#hardyxmiller

[chrrispine]

happy birthday!!

Thanks Anna!! 🥰

[chrrispine]

hi there! i'd like to submit myself for the creator celebration, specifically my spn sideblog marriedcas. edits are at /tagged/mine. i was also going to submit some of my favorite creators...but turns out they've all been listed already! thanks so much for doing this, it's such a great idea and it's so nice to see these people getting recognized! and congrats on your follower milestone! :)

Hi Anna! Silly me didn't even realize that was your spn blog :) and thank you!! 💕

Here is your feature date:

@marriedcas - May 16

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The French Connection - Chapter 12 (Final)

A HardyxMiller AU

Ellie Miller is left to go on her honeymoon alone after a devastating secret about her fiance comes to light - halfway through the wedding ceremony.  Sitting in St Pancras International in London waiting for her train, she runs into none other than her uni rival/best friend Alec Hardy, on the run from his own recent heartbreak.

They decide to make use of Ellie’s pre-paid trip, rekindling their friendship and escaping real life; yet, it turns out their years at uni are the hardest to outrun. Based on this prompt from @timepetalscollective  

Chapters will be posted every Wednesday and Sunday.  Beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma

This fic will remain at a T rating, but there is some steam.

Masterlist  |  AO3

---

Ellie drifted awake to lips on her skin, soft kisses pressed along her spine.  Bleary eyes flickered open to find Hardy next to her, lit from behind by the sunshine streaming through the open curtains and looking positively heavenly.

“Hi,” she rasped, turning on her side to face him, reaching out to brush her fingertips along his jawline just to be sure he was real.  “How’s it going?”

He chuckled, a deep rumbling in his chest she felt in her bones, pressed together as they were.  “I’m good.”  Dipping his head, he bussed a kiss over her lips. “Better than I’ve been in a long time.  You?”

“Same.”  They kissed again, longer this time, and she sighed against his mouth.  “I’m really, really good.”

And yet, for as happy and content and at peace as she was, he was able to make it even better.

Twice.

-

“Ugh, I don’t wanna go home,” Ellie whined, zippering her suitcase shut.  “I’m not ready.”

Hardy rolled his eyes, closing the last drawer as he verified they had collected everything.  “Aren’t you going to stay in London a few extra days?” he reminded her.  “Not quite the same.”

“Yeah,” she reluctantly agreed, before frowning.  “Hey.”

“What?”

Ellie bit her lip, watching him check under the bed for any errant items.  “You mean ‘we’, right?”

“What?”

“We are staying in London a few extra days?”

He set his hands on his hips, watching her carefully.  “Is that what you want?”

“Absolutely,” she didn’t hesitate, unable to picture sightseeing without him.  “I’ll even let you choose the itinerary.”  His expression didn’t change, and she faltered.  “I mean, if you want to- don’t let me pressure you.”

Hardy sighed.  “It’s not you pressuring me I’m concerned with,” he said bluntly.  “If you need some time on your own- it would probably be good for you anyway-”

“I don’t want time alone,” she cut him off.  “I want time with you.”  Her gaze dropped to the suitcase on the bed in front of her, and she idly double-checked the zippers.  “I keep thinking about how differently the last eight years might’ve gone if we’d kept in touch.”

She only looked up when he lifted her chin, and she stared into those comforting brown eyes, hope beating a tattoo in her chest.

“Ellie,” he murmured her name like a prayer, “don’t.  What we have is the here and now- if you spend all your time thinking about what could have happened in the past, you miss what is happening in the present.  We’re here, together, and we’re free to do as we please.  If you want to spend a few days playing tourist in London, we can do that.  I’ll do anything you want, as long as it’s with you.  Even if it’s not, really.”

“How can you say that?” she asked, putting a finger across his lips when he went to respond.  “That’s not what I- that didn’t come out right. What I mean is, how can you, grump of the party, serial sulker perennially exhausted by everyone and everything, say such beautiful words to me?  How are you real?”

He shrugged, lips curling up into an amused smirk.  “You inspire me.”  He made a show of checking his watch.  “C’mon, we’re going to be late.”

“But-”

He had his suitcase already off the bed and halfway into the hall before her brain rebooted, and grabbing her own and her purse, she hurried after him.

“Hardy, wait!”

-

“So, do you have a hotel for London?” Hardy asked once they were seated on the train, stretching his legs out in front of him.

She gave him a guilty smile, and he huffed a laugh.

“Right.”

“Hang on, let me…”  Pulling out her mobile she started tapping away, and he took the opportunity to watch her.  It was amazing how much she’d changed in a week and a half away, how much more she resembled the Ellie he’d known in uni.  The weight appeared to be gone from her shoulders, though deep down he knew her troubles were far from over, based on how her conversations with her family had gone.  But she smiled easier now than she had the first few days, didn’t get so lost in her thoughts.

He liked to think he’d helped ease her worries, even if it was only a temporary respite.  She could never know how she’d helped him at his worst, after his mother’s passing, how she had kept him going.  If he could offer even a modicum of comfort in return, he’d do it- even if it meant going on amusement park rides and wearing a silly hat and whispering dirty jokes in her ear.

He’d learned long ago that he’d put himself through anything for her, even when- especially when- she didn’t have the faintest idea.  It had been reassuring to know that hadn’t changed with time.

How is it possible to be so in love with someone?

The fact that he was in love with her was old news; he’d suspected as much most of the time they were in uni, and knew for sure the morning after graduation, the first time he’d woken up next to her.  It had been a miracle, beyond his wildest dreams, a once-in-a-lifetime chance – or so he’d thought.

In the ensuing years he’d managed to convince himself that it wasn’t real, that he was only remembering what he wanted to.

Five minutes with her, falling back into their familiar bantering patterns as easily as an old, favorite jumper, had proven that it hadn’t been all in his head.

If anything, it proved he’d underestimated it.

I could happily wake up next to her for the rest of my life.

It hadn’t been a lie, when he told her how much he preferred living alone – he and Tess had quasi-lived together, neither willing to give up their flat in favor of alternating where they spent their nights, but he could only take two or three in a row before needing space, room to breathe and nothing to hear; no trashy reality tellys shows she loved, no overhearing arguments with her sister, no office gossip.

Not once had he felt a need to get distance from Ellie.

That says it all, doesn’t it?

For a self-proclaimed hater of nearly all people, or at least adults, one who often went out of his way to avoid people he knew, or might know, or even just looked like they wanted to chat, he could talk to Ellie for hours, listen to her, just be with her.

If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.

She was his favorite person in the world.

It doesn’t matter how long it takes, he realized, thinking of all the heartache that awaited her in Broadchurch.  When she’s ready, I’ll be there, and I’ll be hers.

He smiled.

I can wait as long as she needs.

-

After too damn many hours stuck on a train, first from Chessy to Paris then the Eurostar back to St Pancras, Ellie was relieved to step onto the platform and hear English over the speakers again.

“Home,” she sighed, “or near enough.”

“Yeah- keep going,” Hardy grunted behind her, and she did as they made their way out onto the street.  Compared to France’s bright sun and blue sky London was dark and dingy, overcast with a cool breeze.

They joined the queue for a black cab, and sooner than expected were on their way to the hotel she’d found.  Check in was a breeze, and they bounced down onto the mattress together laughing before relaxing back into the covers.

“This was a brilliant idea, if I do say so myself,” she said cheekily, rolling onto her side to face him.

“Agreed.”  Hardy shifted as well but didn’t stop on his side, instead continuing until he was propped above her, their legs intertwined.  “You’re full of them.”

The kiss was only just starting to morph into more when chirping came from his trousers pocket.

“I think that’s you,” Ellie said between kisses, skating her fingertips along his spine.  “You should answer it.”

“Busy.”  He hooked an elbow under her knee.

“Could be your assignment.”

Hardy groaned at that, tearing himself away to dig it out of his pocket.  “If it’s not…” he trailed off, sighing as he stared at the screen.  “It is.  Don’t go anywhere.”

“Where could I?” she asked rhetorically as he went out into the hall, already answering it.  “Right.”

Leaping off the bed she hustled to the bathroom, trying to clean up quickly after a long day of traveling.  If she had her way, with no evidence to suggest she wouldn’t, they would stay in bed and order takeaway.

I’d give just about anything not to have to go back to real life, she thought, scrubbing her face.  I don’t want to deal with what’s waiting in Broadchurch – I just want to be here, with him.  Happy.

She wasn’t looking forward to the coming months, as she untangled her life from Joe’s.  The only thing that made the idea bearable was knowing she didn’t have to do it alone; that she would have Hardy’s support emotionally, even if not practically.  There would be long talks with her family, setting the issue to rest with them once and for all.

If they don’t accept that it’s over and I want nothing to do with Joe, things will have to change.  Maybe, once Hardy’s settled, I can put in a request for transfer to be nearer to him.

Fluffing her hair and refreshing her chapstick, she returned to the bedroom and settled on the bed just as the door opened.

“Well?” she demanded, straightening up and watching him walk in, far from comforted by the vaguely stunned expression on his face.  “Where are you moving?”

He put his mobile on the desk before leaning back against it, sticking his hands in his pockets.

Why does he look scared?

“I want you to know,” he started slowly, “that I wasn’t given a choice other than to accept or reject the position.  And even that wasn’t much of a choice, more of a technicality that I had to agree to it. I didn’t ask for this, didn’t even know it was possible, and have no idea what this means.”

“You’re worrying me,” Ellie watched him anxiously, “and I don’t like how that sounds.  What is it?  Oh, God, they can’t send you to bloody Ireland or something, can they? Or back to Scotland?  Don’t tell me- it’s Berwick-upon-Tweed.”  Technically the northern-most point in England, it was a little village on the Eastern coast at the border between Scotland and England.  “Well?”

Hardy huffed out a laugh, though after a week of genuine amusement it was a pale imitation.  “No, not there- about as far from there as you can get.”

“Cornwall?”  She tilted her head.  “Penzance?”

“What?  No, not literally- or at least, not that literally.”  He ran his fingers through his hair, ruffling the strands, and it took effort for her to keep focused on the conversation at hand and ignore the lingering heat.

“Just tell me,” Ellie said, rising from the bed to wrap her arms around his waist, concerned when he merely tensed.  “Whatever it is we’ll deal with it, yeah?  Like a team. Please.”

Lips pressed into a thin line he nodded, meeting her gaze and holding.  “Fine.”  Exhaling deeply, he said the name, and the world shifted on its axis.

“Broadchurch.  My new constabulary is in Broadchurch.”

“What?!”

---

The End (for now)

Thank you for joining me on this journey!  I hope you’ve enjoyed this fic.  I do anticipate a sequel following this sooner or later.

Thank you!

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The French Connection - Chapter 11

A HardyxMiller AU

Ellie Miller is left to go on her honeymoon alone after a devastating secret about her fiance comes to light - halfway through the wedding ceremony.  Sitting in St Pancras International in London waiting for her train, she runs into none other than her uni rival/best friend Alec Hardy, on the run from his own recent heartbreak.

They decide to make use of Ellie’s pre-paid trip, rekindling their friendship and escaping real life; yet, it turns out their years at uni are the hardest to outrun. Based on this prompt from @timepetalscollective  

Chapters will be posted every Wednesday and Sunday.  Beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma

This fic will remain at a T rating, but there is some steam.

Masterlist  |  AO3

---

Tuesday

“Last full day in France,” Hardy noted as they made their way over to the Studios Park.  “It’s gone fast.”

Ellie hummed in agreement, unable and unwilling to fight back her happiness.  The sun was shining, birds were chirping.  It was an overall beautiful day, made brighter by the man beside her, hand holding hers.  For all his grumbling and complaining he’d been an excellent sport, going along with all of her ideas and plans.  It meant the world to her how he’d embraced it all, and she told him that.

He shrugged, the corner of his mouth ticking up.  “Anything to make you happy.”

“You make me happy.”  It was true; she felt lighter than she had in years, away from her family.  “You make me feel like me again.  Like I was in school.  I didn’t realize how much I didn’t until we were- until I saw you again.”

“I’ve missed you too,” he agreed as they scanned their tickets and entered the park, “more than I knew.”

They crossed the courtyard into the hangar-sized building designed like a movie studio, past the shops and quick-service dining areas into a second courtyard.  The design was much more reminiscent of Hollywood, and almost didn’t feel like a Disney park, which she hoped Hardy would appreciate.

“What d’you want to do first?” he asked as they stood at the crossroads.

“Um…”  Ellie pulled out her mobile and opened the parks app, using it to see wait times.  I love this thing.  “You mentioned starting at the back- the wait for Rock’n’ Roll Coaster isn’t too bad at the moment.”

He nodded and they started in that direction, Ellie oohing and aahing over everything they saw.

Joining the line they stood opposite each other, leaning back on the railing while waiting to move.  “What’s your plan when you get home?” Hardy asked quietly, crossing his arms.

“Uh…”  Ellie licked her lips, more focused on the picture he made.  Dressed in shorts and a tee, wearing the groom ears, he looked good, like something out of a magazine.  If anyone had tried to tell her she’d see him looking that way, and more importantly liking the visual, she would’ve called them crazy.  Now, she just wanted to jump him. “Work.  Figure out what to do with the house I bought- maybe find a roommate if I can’t find a flat and a buyer.  I certainly can’t move back home, and more importantly, I won’t.”

“Were you living at home before you bought the house?”

The line moved then and she waited until they’d repositioned ten feet up the corridor to answer.  “No.  Well, briefly- we were sharing a flat, but closing on the house got delayed so we were staying with my parents for the last two months while that all got sorted.  Everything’s been moved in but not set up, so there’s plenty of work there, though if I can find a flat and a buyer quickly I may not have too much trouble moving.  It’s just a mess.”

He nodded in understanding.  “Once I’m back I’ll have to pack quickly and find somewhere soon as I have my new post.  I don’t have all that much, but it’s still a hassle.”

“D’you have any idea where they might send you?”

“No,” Hardy sighed, shifting, “could be anywhere in England.  I’m not strictly opposed to somewhere far from Sandbrook, less chance of knowing anyone there or them having heard about it all, but… och, I don’t know.”

“Well, if you end up in the southwest, let me know.  I know of someone in need of a roommate,” she joked, before flushing at the implication.  “I mean…”

His face contorted into an odd sort of grimace, and he rubbed at the back of his neck; both sure signs he was uncomfortable.

“What?”

They moved again, and this time, he stood straight up with his arms tightly folded against his chest.  “What happens after this?”

“Tower of Terror?” she tried, but his expression didn’t change.  “I… don’t know. Why?”

“You said ‘let me know’.  That implies you don’t… expect us to keep in touch.”

“Of course I want to keep in touch!”

Dirty looks from the people in front of and behind them said her tone was a bit louder than intended.

“Yes, I expect us to keep in touch.”  Lowering her voice, she tried to picture returning to life without him.  “I’d… I think I’d like to do more than just ‘keep in touch’.  Maybe.”  She gave him a small smile.

Slowly, his shoulders unhunched, just a bit.  “So would I.”

Maybe, just maybe, that meant everything would be alright.

-

“You alright?” Ellie fought back laughter as she led Hardy out into the sun.

“Aye,” he rasped, though the death grip he had on her hand and the stiff way he was walking suggested otherwise.  “What the fuck was that?”

Practically biting her lip hard enough to draw blood, she managed, “Tower of Terror.  Did it live up to the name?”

It was a rhetorical question; buttoned-up, restrained, unflappable Hardy had spent the entirety of the ride from the first drop shouting obscenities and clutching Ellie’s hand so tightly it was starting to tingle.  She’d never seen him so shaken, so pale, and while she was sympathetic, it was also hilarious.

“Stop laughing,” he grunted, as she led him to a convenient bench not far from the ride’s exit.  “Not funny.”

“You’re not going to be sick, are you?”

He shook his head and they settled down, Hardy closing his eyes and breathing deeply.  “Let’s… let’s go for something milder,” he requested as she laid her head on his shoulder, hoping to offer comfort.

“When you’re ready,” she agreed easily.  “There’s an action and stunt show soon back near the Coaster, how’s that sound?”

“Fine.”

“Then we can do the Studio Tram Tour, should be easy, then lunch?”  She rubbed his back.

After several minutes he lifted his head, and she met his eye with a sympathetic smile that faded as he stared at her, eyes searching hers.

“What?”

Hardy leaned forward, kissing her softly, which she was happy to return.

“What was that for?” she murmured when they finally pulled apart, “Not that I’m complaining.”

“I- I-”  He had an intense expression on his face, eyes shining, and her breath caught as she realized what he might be trying to say.

She just smiled, the hand on his back resuming it’s circuit as she waited in silence.

The moment eventually passed, the energy shifting, though a current of electricity remained as they stared at each other.  When he finally spoke, it was to change the subject, though a hint of wistfulness was present in his tone.

“When’s that show?”

Ellie checked her watch before standing up.  “Five minutes.”

“Right.”

She offered him a hand, helping him to his feet, and they started back towards the theater.  To her surprise he let go of her hand, though her heart warmed a moment later when he wrapped an arm around her waist.  Doing the same, she gave him a silly smile and led the way, humming to herself.

It really can be that simple, sometimes.

-

For dinner they had a reservation at King Ludwig’s Castle, a restaurant in the Village outside the parks.  While it wasn’t quite the Eiffel Tower, Ellie still dressed up, given it was their last night.

Standing in the bathroom finishing her makeup she was full of nerves.  Though they’d taken every meal together since they’d left London she was on edge, anxious; this felt like a date, a proper one, particularly in light of his almost-confession that morning.

What am I doing?  Ellie stared at her reflection, trying to sift through the maelstrom of emotions inside her.  This trip has been brilliant, better than I’d imagined even before… everything, but what happens when we go back to real life?  Is this just lightning in a bottle?  Can we make it work?  Does he want to?

“El?”  He rapped on the door.  “We’ll be late soon. Alright?”

“Yeah!”

Pushing down her questions she finished her makeup, opening the door to find him standing right there, hand up as if to knock again.

“Hi,” he said, lowering his hand slowly, “ready?”

Not trusting her voice she merely nodded, grabbing her wrap.  When he offered she allowed him to drape it across her shoulders, taking his proffered elbow and letting him lead the way.

It wasn’t far, a quick walk had them there soon enough, and he waited until they were seated and left with menus to say, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, why d’you assume something’s wrong?” she tittered nervously, knowing immediately her response had basically confirmed it.  “I’m just… in my own head,” she shrugged, repositioning the place setting in front of her.  “I’m fine, really.”

Crossing his arms he leaned forward on the table, and when she peeked up at him, those expressive brown eyes were focused solely on her.

Damn.  “You must never have to ask questions in the interrogation room,” she joked, “just have to look at someone and they probably start talking.”

“Miller.  I’m not asking the world of you.  Just the truth.”

It wasn’t until he used her last name that she realized all through the trip she’d been Ellie instead.  Taking a deep, shaky breath, she cast her eyes around the restaurant and idly noted the adorable castle-like décor.  You’re stalling.  “I don’t want this to be a rebound.”  Every time she thought about the situation, that was one thing that stayed constant.  “I don’t know what that means, I don’t know what happens when we go home, I know… nothing, and you know how I hate that, but what I do know is... I don’t want to go another eight years without seeing you.  I don’t want to ruin this, whatever this is.  I don’t want to hurt you, or be hurt.”  Reluctantly she met his eye, only to see understanding and sympathy shining back at her.  “I want to be happy.  And I think that includes you.”

The hope and optimism radiating off of Hardy was palpable, his mouth opening to reply, to hopefully say he felt the same, but was stopped by-

“Bonsoir, madame et monsieur, bienvenue a King Ludwig’s.  My name is Diana, I am your waitress this evening.  May I start you with some drinks?”

Are you fucking kidding me?  Can’t you see we’re having a moment here?!

“Bottle of red,” Hardy said brusquely, never taking his eyes off of Ellie.  “We’d like to see the list.”

“Bien sur, just a moment, thank you.”

Ellie huffed as soon as she was gone, rolling her eyes slightly, though she smiled when he let out a soft laugh.

“Ellie.”  He tentatively reached across the table, and she didn’t hesitate to rest her palms in his.  “I want the same thing. Regardless of where I end up, we can make it work.  Given… recent events, it may not even be a bad thing if we’re some distance apart.”

She nodded, squeezing his hands.  “Agreed.  As amazing as this all has been… we haven’t seen each other in years.  Doing a long-distance relationship, talking… it’s probably the best place to start.  Take it slow, and build a solid foundation.”

“Precisely.  In a year we can see where we stand and go from there, but… this- us- is too important to fuck up.”

“We have the rest of our lives,” she said softly, realizing the weight and truth of the words, soul unclenching when he smiled.

“That we do.”

They leaned across the table at the same time, a chaste kiss given their location, but with enough heat to promise what was to come.

She only realized music was playing softly when the song changed, and she had to laugh as she recognized it, fitting for a romantic dinner at Disney.

So this is love, Mmm mmm mmm, So this love, So this is what makes life divine

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The French Connection - Chapter 10

A HardyxMiller AU

Ellie Miller is left to go on her honeymoon alone after a devastating secret about her fiance comes to light - halfway through the wedding ceremony.  Sitting in St Pancras International in London waiting for her train, she runs into none other than her uni rival/best friend Alec Hardy, on the run from his own recent heartbreak.

They decide to make use of Ellie’s pre-paid trip, rekindling their friendship and escaping real life; yet, it turns out their years at uni are the hardest to outrun. Based on this prompt from @timepetalscollective  

Chapters will be posted every Wednesday and Sunday.  Beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma

This fic will remain at a T rating, but there is some steam.

Masterlist  |  AO3

---

Monday

Ellie sighed, sinking lower in her lounger.  After they’d finally dragged themselves out of bed and down to breakfast they’d agreed to a lazy morning by the pool, and so far, she was extremely pleased with the decision.  It was an indoor pool, relatively unremarkable, but they had it to themselves and that was enough.

Light spa music played through the speakers, sunlight poured in from the windows behind them, and she was perfectly content to drift on the padded chair, Hardy on the one next to her doing a crossword.  Opening one eye she turned her head to peer at him, smiling at the adorable expression of absolute concentration on his face as he carefully inked in an answer.

“Need any help?”

He shook his head before glancing over at her, expression softening.  Turning back to his paper he ran one finger down the page, humming for a moment before asking, “Four letter word, ‘song such as ‘Nessun dorma’.”

“Aria.”

“What?”  Pen at the ready he raised an eyebrow.  “And how do you know that?”

“It’s from a Puccini opera,” she said smugly, rolling onto her side to face him.  “A boyfriend and I- not Joe, the bloke before him- went and spent a weekend in London once and he took me to the opera.”

Hardy nodded, mouth tightening slightly.  Definitely jealous.  “How was it?”

“Beautiful.”  Her lips curled up.  “Also terribly boring.  Couldn’t understand a word they said- well, sang.  But it was… an experience. One I’m glad to have had but not particularly eager to repeat.  A bit posh for me, really.”

His tension eased, and he consulted his clue list again.  “How about… four letters, ‘perfect place, if you don’t mind the serpent’.  What the fuck?”

“Eden,” she laughed.  “Supposed to be perfect, until a snake convinced Eve to eat from the forbidden tree?”

“‘Convinced’,” he repeated, snorting.  “Since it was Eden, I hardly doubt the woman was trying to watch her figure; probably ate everything in sight.  Don’t deny it, I saw you at the buffet this morning.”

Ellie huffed, swinging her legs around and sitting up to face him.  “This is fun, commentary aside.  Keep going.”

“Fine.”  It took him a minute.  “Here’s one- Five letters, ‘right wrongs’.”

“Hardy.”

“Yes?”

She laughed, pushing up off her lounger and settling against him on his.  “Righter of wrongs,” Ellie repeated.  “Hardy.  At least, in my experience.”  Patting his bare knee, she watched in amusement as his face ran the gamut of shocked to pleased to bashful.

“I do what I can,” he mumbled, the tips of his ears turning red.  “Nothing to fuss over.”

Turning her head she leaned in to kiss him softly, smiling against his lips.  “Agree to disagree.  You’ve rescued me a few times, and not just on this trip.”

Hardy lowered the puzzle to his lap, moving a few curls away from her face, fingers lingering against the strands.  “And you, me,” he murmured, eyes impossibly soft and earnest.  “And not just on this trip.  I’m so glad I fou- I ran into you.”

“I’m glad I found you too.”

They kissed again, deeper this time, and her heart was pounding by the time they came up for air.  Her skin tingled pleasantly, and she was half-drunk on the taste of him.

“What d’you say to a kip before lunch?” she asked breathlessly, shivering when his fingertips trailed over her skin.

His eyes never left hers, but the corner of his mouth curled upward.

They didn’t make lunch.

-

“I’m sorry, what?”  Ellie stopped dead in the middle of the walkway, heedless of the swarms of people around them.  “You did not just say what I think you said.”

Hardy sighed, placing his palm on the small of her back and guiding her gently forward into walking again.  “Don’t be like that.”

“But that- that’s impossible!  Especially at your age!”

“What d’you mean, my age?  You are my age!”

“Exactly!”

He rolled his eyes.  “Why’re you taking this so personally?  So I haven’t seen a movie-”

“It’s a trilogy-”

“Okay, I haven’t seen three movies.  I’m hardly the only person in the world.”

Ellie tugged him to a stop and turned to the person walking next to them.  “Excuse me, sir?”

The man stopped, looking startled, his wife and children pausing as well.  “Yes?”

“Has anyone in your family- circle of friends- anyone you’ve ever met- not seen the original Star Wars trilogy?”

He just laughed, shaking his head.  “Not to my knowledge.”

“See,” Ellie turned back to Hardy smugly.

“Oh, come on,” he shook his head as they resumed their strolling tour of the Village, “my father wasn’t going to waste the little disposable income we had on- on going to the pictures.  And I never had any interest as an adult. I could watch Star Trek on telly. That was enough.”

She huffed.  “Fine.  However, I bet we can rent it at the hotel – we can watch one tonight.  No arguments.”

His expression pinched.  “No.  Miller, please- I don’t want to.”  A hint of something deeper than frustration entered his tone, and she realized that it was a sensitive subject, that she didn’t have the full story.

“Okay,” Ellie agreed softly, “if you feel that strongly.”

Hardy gave her a suspicious glare, and she tried to return it with a reassuring smile, hoping he could sense it was genuine.  “Thanks,” he grumbled.

He shifted closer to her, and they walked a few meters with their knuckles bumping against each other before she got the picture.  Heart leaping, suddenly shy, she twisted her hand so the next time they brushed their palms met, and she was pleased when he laced their fingers together.

They didn’t look at each other, continued exploring the shops of the marketplace, but their hands never let go and the warmth in her chest never faded.

This is what real happiness is.

-

Ringing slowly filtered through the fog, somewhat bursting the hazy, pleasurable cocoon Ellie was wrapped in.

“Wha’s that?” she mumbled, struggling to open her eyes.  “Hear it?”

Hardy grunted, not lifting his head from the sure-to-be-impressive love bite he was working on at her collarbone.

“I think it’s a phone.”

He continued to ignore her, only shifting to the other side of her neck.

“Hardy.”  She ran her fingers through his hair, using a gentle touch to tug his head up.  “Need to answer it.”

“They’ll go away,” he dismissed, propping himself up enough to reach her mouth for a kiss.  “We’re busy.”

Ellie giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him close as they continued to kiss.  “It’s ringing again,” she mumbled against his lips, “you should answer it.”  Incongruently, she hooked her knee higher on his hip.

He slowly pulled himself away, stealing kisses until he had to reach for the mobile.  “It’s you,” he barely glanced at the screen, thrusting it into her hands and sliding back down her body to align his mouth with her throat.  “Do what you want.”

The caller ID read Lucy, and she reluctantly answered.  “What?”

“Well hello to you too,” her sister snarked, “hope I’m not interrupting.”

That put Ellie on alert, automatically tensing to the point where Hardy sat up and mouthed ok?

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Did you really take your uni boyfriend on this trip with you?”

Shit.  “Where’s this coming from?”

“So it’s true.”

Ellie sat up, putting her back to the headboard.  Hardy, thankfully, moved as well, sliding next to her and laying his hand flat, palm up, on the mattress between them; she didn’t hesitate to take it, lacing their fingers together and squeezing gently.  “I ran into a friend from uni in London and asked them to come with me.  Where’d you hear this anyway?”  The obvious and only possible source was Joe’s call, and she wondered if her sister was dumb enough to admit she was still talking to him after her moratorium on it.

“A mutual friend,” Lucy said vaguely, proving she was smarter than she sometimes seemed to be.  “You’re not denying it.”

“I had already paid for two, and found a willing plus one,” she shrugged, grip tightening on Hardy’s hand.  “It’s nice, been catching up on old times.  We lost touch after uni because I didn’t have his details; he says he left them for me but I never got them.”  She leaned closer to Hardy, tilting the phone so he could hear as well.

The silence on the other end of the line was as good as a confession to Ellie, and she was both annoyed and pleased to be right.

“Still there?”

“Well I don’t know anything about that,” Lucy said stiffly, and Ellie had to fight back a laugh when Hardy rolled his eyes.  “But really, taking up with an ex so quickly?  Can you say ‘rebound’?”

Her jaw clenched, the question hitting too close to her secret worries.  “He’s not an ex, we didn’t date in uni,” countered, setting the record straight even as she wondered why everyone thought they had.  You never even met him except for when he gave you the letter, what’s this based on?  “And we’re friends, travelling together.  Nothing’s going on between us.”

Hardy tensed next to her, and she rubbed her thumb against his, hoping he knew it was just a lie.  Not that I know what is going on between us.

“Bullshit.  You ought to be ashamed of yourself; your fiancé is-”

“Now he,” Ellie cut her off, ”is an ex.  I’ve no idea why you refuse to see that, but it is absolutely over with Joe.  Out of the realm of possibility.  And I’m not having this conversation again, understand?  The next time you, or Mum or Dad, say anything about him, I am hanging up.  You hear me?”

Whispers on the other end made her sigh, and it wasn’t until Hardy winced that she realized she had his hand in a death vise.  Forcibly relaxing her grip she leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder, some of her tension seeping out when he kissed her forehead and leaned his head on hers.

For as bony as he is, he’s wonderfully comfortable.

“Hello?” she prompted after a solid minute of semi-silence.  “You there?”

“We just don’t want you to make any rash decisions that you’ll regret,” Lucy bit out.  “You have to consider what you want your future to look like. We love you, El, and want you to be happy.”

“I appreciate that.  Listen, I’ve got to go, but I’ll be home Sunday afternoon and we can talk then if need be.”

Both Lucy and Hardy said, “What?” at the same time, and she had to pinch him to remind him to be quiet.  “I thought you’d be home Wednesday?” her sister continued.

Ellie shrugged despite knowing Lucy couldn’t see it.  “I need a little more time.  I’m going to stay in London for a few days, do some sightseeing there.”

“If you must… have a good night.”

Not bothering to respond Ellie simply ended the call, letting her mobile drop to her lap and leaning her head back, groaning.

“Since when are you staying on in London?” Hardy asked, and she rolled her head to the side to look at him.

She gave him a sheepish smile.  “Since I said it.  I just couldn’t face the idea of going back on Wednesday.  I’ve got those days off anyway, though they were supposed to be used for moving.  But instead… instead, I’m going to go around and see all the art and history I want to, without worrying about boring anyone.”

He nodded slowly, a distant gaze in his eye for a moment.  “On your own?”

Not bothering to even consider the idea, she rolled over to straddle his lap.  “Why, you don’t want to go?”

“Not if I’m not wanted.”  His hands settled on her hips, providing her stability without clinging to her.

Ellie searched his eyes, saw the longing and hesitation there, and leaned forward to kiss him, bracing herself against the headboard behind him.  “You are definitely wanted,” she whispered against his mouth, rolling her hips against him.  “I haven’t- I can’t, yet, think too hard about the future, but I won’t lose you again.  Whatever it looks like, I want you in it.”

A slow smile spread across his face.  “Good enough for me,” he murmured, kissing her again before sliding his hands beneath the hem of her shirt and lifting.  “We’ll figure it out.”

“I know.”

And she proceeded to show him just how wanted he was.

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The French Connection - Chapter 9

A HardyxMiller AU

Ellie Miller is left to go on her honeymoon alone after a devastating secret about her fiance comes to light - halfway through the wedding ceremony.  Sitting in St Pancras International in London waiting for her train, she runs into none other than her uni rival/best friend Alec Hardy, on the run from his own recent heartbreak.

They decide to make use of Ellie’s pre-paid trip, rekindling their friendship and escaping real life; yet, it turns out their years at uni are the hardest to outrun. Based on this prompt from @timepetalscollective  

Chapters will be posted every Wednesday and Sunday.  Beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma

This fic will remain at a T rating, but there is some steam.

Masterlist  |  AO3

---

Saturday

In the deepest corners of his heart, Hardy relied on his instinct.  He could usually come up with a solid reason for doing something, could make it look carefully planned and deliberate, but in truth, it was all reactionary instinct and quick thinking, born of a childhood spent with his father.

When Ellie spun into him, his only thought was of her, with no regard for the clean laundry he held.  Gripping her waist tightly to keep her from falling, his eyes drew naturally down to her lips as she whispered, “Thanks for the save.”

His mind went blank as he catalogued all the places they were pressed together, intoxicated by her closeness.  He might have grunted in response, raising his eyes to hers, watching her own gaze flicker to the bed behind them, and he drew her closer still in response, uncaring if she could feel the growing physical evidence of his desire for her.  He realized, dimly, he was lowering his face to hers, studying her eyes, searching for a sign there.

It came when her chin tilted up and her eyes fluttered closed, and with a nervous exhale, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, reveling in the softness he found there, the gentle pressure as she leaned into the kiss.

And then she came alive against him, and they sank to the ground together.

-

“What the hell is this?”

“What?”

“I said, what the hell is this?” Hardy raised his voice, and Ellie sighed, turning off the hair dryer.

Re-belting her dressing gown she returned to the bedroom to see what he was talking about and found him standing by the desk, towel still wrapped around his hips as he glared down at the desktop.

“Oh,” she winced, wondering how she’d forgotten.  “That.”

“Yes, that,” he crossed his arms, giving her a stern look.  “What is it?”

Biting her lip Ellie stared down at the items, trying to come up with anything but a smartass answer; the towel low around his hips made it difficult to focus.  “They’re… ears.”

“Ears?”

She nodded, lifting the one on the right carefully and settling it over her head.  “Mickey ears – they’re for newlyweds.  Well, I suppose you don’t have to be just married to wear them, or even really married at all, but… I thought it was cute.”

Adjusting the strap under her chin Ellie turned to the mirror above the desk, smiling softly at her reflection.  The Ears were entirely white, embroidered to look like lace and covered in rhinestones, with a tiny tiara perched between the actual rounded ears and a delicate veil trailing down the back.  They were part of a set, matching the Ears still on the desk, intended for Joe.  Those were decorated like a tux, complete with top hat and tails, and a tiny satin rosette on the lapel.  Together they were absolutely precious, and when they’d been described when she was booking and mentioned ‘honeymoon’, she’d been unable to resist.

“Shame they won’t see the light of day,” she sighed, easing it off her head.  “Wonder if I can get them returned…”  She trailed her fingers over the groom’s Ears, wistful.  Not for Joe, no, that faded with every hour she put between herself and that ill-fated ceremony, but for the things she had planned- the life she had planned for herself.

But if I get lucky, maybe I won’t have to start over from scratch.

-

Sunday

“So…” Ellie took a big bite of her Mickey-shaped pretzel, looking at anything but Hardy, “are we going to talk about it?”

“Talk about what?”  He had his hands in his pockets, skulking along beside her, though thankfully he’d managed to leave his dark and brooding scowl in the room.  “Aren’t you going to go on any rides?”

She took another bite, nodding.  “You wanted to start at the back,” she reminded him.  “Said it’d be less crowded.  That’s where we’re going.”

Hardy snorted.  “I think you’re eating your way there.”

“Oi!”  She whacked him in the chest with the back of her hand.  “Excuse you.  D’you know how hard I’ve been dieting for that bloody wedding?  I deserve some good food!  D’you think I chose France for my honeymoon for the sights?  The art?  Fuck no, it was for the carbs.”

His gaze flickered over her, brow furrowing.  “Dieting?” he asked, perplexed, “Whatever for?”

Ellie stopped dead to stare at him.  And then in one slick move she rocked up on her toes, reaching behind his head to pull him down, kissing him deeply.  He made a noise, possibly a yelp, before leaning into the kiss, and they only broke apart when wolf whistles and cheers filtered through the haze.

“Sorry,” Ellie said bashfully to their impromptu audience.  “Excusez-moi.”

“This is a children’s park,” an older gentleman grumbled, only to be poked by the woman next to him.

“Look at their hats,” she scolded, “they’re clearly on their honeymoon.  Don’t you remember when we were that way?”

A quickly exchanged glance had them slipping away, as they came around a bend, leaving behind Discoveryland in favor of Fantasyland.

“Talk about what?”

“What?”

Hardy sighed, looking for all the world like the most miserable person at the happiest place on Earth.  “You thought we should talk about something?”

She led him straight to the line for the Small World ride, waiting until they caught up to the end of the line to face him.  “I just… I mean, should we be talking about…” she gestured between them, giving him a meaningful look.  “What are we doing?”

His face momentarily pinched, and he glanced behind her at the long line he was now trapped.  “We…”  He sighed.  “We’re on vacation.  Let’s… let’s enjoy the moment, and see what happens when we get back to England.  No pressure, no expectations, just… have fun?”

“You say fun like it’s a dirty word,” Ellie teased, elbowing him in the ribs.  “Lighten up, would you?  Release your inner child.  Did you even have an inner child?”

He had to think about that for a moment.  “I suppose… reading comic books and such.  Star Wars.  To be fair, I was an anxious, nerdy lad from Paisley; I spent most of my time focusing on getting the hell out of there.”

Her expression softened, and she patted his arm.  “I’m sorry.” Looking down at the last bit of pretzel, she hesitated before offering it to him.  “Want a bite?”

With a blink and a shrug he broke it in half, popping it into his mouth.  “How much did you pay for this?” he asked once he’d swallowed, and she rolled her eyes.

“Oh, shut up.”

“And why are we waiting for this God-forsaken ride?  How many times do we have to hear this bloody song?”

Ellie grinned, dusting her hands of any lingering pretzel salt on her shorts.  “Because it’s true – and if it wasn’t such a small world, we wouldn’t be standing here right now.”

He gazed down at her, and she would’ve sworn under oath at seeing affection there.

“Fair enough.”

-

They were just getting in line for the Indiana Jones ride when his mobile rang.

“It’s my Chief,” Hardy said, brow furrowing as he stared at the screen.  “I’ve got to…”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll be over here,” she waved him off, finding a free bit of bench to settle onto, leaning back and soaking in the sun.  It was a moderate day, the perfect temperature, and it was nice to feel the warmth.

“Hi there.”

Ellie opened her eyes, assessing the man now sitting next to her.  A few inches under six feet he was well built, with nice hair and a better smile.  Never mind also incredibly handsome.  “Hello.”

When he didn’t say anything further, just continued to stare at her, she said, ”Uh… something I can help you with?”

“Here alone?”

Seriously?  Do you not see the Ears?  “No.”  Glancing around she spotted Hardy a few feet away, watching her, and she smiled at seeing him.  Without another word to the man she strode over to him, sticking her hands in her pockets.  “All good?”

“Eh.”  Hardy was still looking over her head.

Is he jealous?

“What happened?” she prompted, tugging him towards the ride entrance.  “Tell me.”

Finally refocusing on her, he slid his mobile back into his pocket and followed her along the path.  “I’m… getting transferred.”

“Oh?  D’you know where?”

“No, they’re still working on that, but it seems like the best solution.  It’s fine with me, Sandbrook was just a… just a place, but now I’ve got to move.”

They reached the back of the line, and she turned to him, throwing her arms around him in a hug.  “I’m sorry.”

“It’s all right,” Hardy sighed.  “We’ll see where I land. But I hate moving.  Packing. Finding a new place.”

“Oh, I understand,” Ellie smiled reassuringly.  “I’ve got the same thing when I go back, I suppose.  I’d just bought a house- thankfully it’s just in my name, but I can’t afford to keep it now.  Unless I get a roommate, and I dunno about that.”

He nodded.  “Oh, living alone’s much better, I think.  Everything’s where you left it, never reach for something and find someone’s left it empty on the shelf.  Peace and quiet.”

“You would love it,” she laughed.  “Not me, I’d rather have people around.  Usually.  There’s always exceptions.”

A thoughtful look flashed across his face.  “I suppose there are.”

The implication in his unusually soft tone made Ellie flush, and she absentmindedly adjusted the veil behind her to have something to do with her hands.

“Let me.”  He turned her by the shoulders before fluffing the fabric and her hair.  “Better.”

“Thanks.”  Turning back to face him, she gave him a half-smile he returned before leaning forward.

She was so unused to him initiating, well, anything, that she froze, uncertain of what was happening.  He paused inches away from her mouth, close enough she could feel his breath, and finally her brain kicked back into gear.  Rising up on her tiptoes she pressed their mouths together, smiling against his lips.  Despite the newness of whatever this was, it felt familiar, as if she’d been kissing him for years instead of days.

“Get a room,” an irritated voice broke through the fog, “or at least move up!  For cryin’ out loud, there are children here.”

“Oh, piss off,” Hardy broke their kiss to growl, guiding Ellie the ten feet up the path to people ahead of them in line.  “Don’t you see the Ears?”

The other man snorted, crossing his arms.  “I see two people taking up space in line when they’d clearly rather be in a bed.  I’m here with my kids, at a kid’s amusement park, and I’ve got to wait so fucking much longer because you people, without children, think you’ve got a right to be here taking up space!”

“Right, that’s enough,” the woman with him snapped, grabbing her husband’s arm.  “Leave them alone, they’re just trying to enjoy themselves, same as us.  C’mon, there’s a show starting in ten minutes I wanted to go to anyway.  You can ride this later.”

And they left, the woman manhandling her husband out of line, and Ellie watched them go with a mixture of embarrassment and pleasure.

Once they were out of sight she glanced at Hardy, who looked as amused as she felt.

“Sensitive soul, eh?  He seemed thick-skinned.”

Ellie tilted her head, trying to figure out why those words sounded familiar – then gasped.  “Alec Hardy!  Did you make a Disney pun?!”

He just shrugged, the corners of his mouth curling up into a smug smile.  “Of course not,” he waved a hand dismissively, and while he could press his lips into a straight line, he couldn’t stop the mad twinkle in his eye.

“You did!”

“No, I didn’t,” Hardy said firmly, though his tone didn’t fit his expression.  “Now, let it go.”

She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and burying her face in his chest, howling with laughter.

And when they returned to their room that night, she showed him just how grateful she was for him leaning into the portion of the trip he’d initially complained about.

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The French Connection - Chapter 8

A HardyxMiller AU

Ellie Miller is left to go on her honeymoon alone after a devastating secret about her fiance comes to light - halfway through the wedding ceremony.  Sitting in St Pancras International in London waiting for her train, she runs into none other than her uni rival/best friend Alec Hardy, on the run from his own recent heartbreak.

They decide to make use of Ellie’s pre-paid trip, rekindling their friendship and escaping real life; yet, it turns out their years at uni are the hardest to outrun. Based on this prompt from @timepetalscollective  

Chapters will be posted every Wednesday and Sunday.  Beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma

This fic will remain at a T rating, but there is some steam.

Masterlist  |  AO3

---

The phone ringing jolted Ellie awake, and she swatted blindly towards the nightstand until she found it, bringing the handle to her mouth.

“‘Lo?”

“Bonjour, madam, your requested wake-up call,” the entirely-too-perky woman from the front desk chirped, and rather than respond verbally, Ellie just groaned and hung up.

“Wha’ was that?” Hardy grumbled from somewhere next to her, one arm flung across her hips.

Ellie buried her head in the pillow, too tired to think.  “Wake-up call.”

“Why?”

“Fuck if I know.”  Then she gasped as his lips found her neck.  “That wasn’t an invitation!”  She only recognized her poor word choice when he tensed, pulling away.  “No, wait,” she protested, rolling over and directly into his chest, unaware he was so close.  “Hi.”

His grunt sounded particularly pained, and she attributed it to her wine hangover why it took so long to understand the reason.

“Ooh, sorry,” she grimaced, easing her knee away from his groin and nuzzling into his neck in apology.  “All right?”

Taking a few deep breaths he slowly relaxed, and she felt more than saw his nod.  “I’ll be fine.”  Tentatively he wrapped his arm around her, making her sigh heavily.  “Why did we need a wake-up call?”

“‘Cause we have to check out at ten, and be on an eleven o’clock train,” she murmured, drowsy.

“What time is it now?”

“Eight.”

He yawned, cuddling her closer.  “Plenty of time.”

Ellie drifted, too tired to wonder at how right it felt pressed against him, skin to skin, limb to limb.  For as thin and bony as he looked, he was surprisingly comfortable to rest against.

Eventually he began to shift, and she blinked awake.  “Wha’s wrong?”

“Loo.”

She obligingly rolled away, shivering at the shock of cool air slipping beneath the covers, startling her awake – and then reality began to crash down around her ears, as she started to process what precisely had happened the previous evening.  And at midnight.  And early this morning.  If her shoddy memory served, they’d woken twice for more… enjoyable activities.

Oh, shit.  Shit, shit, shit.

Bolting upright, she had her dressing gown belted and was starting to pack by the time he emerged from the bathroom, though she couldn’t keep herself from scanning his nude form.  God, he looks good.  Stop it, Eleanor!

“We should really start getting ready,” she said brusquely, turning her back on him in an attempt to resist jumping him.  “It’s already after nine, and we still need breakfast.”

She waited with bated breath to see what he would say, and was disappointed when, after a moment of silence, she peeked over her shoulder to find him merely pulling on his pants and beginning to pack himself.

Have I made a horrible mistake?

-

The feeling of déjà vu was almost visceral as Hardy sank into the aisle seat on the train.  Much as it had been the week before, things between them were awkward and stilted, and he was frustrated that all of the ground they’d gained had vanished so easily.

Last night was a mistake, he was disappointed to realize.  It shouldn’t have happened.  It had been good- no, great, in the moment, but if it put them back at square one or worse, it wasn’t worth it.  I don’t want to lose her again.

He glanced at Ellie, watched her stare out the window at the bustling platform.

How do I fix this?

-

Ellie spent the hour-long train ride out to Chessy glaring out the window, wracked with indecision.

On the one hand, it had been an incredible night, full of vulnerability and heat, and in that sense, she had no regrets.  It had been a release she needed in several ways, and she was immensely proud of herself for not crying, though she’d been on the verge a few times.  And Hardy… she bit her lip, hoping the flush she felt creeping over her face wasn’t visible.

Mhmm.  Either her champagne-soused memories of graduation night didn’t do him justice, or he’d significantly improved his technique in the intervening years.

And yet…

Her five-year relationship had only ended a week ago, in an unnecessarily dramatic and traumatic way, watching the man she loved be arrested halfway through their vows.  It had been devastating, soul-crushing, and sent her into a tailspin questioning everything.  This… this thing with Hardy, the man himself… he meant too much to her, and she was terrified that it would just turn into a rebound, and that wasn’t what she wanted.

Plus, he just got out of a relationship himself, she had to remind herself- that was why he’d been free to come on the trip anyway, a suspension for punching his girlfriend’s side bloke.  Are we just reaching for what’s familiar and there?

He didn’t seem any different than he had been at uni, maybe a little older, a little more tired of life, but then again he’d always been good at hiding himself.  Just look at how I had no fucking clue about his mum dying.

I don’t know what to do.

-

They were staying on-property, their hotel only steps from the train station so they walked, dragging their luggage behind them.  Hardy had never been so grateful for wheels on suitcases in his life, as they bumped along the path to the hotel’s front doors.  Ellie strode determinedly ahead of him, and he let himself indulge the desire to study her.

While he generally considered himself not to be a fan of people in general, something about this woman had captivated him from the moment they’d met on the first day of classes and held his attention ever since.  She was bright and bubbly, a big personality that wasn’t terribly overbearing, but underneath the soft exterior was a solid steel core, one more than capable of taking a hit.  The only woman in a class of thirty men, she’d leaned into the femininity, making herself stand out in pastels and skirts – which had only served to stun the rest of them when it came down to the wire, when they finally saw the grit and determination lurking beneath.

He’d never been fooled by the show.  After all, he’d done the same thing, hiding his true self behind a suit-and-tie uniform, rough Scottish accent, and a dead-eyed glare.  Over time he’d committed himself so thoroughly to his armor that sometimes, in the dead of night, he wondered who he was without it.

This trip, without even realizing it, he’d broken free.  When he’d tried to wear a suit on their first morning Ellie had nearly busted a gut laughing, forcing him into what she deemed appropriate clothes.  The only time he’d worn a tie was to dinner several evenings, and only when she was dressed up herself.

It felt strange; he hadn’t gone so long without wearing a full suit since leaving Glasgow, but it also felt freeing, somehow.  He felt free with her, able to forget life’s trials and tribulations awaiting him back in Sandbrook, had barely thought about his career despite the danger it was currently in.

He was too caught up in her.

Following her into the hotel he nearly tripped over her when she stopped dead, biting back a curse.  Then he looked up, taking in the lobby, eyes widening slightly.

Shit.  This is something else.

“It’s like a palace,” Ellie breathed, wonder in her voice, and despite himself, he had to agree, lacking a better description.

Three stories high it looked like a Georgian mansion, with white-painted wooden panels.  Bright and open, the focal point was the main staircase, going straight up to the first floor and a landing before splitting off and reach for the second floor.

A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, and even he had to admit the entire effect was fairly spectacular.  Exactly the kind of overwhelming extravagance one would expect from Disney.

“Not bad,” he just shrugged when she looked at him though, repressing a smile when she huffed and rolled her eyes.

“Fine, mister unimpressed.  I’ll go get us checked in.”  Ellie wandered over to the right where reception was, abandoning her suitcase, which he promptly rolled closer to himself before continuing to look around.

For being a Saturday the lobby was fairly empty, though he supposed most guests were likely already in the park.  He was just thinking This could be a hotel anywhere, what makes it so special? when he realized that nearly every piece of furniture contained something Disney.  The hall table, one of the first things in line of sight walking through the doors, had two glass cases on it – one containing Mickey Mouse in a wizard’s outfit, the other Pinocchio.  Really?

“Isn’t this beautiful?” Ellie gushed, appearing at his elbow.  “Here, your MagicPass.”  She forced a card into his hand, the size of a credit card but blue and gold, containing the outline of the castle.  “It’s your room key, ticket to the parks, FastPass, charge card… pretty much all you’ll need while here.  Don’t lose it.  Our room is ready, d’you want to go up?”

Hardy swallowed harshly, looking into her face.  She was doing her best to be jolly and excited, hiding her worries, but he knew her better than that, could see the tension and exhaustion beneath the surface.

“Sure.”

As they headed for the lift he wondered what would happen when they reached the privacy of the room, how she would react.  Ideally, they’d lie down for a nap, or possibly even a cuddle, but his instinct told him the moment had passed, at least for now.  Everything that had happened under the cover of darkness would be forgotten for the time being, swept away, and she would be too filled with anxious tension to allow either of them a moment’s rest.

Twenty feet down the corridor they stopped at a door, Ellie using her ‘MagicPass’ to unlock it, and he held his breath as she pushed it open.

-

Ellie bit her lip, wondering if she’d made the right decision as she swung open the hotel room door.  She’d booked the least expensive option room-wise for this leg of the trip, intending to spend more time in the parks than in the room.  When checking in she’d had an opportunity to switch to a room with two double beds rather than the single large double bed that she’d booked.

It had felt like a test put forth by the universe.  Switching to the two beds was the smart thing to do; it said that what had happened had been a lapse in judgement, that she had no intention of letting it recur.  Keeping the one bed would mean willingly sharing a bed with Hardy, and allowing for the possibility of a repeat performance.

Dragging her suitcase inside she kept her back to him, waiting to hear his reaction, entirely uncertain of whether she’d made the right choice.

“One bed,” he said neutrally, and something loosened inside her chest.

“Yeah, I couldn’t get them to switch it,” she lied, hoisting her suitcase onto the bed and unzipping it to unpack.  “Hope that’s not a problem.”

Hardy lifted his own luggage next to hers, unzipping it, and she took a moment to stare once he’d thrown back the top.  Inside everything was perfectly arranged, neatly organized and looking professionally packed.

Then she looked into her own, where everything was thrown in haphazardly and chaotically, and drew a shuddering breath.  “I’m going to take a shower.”

“Fine.”  He turned towards the bureau just as she tried to move past him towards the bathroom, resulting in them crashing into each other, his bundle of clothes falling to the floor in favor of grabbing her waist, keeping her upright.

“Thanks for the save,” she whispered, momentarily stunned by the near-fall, painfully conscious of his hands on her hips, her own on his biceps.  They were impossibly close, chest to chest, hip to hip, and her eyes unwillingly darted to his lips and then the bed behind him.

Hardy merely grunted, fingers tightening, drawing her closer, and she went willingly.

Please.  She was so lost in his eyes she didn’t immediately recognize the beat pounding through her.  Please, please, please.  Say you want me.

They grew closer still, a breath apart now, heads tilting, and her eyes slipped closed.  Just a little closer…

Time seemed to stand still, the only sound their shaky breathing and the pounding of her heart, a wonderfully impossible moment.  They say Disney’s the happiest place on Earth, she thought distantly, waiting for his lips to meet hers. 

I need some happy right now.

No, that’s not true – I just need Alec.

[blueboxesandtrafficcones]

The French Connection - Chapter 7

A HardyxMiller AU

Ellie Miller is left to go on her honeymoon alone after a devastating secret about her fiance comes to light - halfway through the wedding ceremony.  Sitting in St Pancras International in London waiting for her train, she runs into none other than her uni rival/best friend Alec Hardy, on the run from his own recent heartbreak.

They decide to make use of Ellie’s pre-paid trip, rekindling their friendship and escaping real life; yet, it turns out their years at uni are the hardest to outrun. Based on this prompt from @timepetalscollective  

Chapters will be posted every Wednesday and Sunday.  Beta’d by the wonderful @stupidsatsuma

Masterlist  |  AO3

---

“Hard to believe this is our last day in Paris,” Hardy noted, handing her a glass of wine before sitting down next to her.  “This trip has flown by.”

Ellie accepted the glass gratefully, taking a fortifying sip before agreeing.  “It really has.  Everything before running into you feels like ancient history, not a week.  To think-” she cut herself off, realizing that she didn’t want to talk about her almost-marriage with Hardy.  Though it had felt forced at the beginning, to ignore the elephant in the room, now it felt natural – almost out of place.

She didn’t want to talk about her past, but rather, she was considering her future and what she wanted.

Who she wanted.

She took another large gulp.  It’s just the wine and romantic sunset Seine riverboat cruise talking, she tried to convince herself.

“Anyway…” Hardy drawled, eyeing her curiously, “if nothing else, we’ve certainly gotten some distance from our troubles.”

“That’s for sure.”  Stretching her legs out in front of her, Ellie watched the setting sun play over the steel frame of the Eiffel Tower, captivated by the fiery glow.  “Thank you, really, for coming with me.”

He stayed silent for long enough that she didn’t expect a response, so she startled when he spoke.

“You probably don’t know this- I don’t know how you would as I didn’t tell anyone other than my professors- but a few weeks before the end of the fall term our last year, my mother got sick.”

Ellie’s stomach dropped, not having expected that.  “I’m sorry- what was wrong?”

“Cancer- everywhere, but it had started in her breast, near as they could tell.  By the time it was caught, it had…” Stretching his long legs out in front of him, he leaned back slightly on the bench to stare up at the darkening night sky.  “Well, at that point I dropped everything to return home to try to… keep her comfortable.  It only took ten days, then another week for the funeral and wrapping up her affairs, not that she had anything significant.  That… that’s why I missed the presentation.  The day she was diagnosed and I left to go to her was the night we were supposed to meet.”

Ellie’s breath caught, eyes widening.  She knew the night he was talking about; she’d spent hours in the library waiting for him, only he never showed.  She’d spent a good portion of that time cursing him and complaining (mostly to the empty study room she’d reserved), and now felt horrible about it.  “I had no idea,” she whispered, wincing in mortification at how she’d gone off the next time she’d seen him – which had been after the presentation.  “Oh, Hardy.  I’m so sorry.”

“Anyway,” he continued without acknowledging her, “I muddled through the last week or two of the semester, then went home and cried my way through the holidays.  That’s why I was so much worse after classes resumed – I’d just spent a month listening to my father complain about how selfish my mother’d been to go off and die and leave him alone.  He didn’t care that she’d died, only that she wasn’t there to play servant for him.”

“And I was a total bitch to you about it,” she moaned, grimacing.  “I didn’t have a clue, I thought you were just being… eccentric or something.  Fuck, I’m sorry, Alec, really.”  His first name slipped out, entirely on instinct, and it would’ve felt strange if she wasn’t so heartbroken for him.  “I don’t know what to say.”

He turned his head to face her, smiling softly.  “I’m fine,” he promised.  “And you couldn’t have known, because I didn’t tell you.  But you helped me anyway.”

Ellie snorted, angrily wiping away a stray tear.  “Oh, sure I did,” she snarked.  “By- by- by bullying you?  Constantly harassing you about things?  Competition?  Yes, I can see how that would be helpful.”

“Miller,” he sighed, an oddly affectionate inflection to her name that only served to make her lower lip tremble.  “Believe it or not, yes.  Spending time with you, competing with you as you put it… it all felt normal.  It was the only thing that did at the time.  My mother was just… gone.  The only family I had, really, in the sentimental people-who-love-you sense.  But bickering with you over test answers and working on projects… I could forget it, at least for a little while.  It kept me out of my own head.”

She twisted her lips, unsure of how to take that.  On the one hand she was glad to have been a comfort, even an unknowing one, but on the other, she felt absolutely rotten over how she’d treated him.  “I wish you’d trusted me,” she said, voice low, “and told me.  I could’ve helped, somehow.  I’m sorry you felt the need to struggle alone.”

“Of course I trust you.  There’s no one else on this Earth I trust more,” he shrugged, before wincing.  “That sounds a bit sad, but it’s true.  I didn’t exactly have many friends in my department on the best day, and now most have sided with my ex and her other bloke.  My father’s gone, not that he was ever worth a damn.  There’s acquaintances I’ve built a decent working relationship with, but… there’s no one who has shown me the same level of kindness you do.”  He grimaced again. “That still sounds awful.  Perhaps my point is- there’s no one else I’d rather be on holiday with.”

“It does sound pathetic,” Ellie agreed after a moment, making him roll his eyes.  “But… I know what you mean.  I… don’t have anyone either.  I do have a few decent mates, but no one I even remotely considered asking to come along.  The best friend I do have has a toddler, and so I barely see her, and when we do it’s all about Chloe- her daughter.  I mean, she’s absolutely precious and I adore her, I’m her godmother, but still…”

A server appeared then with a bottle of wine, and without a word both thrust their glasses towards him, waiting until he’d filled both and moved on to turn back to each other somewhat awkwardly, the moment lost.

“Well,” Hardy lifted his glass towards her, “here’s to us- the sorriest pair I’ve ever met.”

Laughing, Ellie clinked her glass against hers.  “Hear, hear.”

And, sipping at the ruby liquid, she realized that despite the epithet, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so hopeful.

-

They stumbled into the hotel bar arm in arm, still laughing at how the self-righteous holier-than-thou cow on the cruise had been so bloody anxious to be first off the boat and not have to wait for anyone she’d almost gone for an unexpected swim in the Seine when the boat moved unexpectedly as she’d clambered off.

“The way her arms were windmilling though!” Ellie howled, the copious wine not helping her regain her landlegs.  “Did you hear how she screamed?”

“I thought her husband was going to jump in, he was so embarrassed by her,” Hardy sniggered in response, his arm a solid weight around her waist helping keep her steady.  “And I don’t blame him- I’d have arrested her for disturbing the peace or something if I could’ve.  No question that she was overserved.”

They found a booth in the back corner, a horseshoe-shaped one that let them sit together, and Ellie didn’t think twice about sitting snugly against Hardy’s side.  “It’s cold in here,” she shivered for emphasis, smiling brightly when he rolled his eyes and removed his sport coat to drape it around her shoulders.  “Oh, thank you,” she gushed, batting her eyelashes at him.  “You’re too kind.”

“More like I know better than to get you mad when you’re drunk,” he smirked, stretching his arm along the top of the seatback.  “More wine, or something else?”

“Hmmm…”  Ellie reached for the drinks menu, humming idly to herself as she flipped the pages.  “What’re you having?”

“I’ll have whatever you have.”

“Oooh, whiskey!”

“No.”

“Hardy!”

“Miller!”

When glaring didn’t work she pouted, sticking out her lower lip.  “But why not?” she whined.  “I like it, and you’re Scottish.  You’re legally obligated to drink it.”

“Because whiskey makes you aggressive,” he smirked, shaking his head.  “Remember?  You had a double at Morgan Anderson’s, and single-handedly caused the party to get raided.  At Easter.  I had to do some very fast talking to keep what’s-her-name from pressing charges.”

“Margaret Finnegan,” Ellie sniffed, “and she was being a bitch.  We were clearly in the middle of a conversation!  She’s lucky that was all I did.”

She didn’t appreciate the amused curl to his lips, or the light in his eyes.  “Right,” he agreed, his tone mocking.  “You merely pushed her, and pulled her hair, and took a swing at her.  She got off easy.”

“Stop making fun.”

“Oh, I’m not,” he chuckled.  “You’re more Glaswegian than I am, I think.”

Ellie scowled, before turning and waving over the waitress.  “More wine, then?”

-

Two bottles later they were well and truly blitzed, and Ellie couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun with someone.  Probably with him, at uni.  The wine had well and truly relaxed her, and the gentle glide of his fingertips along her bicep didn’t hurt.

“What?” Hardy cut himself off to ask, looking at her curiously.  “All right?”

“Why didn’t we stay in touch?” she asked, unaware she’d been thinking about it until the words slipped out.  “After graduation- I never heard from you again.”

He paused, glancing down at his half-full wine glass before draining its contents.  “You were gone when I woke up,” he reminded her with a sigh. “I stopped by your flat later that morning.  You weren’t there but your sister was, and I left a letter for you with her with my contact information.  So I’m not sure how it’s my fault we lost touch.”

Ellie’s head jerked up from where it had been heavily supported by her elbow on the table.  “Wait, what?  You left me a letter?”

“Yeah, with your sister.  Well, she said she was your sister.  And she looked exactly as how you always described her.”

“I never told you what she looked like,” Ellie frowned, mind racing as she tried to remember if Lucy had ever given her a letter.  Maybe it got put in a box and forgotten?  She hadn’t gone through most of her stuff after moving home, and had moved most of them straight into her new house without ever unboxing them.

He snorted.  “You didn’t need to.  It was obvious from her personality.”

“Well, I never got it, not that I’m particularly surprised.  Though you could’ve called me; I’d already given you that information,” she reminded him.

“I’m no good with that,” Hardy said gently.  “And I figured… if you wanted to get in touch, you would.  That maybe I had ruined everything with… what happened.”

Ellie laughed at that.  “I wouldn’t say that,” she said coyly, the wine giving her courage.  “I thought… ‘what happened’… was actually pretty nice.”  She shifted in her seat, leaning slightly closer to him and grinning.

“Then why did you leave?”

“I was late for brunch with my family.  Wasn’t exactly by choice.  And when I went to see you later, you were already gone.”

Hardy licked his lips nervously, drawing her gaze as her imagination went into overdrive.  “So… it wasn’t out of regret?”

Heat pooled in her lower belly, eyes widening slightly as she realized, distantly, what would inevitably happen if this conversation continued.

“Decidedly not.”

He reached out a trembling hand, pushing a loose lock of hair back from her face.  “Glad to hear it,” he rasped, the lower pitch to his voice fanning the flame building inside her.  “I had thought it was… pretty nice too.”

“I suppose it’s like you said, we agreed more often than we knew.”  Is he getting closer?  Her breath caught, anticipation making her skin tingle.  “I wonder if you agree with what I’m thinking right now.”

His arm slipped down around her waist, palm warm against her side, and she was hyperconscious of how they were pressed together from hip to knee.  “Suppose that depends on what you’re thinking.  Can’t read minds, me.”

This is a bad idea, the little voice of reason in the back of her mind whispered.  Bad breakups, remember?  You haven’t seen each other in a decade.

“D’you want to know, though?”  Her hand settled on his knee, and she watched his adam’s apple bob as he swallowed, waiting in nervous anticipation for his reaction.

“You know me, I’m a curious soul,” he murmured, squeezing gently at her waist.

Heart pounding, she let her lips curl as she leaned up and into him, whispering into his ear.

And, just to be sure he understood, she slid her palm up his thigh and over his zip, making his hips jerk up as he gasped.

“Check please!”