I will always come for you

2019, December 5th

Aria woke up that morning not knowing what to do with herself. Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed that last button and told Aaron that Troy was her fiance. Did Troy consider what she said to be acceptance of his proposal? And if he did, what was wrong with that exactly? Troy was a future king. He could protect her and her people. Aaron was the bastard son of a king who had yet to address the issue of his title as a prince being restored. Not that it mattered. He had no interest in marrying her, she had to keep reminding herself. This was all about him keeping Bart from her. As thoughts of the former two men swirled round and round in her head, Aria didn’t have the energy to add Bart into the mix too. He had a fiancee with a birthday happening today, one Aria was supposed to be attending. Aria was decidedly not on the Bart bandwagon today. Especially since seeing him last night made her think of Ethan and Aria was not ready to think of Ethan. Not yet, not until she was safely married and her crown was secure. Bart was waiting on a swing in the same park he first met her all those years ago, looking at the one next to it where she should be.They didn’t talk about what happened that night when CC came back to Caines. She was in front of him again and for the first time their families were on civil terms. He could have her and the rest wasn’t important. But it had been important after all. As he thought about what happened last night, he realized what an ass he’d been. He was the one that spent nine years telling her to find someone else and then when she did, when someone else was forced on her, he got mad about it, was still mad about it. It wasn’t fair and he knew it, but his mind would not let him erase the image of another man touching her, kissing her right in front of him and then having to see that man again, it just completely messed him up. She wasn’t even his then. He’d spent two and a half years trying to get it out of his head and couldn’t quite say he had, but it no longer mattered. Because she wasn’t marrying some other guy, she was marrying him. For a moment, he had forgotten that no matter how hard he pushed back then, she always came for him. Even that night she was there just for him. For a moment, he had forgotten that when she said yes to marrying him, he promised himself he would spend forever going to her. “Hi,” said CC, sitting down on the swing next to him. Neither of them slept a wink the night before. It was their first fight, the first time she didn’t hear him say “Goodnight Caroline”, the first time she didn’t put her arms around him before he left for the night in almost a year. He took her hand and replaced the plastic bracelet around her wrist with a real gold one, a little blue diamond heart charm dangling from it. “You’ve probably outgrown this one,” he said, pocketing it. “Happy birthday.” She looked at her wrist with the same wonder that the girl from nine years ago had. His girl. Maybe she wasn’t always, but she sure as hell was now. And he meant to keep her. He’d already spent too much time without her. “It’s lovely,” she said, tearing up. “I like the old one though.” He laughed a little, got up, went to stand behind her and leaned over to put his arms around her. “I don’t though and you never take the damn thing off. The kid who gave you that was an idiot, running from you for so long, when we both knew I was never going to get away from you, never going to want to. I’m sorry. What happened that night, your engagement to another man, all of it. It never should’ve happened. I never should have let it.” His arms closed around her and she felt her heart start beating again. He was here, saying he understood, holding her like she always wanted him to. Last night terrified her. It was like being right back there that night, when she felt Troy’s lips on hers, the moment she knew she’d lost him. But she found him again like she always had. She didn’t regret a second of waiting for him, going after him. It gave them the last year, this moment and every other perfect thing that would come afterwards. “My engagement to Prince Troy was a nightmare. Aaron and I spent months in Warlanda, trying to figure a way out of it. It was never-” “I know. I should have stayed, I should have been there with you. Things were so different back then. I couldn’t make myself fight for you, fight for us. I convinced myself I was doing the right thing for you, that you didn’t deserve the hardship being with me would bring. That was obviously idiotic, because you got hurt anyway. How could I not know being without me was hurting you just like not being with you was hurting me?” She choked on a sob she was holding back. He spun her around and leaned in, wiping her tears away, a deep, tortured frown on his face as he looked at her. “Forgive me Caroline. I swear you’ll never be alone in anything ever again. My life is yours. I swear that no matter what, I will always come for you, come running for you.” She jumped out of the swing and into his arms. He had to restrain himself to not hold on with everything in him like she was, lest he hurt her as she cried her heart out. “Hey come on now,” he said, sitting her back down in the swing, stealing a kiss. “Birthday girls can’t have puffy eyes.” “Maybe you should just say sorry like normal people then,” she complained, laughing against his lips. He laughed too, went to stand behind her again, pulled the swing back and pushed her forward. “There’s nothing normal about how I feel about you, Caroline.” “Ditto.” He took her home so that she could get cleaned up for her video call with James and Zoey. They wanted to come out for her birthday, but CC assured them for the umpteeth time that she was doing okay, more than okay in fact. Bart wasn’t his normal, stoic self during the phone call today. He just couldn’t stop smiling at her. It was like a weight he didn’t know was there had been lifted. They packed up everything CC would need to get ready, which was no small feat and slipped away quietly for the day. He took her to the Arden beach house wanting to be alone with her because he would have to share her with everyone all night. This was the wrong thing to do. High off of the feeling of just making up for the first time, CC was even worse than she had been the last few nights that they’d spent together. They’d spent time alone together many times before and his hands were always all over her, but CC had never been brave enough to initiate a full on make out session, not like now. He knew he was in trouble as she sat down on his lap. Something she’d done for eight months without kissing him like that, without looking at him like that. That look was dangerous. Did she always wear such plunging necklines? He couldn’t exactly control the way his body was responding to her, so he had to keep finding ways to get away from her, to keep her busy. Being outside did nothing to deter her. It was a private beach, so they were the only ones there. After half an hour with her in the water, he was convinced inside had been safer after all. He told her he didn’t want her skin to burn or something, he couldn’t remember. She was making it difficult to think. Bart had helped CC get ready for countless balls, pulled up a hundred zippers, so why did it feel like the zipper was going the wrong way today as he pulled it up for her? Back at the palace, Aaron was anxious to see Aria. She refused to leave her room after last night’s incident and if she did leave it at any point during the day, it was not to see him. Operation romance had 100% tanked. What did she mean that asshole was her fiance? And if that was true, why wasn’t he happier about it? If she had a fiance, it meant that CC and Bart were in the clear and he could stop this whole thing altogether. So why was he so paranoid that she wouldn’t come tonight? Why was he imagining her in her dress? And why did punching Troy feel so damn good? Aaron didn’t get to see Aria, but he did get to see someone. King Henry sighed, looking between his son and Prince Troy and his black eye. “It’s my daughter’s birthday. Is it really asking for too much that the two of you act like adults?!” He turned to Aaron. “You represent this house when you act. The last time you punched him, we almost went to war. Do you really want to be in that position again?” Aaron looked like he was poised for a nasty comeback, but King Henry shut him down, holding up his hand. “And you, Prince Troy. I was under the impression that you were here to engage the attention of Queen Aria so that she might give a favorable response to your proposal, not hit on my engaged daughter. Am I wrong?” Engage the attention of, favorable response. Did that mean she hadn’t given him a response yet? That there was still time? Or was last night her response? Are they now engaged? As Aaron and Prince Troy exchanged glances, it was clear Prince Troy didn’t know any more than he did. Aaron turned his eyes back to his father. “Don’t forget that you’re the one that almost married my sister off to prince perfect over here. He provoked Bart and could’ve cost CC the only person she’s ever loved for a second time. I would throw both punches again in a heartbeat,” Aaron answered. “Besides, he has hands. He can punch back.” King Henry gave Aaron a warning look. Aaron glared back just as fiercely. “I’m a lover, not a fighter. And I apologize for the intrusion last night. I meant no harm. I was simply charmed to see your daughter again, that’s all. Queen Aria is absolutely my only objective, I assure you, Your Majesty.” To Aaron he said, “You needn’t trouble yourself with an apology, Your Highness. I understand that my future queen is a beautiful woman. Who knows what kind of things that face has and can make men do?” Aaron was all fury at his calling Aria his future queen. He didn’t know what Troy was implying by the rest of it, but he was sure he didn’t like it. “Spare me. Keep your charm and your lips to yourself and stay away from my sister.” With that, Aaron got up and walked right back out of the office. He wanted to add “And Aria”, but he had no right to her. If she wanted to marry this prick, that was her problem. It had nothing to do with him. Besides, despite his unstable relationship with his father and his words to him, Aaron didn’t want any trouble with Warlanda. Last time was no walk in the park. They almost lost CC because of his reckless behavior. When Aaron got to the door of his father’s office, he ran into Cassie. She smiled at him. “It’s been a while since I saw that look in your eye.” His anger gave way to a smile. “What look?” “The look of a man in love. Here, I got you something. Women love flowers and heaven knows you won’t apologize with your mouth.” She handed him a corsage. “I’m not giving her that.” She took his hand and put the corsage in it. “Up to you, kid.” *** Entering the ballroom was more difficult for Aria than she had imagined it would be. She watched CC open the dance floor with King Henry and remembered doing things like that with Ethan. Aria wasn’t as close to her father as she was to Ethan. So when she insisted on him taking her out onto the dance floor at her first ball, he obliged happily. He always gave her anything and everything she wanted with a smile. It was funny how a room full of people could suddenly make her feel so weak, when she’d survived fleeing her own country after a war that took her entire family with only a single tear to date. All the smiling faces and happy people made her realize how she didn’t fit with them anymore, because Aria wasn’t happy. She wasn’t sad either. She wasn’t anything. “I got you something. Apparently I’m supposed to apologize or something and I’m not very good at that.” His voice pulled her back to the ballroom. Aaron was standing in front of her with a corsage in his hand. She laughed. Laughing didn’t feel wrong when she was with him. “Isn’t this a little old school for you?” she asked, holding out her hand. “Apparently my playbook isn’t as great as I thought it was. Maybe it’s time to go back to basics.” Damn, he almost seemed like a romantic as he slid the flower onto her wrist. There almost seemed to be depth to him after all. But Aria had changed her mind about him once before and he had changed it right back for her. He took her hand and pulled her out onto the dance floor and she let him, because even if he was just playing with her, just then Aria didn’t need a king consort, she needed someone to hold her, just for a little while and he did it so well. She found herself wrapping her arms around his neck. Aaron froze for a second, before responding to this sudden display of intimacy. Just who was playing who here? Were they still playing? As his arms went around her waist, he heard Cassie’s words echo in his head and then Zoey’s. The look of a man in love. If you want her to like you, really like you, there can't be any tricks. You gotta give a little to get some. He couldn’t deny that he liked looking at her, liked the feel of her in his arms. Lately, that hadn’t been the case at all. There hadn’t been a single woman since Zoey and he wasn’t exactly raking them in before her either. He’d been damn near a saint for some time now. He was surprised he still knew how to hold a woman and dance with her at all. His eyes were about to close as he held her close, gave in to how good it felt, when two familiar faces came into view. “Emily? With Troy?” Aria pulled away instantly. He looked down at her and hurt flashed in her eyes. He knew it was his fault somehow, but he didn’t for the life of him know what he’d done. Emily Maine came right up to Aaron and hugged him. “Hi Ronnie. How are you holding up, cousin? I heard about Ethan and your parents-” “And my crown,” Aria spat out. Prince Troy looked between the cousins and gave Aria an apologetic look. He met Lady Emily Maine as he was entering the palace and she said that she had come to see her cousin. Prince Troy didn’t know that the cousins weren’t friendly. “That too,” Emily acknowledged. “For whatever it’s worth, I really am sorry. That’s really all I’m here to say.” Aria looked at Emily still holding onto Aaron and he went right back to being unsafe, right back to being the man who left her, would leave her again. Aaron followed her gaze to Emily and he took a few steps away from the one cousin in favor of the other. But Aria backed up too. “The ball gown looks lovely on you, Your Majesty,” Troy flattered, wanting to ease some of the tension in the air. "Thank you, Your Highness. You have great taste," Aria answered. Aaron was angry again, angry and hurt. She'd let another man dress her and the man was Prince Troy, her maybe fiance. He didn't like it, wanted to rip the dress he had so admired on her a moment ago clean off of her. But he couldn't be petty just then because something else was wrong. She looked devastated. "Hey Ron, how about a dance for old times' sake?" Emily asked. "We should probably let Aria and her fiance have some alone time anyway." Aaron saw red again. Why did everyone insist on calling him her fiance?! "Not now Em," he answered tightly. Aria turned to Aaron. Emily had advanced on him again, her hand on his arm. Bart was smiling at CC as she danced with the king, no doubt waiting on her. And Troy, sweet, dear Troy was here to prove to his ministers that he could take the crown in his brother's sted by marrying a queen. These were not her people. This was not her home. The room blurred. The people's faces became unrecognizable. Her people, her family, Ethan was dead. "Please, don't not go on my account," Aria said, taking Troy's hand and leading him out onto the dance floor. Emily took Aaron's hand and pulled him away from Troy and Aria. "So you have the hots for my cousin now? She's not going to be easy to win over you know, not after you ditched her on the dance floor." As he moved through the steps of the waltz like he had a thousand times before, Aaron's head began to spin. "What are you talking about? I met Aria for the first time five days ago." "No Aaron, you met her about two and a half years ago, at Bart's ball, remember? You were super all over the place about CC though, so you ended up ditching her. We had a drink and then the whole drama with CC and Prince Troy happened. Remember?" The spinning was getting worse. No, no, no. That was just some random girl who happened to be with Emily at the time. He was just going to dance with her to mess with Emily a little, but then everything with CC and Bart started happening and Aaron just wasn't in the mood anymore. So he left her. Aaron's eyes went to Aria, who was still in a daze. She didn't look good. Their eyes met and he recognized her, put the pieces together. Her hair was even longer than it had been when she got here, but it was her alright. He had her, smiling and laughing and eating out of the palm of his hand and he left her, like he left every single one of them after he was done messing around, because of course he fucking did. No wonder she was being all hot and cold with him. He could see it in her eyes. She was about to have a meltdown. No wonder she didn't want to be near him when she was about to lose it. She already had a reason not to trust him. He knew. Emily must have told him or seeing them together made him remember. It didn't matter how, because he knew. How much did he know? She could never see him again, they could never talk the way they'd been talking again. Aria couldn't breathe. The weight of her family's death and the responsibilities that they had left her with suddenly overwhelmed her. They were gone, really gone. Aria had to get out. "Are you unwell, Your Majesty?" Troy asked, seeing her go pale. The song was ending and Bart was already making his way to CC when he saw Aria bolt. She looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Shit," Aaron sighed, as he let go of Emily and took off after her. Troy and Aaron were both running after Aria and after throwing CC an apologetic look, so was Bart. All three men were now racing each other to get to her first. She saw them coming and found herself moving towards him, seeking him out. Aria started running to him and in no time she was in his arms in the middle of the corridor crying her eyes out. "He's gone, Barry," she sniffed. "Ethan's gone. My parents, they're really gone." Bart crushed her to his chest just as CC showed up. "I know Ria, it's okay," he said, stroking her hair. "It's going to be okay." Aria cried hard and loudly, like a woman truly in pain. "They're all gone. I'm all alone," she cried. Bart pulled away and cupped her face in his hands, looking her straight in the eye as he said, "That's bullshit and you know it. I'm here Ria. Whatever you need. I'm here." He pulled her back into his arms as she wept, uncontrollably now, clinging to him, accepting him. Because Bart wasn't Aaron. He didn't just leave without letting you know. If he said he would be there, he would. Bart's arms were safe and true and reminded her of Ethan, which she decided wasn't such a bad thing after all. She decided there and then that she wanted to revisit the deal they’d made the last time they saw each other before everything went to shit. Unknown to Bart and Aria, CC was standing next to Aaron and Troy as they watched the scene play out. "Well then Princess Caroline, want to switch fiances?" Prince Troy asked. "I thought I told you to stay away from my sister," Aaron hissed. CC was a compassionate person, she truly was, and had she known that Aria was crying about her belated family or even thought to think about it, she might have understood. But as it was CC was as blinded by jealousy as her brother was and she had had just about enough of this woman. She was done wondering about her and just letting shit like this slide. Battle lines had to be drawn. "No Prince Troy, I like my fiance just fine. Yours, however, better get ready. If it's a fight she wants, it's a fight she's going to get." Aaron looked at his sister. There was nothing to be pitied about the passion burning in her eyes. He hadn’t seen this Caroline in eight months. It didn't matter if he had history with Aria or if he was attracted to her. He'd gotten soft and sentimental, let the women in his life get into his head, let Aria get into his head. That ended the moment she chose to run into Bart's arms. Aaron started this for CC and he was going to help her finish it, one way or another. "Alright then," Aaron said, throwing his arm around CC. "Let the scheming begin."