an AU Romance by sobeautifullyobsessed, featuring Theatrebatch
An actress making her name for herself on the London stage, Virgilia (Vicki) Gordon vows not to follow her usual pattern: falling in love with her leading man. The work comes first and foremost--or so she plans. She never expects to develop feelings for her co-star in "The Taming of the Shrew", but with his stellar talent matched by his charm, kindness and intellect, she learns all too soon that, despite one's best intentions, the heart goes where it will. Still, all might be well--but he is far from free enough to return her affections.
Chapter 15: “If you have tears, prepare to shed them now...”
...she was trembling as she watched him, knowing she had asked for his honesty and dreading what he would be revealing; her heart ached not only for what she had guessed was coming, but for the pain of this man who thoroughly owned her heart. She leaned closer to lay the ghost of a kiss on his cheek, and whispered against his ear, “It’s alright, Ben. I can take it. Make your confession—so we can both start to heal.”
He groaned softly, then raised his head—his profile so heartbreakingly beautiful despite the situation, that Vicki’s breath caught. Inhaling deeply as he steeled himself, he finally turned to face her, “I’m afraid you’ll never look at me the same way again—but that would be exactly what I deserve…”
“Oh my darling, don’t you know by now that your name is written on my heart? Indelibly.” That simple truth, spoken aloud, was enough to dispel her immediate fears, so that she assured him gently, “Trust in that, Ben. Please. Trust that my love for you cannot be shaken.”
“Trust,” he mused sadly, “That’s what it all comes down to, doesn’t it? And now I’ve broken yours.”
“Not irretrievably, my love,” she promised. Aiming to make it easier for him, Vicki admitted, “I was an utter fool trying to make you jealous. Stupidly thinking I should give you a taste of how I was feeling.” She sighed hard, and her voice was rich with regret, “But once I’d made a start of it, it spun well out of my control.”
“I know, love. And I’m sorry I left you without a better alternative…”
“We made that choice together, Ben,” she reminded him, “Thinking it would be best for all three of us.”
“If I had to choose again,” his voice broke, edged with frustration, “I’d say to hell with the show. I’d make the break from Viola, and then a clean start of our life together.”
“As would I, my love. But there’s no going back.” Vicki took his face in her hands, recommitting each freckle and fine smile line to memory, vowing to never again be the cause of the pain so clear in his eyes (while knowing that he was about to bring a sizable bit of pain her way), and searching for words to comfort him. She brushed his lips lightly with her own--though she longed to kiss him in full—then breathed against his mouth, what wisdom she could, “What’s gone, and what’s past help, should be past grief.”
She felt him relax from a bit of the strain he was under, as he murmured, “The Winter’s Tale?” Vicki gave a small shrug, and a pleased little smile that even in their gravest moments, they still spoke the same language. “Alright then,” he sighed hard, “It’s useless to delay any further—and you deserve the truth.”...
read the full story on AO3
