip on his hair tightened, he picked up pace, attacking her clit with vigor, tongue darting in and out as he lapped and sucked at her.

The waves of pleasure climbed higher and higher as his mouth became more insistent. A finger pushed inside her, then another as his tongue worked her masterfully. His fingers curled inside her in a come hither motion as he sucked her slick, throbbing clit between his teeth and her body pitched forward as she cried out, a tidal wave of pure bliss crashing over her. He worked her through the orgasm, her moans and whimpers making him harder than he already was.

He climbed back to his feet, a self-satisfied smile curving his lips as he unbuckled his belt. Riley’s body slumped back against the wall, breathing heavy, chest heaving, face flushed. If that wasn’t the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen, he didn’t know what was. He shoved his pants down and entered her with a groan. She was soaking wet, and he was drenched with precum, making entry effortless and easy. He buried himself deep inside her as his body shuddered with unrestrained passion.

Her arms went around him as he lifted her off the ground and slammed her back against the wall with the force of his thrust. He moved his body, plunging in and out of her as he watched her face, “Come for me, baby.”

Riley felt the pleasure building again, pooling and coiling in her center.

There was loud thunk as the door tried to open but slammed into the shelf instead. A gruff voice bellowed, “What the hell?” There were several more thunks then a knock and the voice called out, “Is someone in there?”

“Don’t you dare stop.” Riley gasped, “I’m so fucking close.”

Drake could only grunt in response because he was right there too. The knowledge that an observer could crash through the door at any moment only served to propel him on, pushing him even closer to the edge. He was inside her, and nothing else mattered. The way she smelled, the way she felt, the way she sounded as her soft whimpers built to a crescendo of long tantalizing moans and provocative, short sobs and gasps, all conspired to narrow his focus until he heard nothing else.

“Fuck, Drake!” She cried out, her nails gouging into his flesh as her entire body pulsed with pleasure.

He felt the gush of wetness coat him as she squirted with her orgasm. “Oh fuck…” He almost lost his footing as he shoved himself brutally into her one last time, hot, thick, ribbons of liquid shooting out of him and into her as he strained forward, pining her to the wall with his full body weight, a guttural whine of his own spilling from him.

“Goddamn it, open this fucking door right now or I’m calling the police!”

“Shit!” Drake exhaled as he leaned his forehead against hers, a roughish smile playing across his lips, “Guess we’d better go.”

She nodded as she licked her lips, still struggling to get her breathing under control.

Drake lowered her gently to the ground and kissed the top of her head before yelling toward the door, “Coming!”

Riley giggled, “That’s what she said.”

“No, that’s what she did!” Drake corrected her with a grin.

“Twice!” She giggled as she pulled on her clothes.

Once they were both dressed, Drake pushed the shelf to the side and opened the door. “Sorry.”

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t report this to-“

Drake shoved a hundred dollar bill into the man’s hand with a smile, “Sorry for the inconvenience, I’m sure there’s no need to involve the authorities.”

The man glanced down at the bill in his hand then shrugged his shoulders as he pocked it, “No harm done. You two have a nice night.”

Drake took Riley’s hand, but as he started to pull her down the hallway the man looked at her face and startled, “Hey! Aren’t you-“

“Shit!” Drake swore under his breath as he turned back around, “No, she’s not.”

“But-“

Drake reached into his wallet again. He quickly counted out five more hundreds and shoved them at the man, “I think you’re mistaken.”

The man looked at the money, up at Riley, then down at the money again, “Yep. Sorry about that. My eyesight ain’t what it used to be. Sorry to trouble you good folks.”

“No trouble at all. You have a nice night.” Riley beamed at him before turning and letting Drake lead her back through the nightclub.

“We should probably have the car brought around and get out of here.” He told her.

“Yeah.” She agreed, “I think we’ve freaked out the locals enough for one night.”

Drake’s eyes sought out Riley’s guards for the night and he signaled to Marco, who nodded and then spoke into his com.

Five minutes later they were back in the limo on the way to the hotel. Riley fell into the seat across from Drake. He looked at her and shook his head.

“What?” She asked.

“Why are you way over there?” He asked, leaning forward and pulling her across to fall on top of him.

She giggled as he wrapped her in his arms, “Haven’t you had enough?”

“Never!” His laugh rumbled through his chest as he pinned her arms so he could rub his stubble against her check.

“Hey!” She squealed in mock protest.

He released her so she could slide off him and cuddle into his side. His arms went around her with a contented sigh. “You have no idea how much I love you, do you?”

“I think I have some idea.” She teased.

He was serious as he told her, “No, I really don’t think you do. There’s a reason I can’t keep my hands off you and it has nothing to do with sex.”

“It doesn’t?” She asked doubtfully.

He snickered, “Ok, sometimes it has a lot to do with sex. But sometimes it’s just because….I don’t know how to explain it.”

“What?” She gazed up at him questioningly.

He twirled a lock of her hair around a finger as he watched her face, “It’s like I have to know you’re nearby at all times. It grounds me. Never mind, I’m being stupid.” He looked away, letting his head thump into the leather seat back.

“You’re not!” She assured him, her hand caressing his check, “I get it. And believe it or not, I feel it too. It’s like the world just makes more sense when you’re nearby.”

“Yeah!” His face lit up, “That’s it!”

“Hey.” She threw a leg over his lap, “I would touch you all the time if I could. But even when I can’t, I need you to know that it’s important to me that you’re there.”

His hand glided across her thigh and hip as he lost himself in her eyes, “Good. Because sometimes I can’t tell.”

“What do you mean?”                                

“I mean, I don’t mind waiting until we’re alone, I get why I can’t touch you in public, at court. But it drives me fucking insane when you act like you don’t even notice I’m there. Like I’m just another one of your guards.”

“That what you think?” She traced a finger across his lips. “Because I am always aware of your presence. I’m just good at hiding it.”

“Good to know. Thank you for coming with me to check on mom and the ranch.” They would be leaving San Antonio the next day for Bianca’s.

“Of course. I love you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.

“I have no idea why, but I’m so fucking grateful for it. I love you, Riley, more than anything in the world.” He rested his head on top of hers and held her tight as the limo rolled on through the Texas night.

Dad’s on the Edge: A Bad Romance One-Shot

Series:Bad Romance

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings for series: Riley x Liam, Liam x Max, Riley x Max, Riley x Drake, Riley x Rashad

Paring this chapter: None, this all the guys dealing with the children.

Rating: R

Warnings for this chapter: Language

Word Count: 3,784

A/N: This is my offering for @txemrnfather’s day fic idea! Can you imagine all the Bad Romance guys trying to wrangle kids that have BR Riley’s DNA? You don’t have to imagine it….here it is, hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

A/N2: Habibti means sweetheart in Arabic

A/N3: Ellie (Eleanor) and Xander (Alexander) are Liam’s. Jax (Jaxon) is Drake’s, Jace (Jason) is Max’s and Charli (Charlotte) paternity is unknown.

My other stuff: Master List.

“Why am I here, again?” Rashad asked with a slight frown. When Liam had asked him to attend the public celebration of the queen mother’s years of service to Cordonia as she prepared for her retirement, he had assumed it was in his capacity as Riley’s lawyer or as a member of the Cordonian court and Liam’s inner circle. Not as a babysitter.

“Because Riley is quarantined with the flu, and we needed backup. You are their godfather.” Liam stated matter of factly.

“Yes.” Rashad responded carefully, “But I’m not the only one. Leo is too, and he has more experience with-”

“Not to put too fine a point on it, but Leo isn’t sleeping with my wife.”

“Touché.” Rashad held his hands up to indicate surrender, “But they have godmothers. What about Hana or Olivia?”

“Hana is also down with the flu.” Liam replied.

“And Olivia?”

Liam waved his hand dismissively in the general direction of where Oliva was seated, “Oh, feel free to tell Olivia she’s more suited for this because she’s a woman.”

Rashad’s eyes went wide as they flicked to Olivia and back, then he cleared his throat, “So, what do you need me to do, exactly?”

“You’re just going to help us corral the kids during the ceremony. Here they come now.”

Rashad watched apprehensively as Drake made his way over to them with a diaper bag slung over his shoulder, Jax and Jace in tow, both trying to wriggle free as he gripped a small hand in each of his own. Max followed carrying a squirming, two year old Charlotte. Xander and Ellie trailed behind, bringing up the rear.

“You’re going to be in charge of Charlotte.” Liam informed him.

“Me? Why me? I think I’d be better suited to watch over Ellie or Xander!” Rashad protested.

“Of course, you think that.” Drake smirked at him, “They’re the easy ones!”

At 12 and 9 Ellie and Xander had more maturity and more experience with these types of events and were, indeed, easier to contend with during one. Usually.

The younger boys, Jax 6, and Jace 4, were more rambunctious and much harder to convince to sit still for any length of time. Then there was Charlotte, who had whole heartedly embraced the entire tenor of the terrible twos. High spirited was the term Riley used for her.

“Not gonna lie, Charli scares me a little. One time I woke up and found her standing next to the bed just staring at me like she was in a trance.” Max shuddered.

Drake rolled his eyes, “You know she was sleepwalking, right Beaumont?”

Max ignored Drake and leaned closer to Rashad, “Did you know Riley originally wanted seven to nine children?”

Rashad blinked, “What?”

Max nodded somberly, “Charli is the reason she tied her tubes after five.”

Rashad’s eyes shot to the small child in Max’s arms, her angelic face arranged in the most brilliant innocent smile he’d ever seen. No, that wasn’t true. He’d seen that exact smile on Riley’s face. Innocent and brilliant was her most disingenuous and potentially dangerous smile. He swallowed, hard, his mouth suddenly dry.

“We can do this, guys!” Liam asserted, he ran an entire country for God’s sakes, how hard could it be to wrangle his own children for one event? “I mean Riley does it all the time, she handles all five of them by herself at these things and they behave perfectly.”

“Yeah.” Drake responded drily, “Because they know better than to cross their mother. But they know some of us are pushovers.” He looked right at Max when he said it.

“Hey! I am not a- “

Liam gave him a look, “You let them eat flaming hot Cheetos for breakfast last week.”

Drake asked, “Why do we have a water slide in our backyard at Valtoria?”

Even Rashad joined in, “I believe I was called in last month to coordinate appraisals of a fleet of BMWs after an art project gone awry….”

Max huffed, “Ok, you know what? I believe in letting children express themselves, ok? They need to know it’s ok to be themselves-“

“Sure, Max,” Drake interrupted as he put the diaper bag down, then turned to address his question to Liam, “How are we going to divide five kids between four adults?”

“That’s easy.” Liam replied, “Ellie and Xander go together because they’re the easiest.”

“I’ll take Jace.” Max volunteered.

“No!” Liam and Drake both shouted at the same time.

Max looked at them in confusion, “Why not?”

“Because you don’t reign in his worst impulses, you tend to encourage them.” Liam said. Drake nodded in agreement.

“Jace needs a firmer touch. Here.” He pulled Jace over to Drake, “Max, you take Jax. Ellie and Xander can come with me.”

Backpacks, water bottles, jackets, toys that they had been told to leave home but had been brought anyway and various electronic devices were shuffled around so the appropriate adult had possession of the items belonging to the children in their care.

“Ahem.” Rashad interrupted the activity, directing his question to Liam, he asked again, “Why do I have to take the little one?”

“Because” Liam stepped closer, leaning in so they wouldn’t be overheard, “She might be yours. Look at it as a bonding opportunity.”

“Mine?” He asked in astonishment, “No, I mean….”

“Look at her features, Rashad. Those eyes…”           

“Green, like her mother’s!”

“Hazel, there’s brown around her irises.”

“That might rule out Max, but not Drake, that’s still three potential-“

“She has Riley’s features, but our coloring, mine and yours. There’s brown in her eyes and black in her hair. Not to mention, Charli can be a very serious, calculating child. She’s extremely intelligent and studious, already at two. I love them both, but there’s no way she has Drake or Max’s DNA.”

Rashad and Liam both tilted their heads as they studied the curly headed quiet child in front of them.

She was the spitting image of Riley, but her hair had undeniably darkened as she had gotten older, trending now more toward the ebony hues of both Liam and Rashad than the russet brown of Max’s or the even lighter chestnut shade of Drake’s hair.  She had Riley’s curls and the auburn was in there, streaking the black with brilliant shades of red when the sunlight hit it just right. Her nose, her lips, her chin, all her mother’s.

The seriousness and intelligence might come from one of them, but her intensity and temper was all Riley. Which was why none of the other men wanted to deal with her during a long, boring proceeding. A bored Charlotte was a dangerous Charlotte. She was Riley, with a two year old temper and lack of impulse control.

“Here.” Max thrust Charlotte into Rashad’s arms before he could protest again.

Drake tossed him the diaper bag, “Good luck.”

“Ah…..” He looked wildly around at the other three men, but they had all turned their backs to him, dealing with their own charges.

“Ok.” Liam breathed out a sigh of relief, sure that they had this under control, “Xander, Ellie, come with me.”

Rashad’s head snapped up in panic, “Wait, you’re leaving?”

Liam shrugged, “Sorry but, you know, I’m the king and this is a state event. Responsibilities and all that. I have to go give a speech. Ellie, Xander, let’s go.”

“It’ll be fine,” Max assured him, “Liam gives a speech, Leo gives a speech, a bunch of other people give speeches, we all applaud and then there’s a parade or something.”

“That sounds horribly boring for young children.” Rashad responded doubtfully.

“Oh, it is.” Drake laughed at him, “Why do you think I said good luck?”

Max and Drake situated themselves between the boys, so there were two adults between them. Drake turned his attention to opening a pack of goldfish crackers for Jace as Max pulled out his cell phone and stared trading Pokémon with Jax. Rashad turned his head to peer into Charli’s eyes. She was adorable. He decided that it couldn’t be that bad. She was only two after all.

As he stared down into her bright, sparkling eyes, he felt a twist in his chest. What if she was his? The idea of this beautiful child being part him and part Riley wasn’t the worst feeling in the world. He’d never wanted fatherhood, and his lifestyle and work schedule wouldn’t permit it even if he had. But then, no one was asking to him to fill that role. Regardless of DNA, Charlotte had a father. She had three, actually.

It wasn’t surprising to him that Max was a good father, he had a nurturing side to him that Rashad assumed was critical for parenting, as well as having managed to maintain a playfulness that endeared him to children.

And Liam, of course Liam was a good father. His love for all five of the children was evident in all his interactions with them and in the unmistakable pride in his voice when he spoke about any of them.

Most surprising, to Rashad at least, was Drake. Rashad didn’t dislike him, precisely, they’d been friends since their teenage years, but that was more a function of them both being friends with Liam rather than any real connection between them. They were too different. It was more that Rashad had never understood what Riley saw in him. He understood why she was in love with Liam. Or maybe that was a function of conceit since he considered Liam and himself to be very similar in many ways. And while Max could be exuberant and irreverent at times, those things were also true of Riley, and he could also be respectful and decorous when the situation called for it.

But Drake was pure force of will, often getting his way through brute force and intimidation. He lacked subtlety and finesse. Which is why it was so surprising to Rashad that Drake was possibly the most competent of the three when it came to parenting. Though perhaps those qualities were precisely what made him good at parenting. Rashad considered that as he watched Charlotte’s face slowly collapse into a scowl. “Oh no…. what’s wrong, Charli?” He tried for a soothing tone.

Her face reddened and her brows drew together as she leveled the full force of her two year old fury at him, “Want Mommy!”

“Mommy’s home sick, Habibti, remember?” He patted her back and rocked her gently as he’d seen Riley do many times.

Her face got even darker, “Want. Mommy!Now!”

“Listen sweet baby girl, what if I get you a snack?” He said cajolingly as he dug through the diaper bag with his free hand.

“No snack!” She started to wail.

“Ooooh, look! How about some cheerios?” He offered.

“No snack!” She struck his hand, sending cereal pieces flying everywhere, “Want mommy!”

“Charli, please, we don’t scream in public-“

“M-m-mo-moooooooommmmmiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!” Big, fat tears slipped down her face as the wailing increased in volume and pitch.

“Oh no, oh no, oh no!” He began to jiggle her faster, “Shhh-shhh-shhh, it’s ok, it’s ok.”

“NO!”She screamed as she pulled a chubby little hand back and smacked him in the face as she kicked him then went rigid in his arms and slid right through them onto the ground.

Rashad scooped the truculent toddler into his arms, kicking and wailing and hissed at the other two men, “Let’s trade!”

“With who?” Drake demanded.                        

“Both! I’ll take both the boys and the two of you can take Charlotte. That’s two adults to one child, this is a deal you should take.” Both boys were sitting quietly, Jace kicking his little legs out in front of him as he consumed his weight in goldfish crackers and gummy bears, Jax completely absorbed in a video game.

Max protested, “I don’t know…Liam said-“

Drake tried to explain, “They seem easy because we have them separated; I don’t think you appreciate-“

“No, I don’t think you appreciate how little I understand toddlers! Please!” Rashad shoved Charli into Drake’s arms and motioned for Jace to follow him.

Jace shot a questioning look at Drake, who was trying to soothe Charli. When Drake shrugged, Jace followed Rashad back to his seat asking, “Do you have any snacks? What about a juice box? Are you coming to the palace later? Daddy says they’ll have baklava at the party tonight and that we have to be good because this boring speech thing is for grandma and Ellie says I talk too much, but I don’t think I do. I talk the normal amount, Jax is the one that talks a lot. How long are you staying this time? We’re not in trouble again, are we? The thing with the cars wasn’t our fault, Xander said-“

Rashad gritted his teeth and tuned out the barrage of questions as he settled back into his seat and tried to focus his attention back on the speeches. Liam was at the podium. Ellie and Xander were standing on the stage behind him with Leo, some members of the royal council, Leo’s oldest son, a few visiting dignitaries and the queen mothers long time personal assistant standing behind him. Regina was in a private box looking out over the stadium where the event was being held.

As Liam shuffled the notecards, laughter rippled through the crowd. He looked up and out over the audience in confusion. The laughter got louder. His face paled. He whipped his head around to look behind him.

“Eleanor! What are you doing?” Then cursed himself because it was caught on mic.

She froze before responding with, “Uh…dabbing.” With a tone that clearly implied he was an idiot for not knowing that.

“Well, please stop.”

“Yeah, please stop.” Xander shoved her in the side.

There was some more laughter in the crowd and a few appalled gasps.

“Hey! You little shit!” Ellie elbowed him, hard.

This time the appalled gasps and the laughter were louder. Leo moved over to place himself between the two, effectively forcing a détente. Liam gave him a grateful smile before apologizing to the crowd and continuing with his speech.

In the crowd, Rashad whispered, “I thought they were the easy ones?”

Drake gave Rashad a conspiratorial smile as he tried to snuggle a wriggling, fussing, climbing on him like he was a jungle gym Charli, “Usually. Looks like Liam’s not getting off as easy as he thought he was. Ellie is a firecracker and Xander is just usually sneakier than the other two boys. When Jax and Jace get caught doing something they’re not supposed to be doing, Xander is almost guaranteed to be the one that put them up to it, he just retreats before suffering the consequences. But if anyone can bring out his inner demon, it’s Ellie.”

Rashad marveled at the way Drake carried on a conversation as if a rabid toddler weren’t using him as an obstacle course, while continuing to keep said toddler on his person despite her obvious attempts to be put down so she could run amuck. He was so busy being intrigued by it that he completely missed what was going on with the children he was supposed to be watching, as a quiet tussle over the video game started behind him.

Max snickered as he leaned toward Drake, “Remember the time she tricked him into cussing by insisting that a cat is called a putty tat, like tweety bird says?”

They had gone back and forth with the putty tat, pussy cat argument until Ellie had finally raised her voice and yelled, “Putty”, causing Xander to shout out, “Pussy!”

“Yeah.” Drake chuckled softly, “Poor kid. The look on Riley’s face when Regina heard that!”

Drake’s focus was on Charli who had placed a foot on his shoulder and attempted to launch herself into the row behind them when Rashad’s voice pulled his attention as he whisper screamed, “Jace! Jax! Get back here right now!”

It was too late, both boys were off and running down the aisle, Jace gleefully screeching with laughter as he ran away with his brother’s Nintendo Switch, Jax in hot pursuit, murder in his eyes.

“Fuck!” Drake swore, shoving Charlotte into Max’s arms. As he passed a distraught Rashad he muttered, “You’re fucking useless.”

The boys were running up the stadium steps as Drake raced after them. He caught up just as Jax tackled Jace to the ground. A scuffle ensured as they fought for possession of the Switch. Drake picked Jax up and lifted him easily with one arm while glancing down at Jace, holding his other hand out, “You ok, kiddo?”

Jace took Drake’s hand as he scrambled up, “Jax hit me!”

“Uh huh. And what have we said about taking other people’s stuff?”

Jace crossed his arms and stuck out his bottom lip. Drake sat Jax on the ground and knelt down in front of him, “I know he took your game, but you know that hitting is not ok, right? Remember your conflict resolution lessons?”

The lessons had been Liam’s idea, Drake had scoffed at it, but he couldn’t deny that it had helped. Too bad it hadn’t helped today specifically. Drake presided over the exchange of the game and apologies. As they headed back down the aisle, a woman smiled at him, “Good parenting skills.”

Jax looked up at her, eyes going directly to her very pregnant belly. “You’re pregnant!” He informed her.

“Yes.” She smiled at him as she lovingly cradled her bump.

“I know how that happens. The daddy puts his peanut in the mommy’s kerchina and then-“

The lady’s face went red as Drake’s hand clamped down over his son’s mouth. “Sorry.” He muttered as he ushed the boys back to their seats. He settled them back in their original seats as he told Rashad, “I told you they have to be kept separated at these things.”

“Tata, who’s that?” Jace’s voice was unnecessarily loud.

Drake’s head spun to look in the direction Jace was pointing, and staring, mouth opened at the jumbotron. Drake answered him, “Uh….that’s the pope. He couldn’t make it in person, so they are having him video call in to give his regards to grandma.”

“No. They guy behind him!”

Drake’s brow furrowed for a moment because there was no one behind him. Then understanding dawned on him as he noticed the huge crucifix with the image of Jesus with the crown of thorns hanging on it. “Oh. That’s Jesus.”

Unfortunately, there was a pause while the pope gathered his thoughts, so Jace’s voice carried clearly over the hushed crowd as he loudly exclaimed, in horror, “JESUS IS DEAD?!”

“Uh….Max?” Drake turned to Max in panic as Jace started to cry, loudly.

“On it!” Max traded seats with Drake, passing a squirming, whining Charli back to him in the process.

Max tried to soothe him, “Hey buddy. It’s ok, that’s not real, it’s a plastic statue.”

“So they can make Jesus look fakedead?”

“Yeah, yeah, exactly.” Max nodded, feeling pleased he’d explained it so well.

Jace’s face crumbled again, “Why would they do that?”

Drake’s attention was drawn away from Max and Jace as Charli slipped from his grasp and crawled under the seats. Drake had to get on his hands and knees to reach her. He reached under the seats then cussed softly through clenched teeth as he jerked his hand back when she bit into it, her teeth digging into the tender area between his thumb and index finger.

Drake crawled around on the ground trying to reach Charli as Max continued to try calm down a very distraught Jace. When he finally managed to pull her out, he handed her back to Rashad, “You’re turn.”

Rashad looked up in surprise as Charli crashed down into his lap. “Oh..uh…hello again.”

She glared at him, “Want down!”

“How about a new toy?” He asked in desperation.

She stopped fighting and cocked her head curiously, “What toy?”

He dug around in his pockets and came up a keychain made from a heavy medallion. It was silver and green with a crescent moon and star on it. Rashad did not consider himself to be a religious man, but his grandmother had given it to him as a symbol of the faith she devoutly believed in, and he had kept it because it reminded him of her. He detached the medallion and held it out to Charli.

Her eyes widened in delight as he offered it to her, “Oooh, pretty!”

Rashad sighed in relief as she took it and settled into his lap, then anxiety surged through him again as she shoved it directly into her mouth. “No, no! You can’t swallow that, you’ll choke!”

Drake was about to offer Rashad some advice when Jax tapped him on the arm. He looked down and asked, “Yeah, buddy?”

“I have to pee.”

“Can it wait?”

“No.”

“Shit.”

“Mommy said you’re not supposed to say shit in front of us.”

“Oh, fuck me.” Drake mumbled.

“You’re not supposed to say fuck either.”

“Oh for the love of- You know what? Come on, all of you, it’s time for a break anyway.”

Drake stood and took Jax by the hand, Max followed behind him with Jace. “You coming?” He asked Rashad.

“No, I…I think I’m good.” Rashad replied.

Drake shrugged, “Suit yourself.”

“Grandma’s really old, isn’t she?” Jax asked as they stepped out into the aisle, “Is she going to die soon?”

Drake sighed as he guided him up the aisle, “We really need to have a talk about what is and isn’t an appropriate question.”

“He’s not wrong, Drake.”

“Really, Max?”

Rashad settled back into his seat after having shifted a little to let the others out, his arms tightening around Charli to keep from disturbing her. She had finally settled and was rubbing her eyes sleepily. She mumbled something as she rubbed her face against his chest. It sounded like shod. “What, habibti?” He asked.

She lifted her face and gazed up at him with heavy lids, her little hand coming up to pat his check softly, “You. ‘Shad.”

He jolted in surprise; she was trying to say his name. “Yes, I’m Rashad. And you’re Charli.”

She smiled at him sweetly, “Luf ou, ‘shad.” She mumbled before dropping her head back onto his shoulder and falling asleep.

He felt his heart melt into a molten puddle inside his chest as he gripped her closer. Her breathing became even and deep, her back rising and falling evenly under his hands. He kissed the top of her head, inhaling her sweet baby smell and whispered, “I love you too, habibti.”