Lonely Hearts Club (Madeleine X Drake)
Book: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir
Song inspiration: What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas
Pairing: Madeleine X Drake
Disclaimer: All characters and locations belong to Pixelberry.
A/N: I am taking part in the 12 Days of Fictmas hosted by @leelee10898 and @emichelle. Welcome to Day 10!
Word Count: 2,144
Mood: Angst
Background: This is my first time playing with these two characters. The idea has been playing in my head ever since @the-soot-sprite posted a text story of Drake saying Madeleine was his first crush. If it sucks, I’m super sorry.
Please forgive any spelling and grammatical errors. My brain is crap lol.
Madeleine's green eyes scoured the elaborately decorated ballroom as she fought against the tears pricking the corners of her eyes. The entire room looked like it could have been ripped from the screen of a Lifetime Christmas movie. A 20ft spruce pine draped in ivory and gold towered over a sea of red bows and twinkling candles. The light of the crystal chandelier danced off the gold flatware and chargers and added a hint of romance to the entire room.
The Amaranth family had hosted Cordonia's royal family on Christmas Eve for decades. Despite everything, Madeleine had hoped this year would be no different. But this year was so different than any other.
This year, her parents both sat in jail for crimes against the crown. This year, she had testified against them to put them there. This year, she lost her position as the Royal Communications Director along with the favor of everyone she had once thought of as friends.
"Madeleine, listen to me. The crown, hell, my family, are eternally grateful for everything you've done," Liam's voice was soft, comforting as he inhaled a deep conciliatory breath to steady himself.
The momentarily silence that followed was broken by the gentle slosh of an ice cube shifting in a tumbler. She closed her eyes and pictured the King sitting in his darkened office, tie undone, and gripping onto his glass of 20 year old scotch for dear life. She knew what the next words would be. She just wanted to imagine for a moment that they were as hard for her King to say as it would be for her to hear.
"Just say it Liam!" Madeleine ferociously bit out. Her lips trembled as the strain of loneliness threatened to overwhelm her.
"It's just not good optics right now Madeleine." The line ruffled as she knew he was running his hand through his dark locks and pulling just slightly on the end of the longer edges. "With the charges against your family and the trial, it..it just isn't a good idea for the court to be seen in Fydelia right now. It's still very complicated. Even though Barthelemy is dead, we're still uncovering all the players in this whole mess."
Madeleine laughed a joyless laugh. "Is that what your new Comms Director from Montesario advised?"
"Yes, but I wanted to tell you myself. Maybe next year we can.." Liam's voice trailed off.
“I honestly would have advised the same." She couldn't help but roll her eyes. “Next year then.” Her heart clinched as she wondered to herself how it would be easier for all of them if they simply hated her and she could hate them in return. But, Liam and Riley were exceptional and had practically demanded the allow her to keep her home and remain a Lady of the court as thanks for her sacrifices to aid them. They had also agreed to spare her parents lives, a courtesy her own father hadn't provided the King.
A tear rolled down her porcelain skin as she hung up the phone before Liam could utter another word.
The sound of her satin stilettos on the marble floor echoed through the empty hall as she exited and she plucked a bottle of chilled champagne from a crystal holder. She resigned to drown her sorrows alone, yet again.
But the rhythmic chime of the doorbell interrupted her ascent up the elaborate staircase
"Who on earth?" She quipped quizzically as she turned to the door.
She grunted softly as she strained to pull open the ornate double doors of the estate. Her mouth fell agape as her eyes fell on the person on the other side of the threshold.
Drake stood leaning against the frame. His leather jacket draped over one shoulder. His fitted denim shirt clung to his body betraying a faint outline of his taut muscles and a whisper of his chest hair. His hands gripped a bottle of expensive whiskey, likely boosted from the Royal cellar.
"Oh God, how far have I fallen that Drake Walker is at MY door?!" Madeleine belted out full of exasperation.
Drake pursed his lips into a thin line. "I could leave.." he replied before turning his back to her.
The cold threat of a lonely Christmas Eve gripped Madeleine's chest causing her voice to sound far more desperate than she had intended.
"No wait! Don't go!..I mean you've driven all this way and that old truck of yours probably shouldn't be driving around at night polluting my dutchy."
A deep, soft chuckle escaped Drake. "Yeah, that's a good reason." He teased as he stepped into the beautifully decorated foyer and handed her the bowed bottle.
"Well you're here, someone might as well enjoy the food." Madeleine began as she ushered her unexpected guests to the dining room while taking his jacket. "There's standing rib roast, antipasto, new potatoes and fig tarts."
She threw open the doors, revealing the splendor of the ballroom.
Drake couldn't help but gawk at all of the beautiful decorations. He knew Fydelia had lost all of their servants and was shocked at the time Madeleine must have put into all of this.
"Damn Mads!" He exclaimed as he nervously rubbed the back of his neck. "This is really beautiful! You did an amazing job. Really."
She dipped her eyes to the floor and her red lips curled down into a frown. "Too bad no one cares about all the things I've done."
"Mads that's not true. Riley and Li would be here if-"
She held up her hand to stop him. "Don't bother Drake. The King has already called to extend his condolences and to explain why the court can't be here."
She looked up suspiciously and squinted at Drake. "Which begs the question, what are you doing here?"
His deep chestnut eyes met hers with a sympathetic glance and exhaled.
"I am here because I know how hard the holidays can be without family, Madeleine."
She winced slightly as she recalled how Drake had spent every Christmas alone since Savannah left Cordonia again after Bertrand was jailed and stripped of his title for his part in his father’s attempted coup. Like her, the greed and hunger of others had left Drake a commoner all alone again in this twisted little fairytale.
He reached out taking her slim, longer fingers into his large calloused hands. "We've had our differences Mads, but you don't deserve to be alone for Christmas."
Madeleine warred with herself for a brief second. She didn't want Drake's pity, but she was so happy to have another person to spend the evening with - even if it was Drake. She fought against the sudden urge to throw her arms around his brawny shoulders in thanks.
"Well, I guess we better dig into dinner and open up a few bottles." She replied as she held up the whiskey and the bottle of champagne she'd pilfered earlier.
The pair enjoyed their meal and fell into easy conversations and laughs about Christmases past.
"Do you remember when Leo convinced us all to play spin the bottle during one of these shindigs?" Drake laughed out in memory.
"How could I forget? I thought your sister was going to suck his face off in that damn coat closet." She sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes.
Drake's face fell slightly as the memory of simpler times played in both their minds. He couldn’t help but but think about how things had turned out so differently than they both thought it would. He had never wanted much - his cabin, his family, campfires and smores on the weekend. That was a Kingly life he wanted.
But now here they sat, 10 years from that innocent kiss, both essentially commoners. Both alone.
"But, it wasn't all bad was it?" He asked, clearing his throat and meeting her eyes and willing her to remember their own seven minutes in heaven.
Heat rushed to Madeleine's face and colored her ivory cheeks with a warm red glow.
"No, I guess it wasn't all bad." She softly replied.
Perhaps it was the delicious meal or the mix of champagne and whiskey. But Drake couldn't help the next few words that fell from his mouth.
"You know, that was my first kiss." He confessed.
Madeleine looked into his chiseled face as the glow of the candle light played in his eyes.
"Mine..mine too." She replied as she gently tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.
“But you and Leo-” Drake began.
“Were an arrangement.” She quickly bit back, a tinge of grief cracking her voice. “Arrangements don’t require romance, dating, and certainly not closet kisses. No matter how amazing they were.”
Drake's chest tightened as he looked at Madeleine for the first time in what felt like forever. He really looked at her. She had always been attractive with those high cheekbones, dazzling green eyes and those ruby red lips but there was a vulnerability to her in that moment. A tenderness he hadn’t seen in her since that night in the closet when they were teens and she coached him through that awkward first kiss. As if propelled by his teenage self, he raised his hand to smooth her cheek.
“I’m sorry Madeleine,” his voice was soft and raspy with emotion.
Her breath hitched at his words. Through it all, through the broken engagements, through the scandal, through the council trials, no one, not a single person had every simply told Madeleine they were sorry for all that she’d endured.
Her eyes roamed Drake’s face which still bore a small scar from the horrors of the homecoming ball when he and Liam fought off assassins but he was the one who was left fighting for his life after taking a bullet for Liam’s happiness. They both had given so much for Cordonia and she’d left them both with nothing.
Without warning Madeleine’s crashed her lips to Drake’s, smearing both of their faces in the deep red lipstick she wore that evening. Her hands tangled in his chestnut locks. The feel of his large calloused hand against the exposed skin of her arm caused goosebumps to rise on her ivory skin. She tasted the whiskey on his breath, and she reveled in the intoxication of the moment.
Drake broke the kiss and leaned his head against Madeleine’s forehead.
“Mads,” he grunted out her moniker like a curse word and she whimpered at the coolness of his absence against her lips.
“Don’t stop Drake,” she pleaded, pulling his large hand to her face to feel his warmth again and breath in his earthy scent. “Don’t think about it. We both need this tonight.This is just for us, nobody else.”
Drake let out a low growl as he pulled Madeleine’s petit frame into his lap as she wrapped her arms completely around him. Fueled by liquor and the teenage memory, he let his lips trail down her slim neck. The smell of her jasmine perfume tickled his senses as his hands found the clasp on the back of her dress.
Before his hands could travel any further, the moment was interrupted by the buzz of Drake’s phone in his pocket. Madeleine leaned back and met Drake’s eyes expectantly but before she could utter another word, her phone rang out with the notification sound she’d set for the Royal couple.
She unceremoniously pulled herself from Drake’s lap while he fished the phone from his pocket, and she grasped her phone from the table.
“Drake, where are you? I need you at the palace.” Liam’s voice was frantic on the line.
Drake breathed a heavy sigh and frowned as he met Madeleine’s worried expression.
“What’s going on Li? It’s Christmas Eve.” Drake responded.
“I’m really sorry to interrupt your evening man, but there’s been an accident and the press is looking for a statement from everyone on the Royal Council.”Liam sheepishly replied.
“Ok Li, I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Drake retorted with a scowl as he ended the call.
“Looks like duty calls,” Madeleine replied with a sad smile that failed to hide her disappointment.
Drake stood and pulled Madeline to him in one swift motion. One hand found her smooth cheek and the other played softly in her hair.
“I am coming back here Madeleine, I promise and we will spend Christmas together. Just the two of us. Just for us,” his voice was almost demanding.
She wanted to believe him, she needed to. But Madeline knew deep down that for her and Drake, Cordonia would always come first. But she still tilted her head up and accepted the warm, comforting kiss he placed on her lips as she replied with what she knew was merely a wish at this point.
“I’d like that. I’ll wait up for you.”
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