#stardustxdreamers

[decadentias-a]

She’s grown soft around this man. Far more than she dare admit but tonight, it is allowed. She blames sentimentality on the progress of her pregnancy despite underlying emotions that whisper otherwise. His playful remark lingers but it has not yet been digested in the mind. “What about ...” Voice manages to find itself after parting, rising no more than a whisper in case someone wandered out. “... the baby? No happy new year?” Playfulness echoes along with a soft simper of her own. (Ayana)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  MADDOX IS VULNERABLE AROUND this woman. He feels like a human. He’s got so much emotions, and oftentimes, he’s overwhelmed. She has managed to peel through all his layers, penetrating through his callousness. She’s the only exemption to his coldness —– he melts around her easily. He maintains their distance, his hold on her hips, and brushes his nose against hers. Pulling away slightly to look her in the eye, his face softens. ❝Happy new year to our little bean,❞ he murmurs. His hand lowers to caress her stomach, feeling for that life, the life that they’d created together, inside her. 

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[decadentias-a]

Perhaps it is the festivities to blame or the sentimentality from the growing baby. Something draws her to sneak away with him from the crowded room as the countdown continues. Hidden in darkness, Ayana comes to stand near him. She is grateful the pregnancy has not shown itself yet. If she had, attending the party would have been impossible. “Happy new year, Mr. Ivanov...” And with that, tiers meet in a soft kiss as cries of joy echo as the clock strikes midnight. (Ayana-Maddox)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  NEW YEAR IS MAKING him sentimental. A lot had happened last year in his life. He had lost some, and gained some. However, the greatest gain that he could ever consider would be Ayana, and their unborn child. While it had made things complicated, he still feels grateful and blessed. Their complex circumstance had given him a chance to clarify his feelings, and strengthen their bond, and whatever relationship they had. 

        It’s the new year’s and they’re having their annual event. During the party, Maddox had been dying to kiss Ayana. She’s glowing, looking so stunning as ever. And with the knowledge that she’s secretly carrying their child, it’s almost driving him crazy. As they sneak out of the corner, getting out of the crowd, and gaining their privacy, he’s finally getting reprieve. Whenever they’re alone, they can be themselves, vulnerable in their own paradise. ❝Happy new year, Missus,❞ he whispers playfully, as he leans down to meet her mouth, and press his lips to hers, kissing her lovingly and passionately. 

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[decadentias-a]

The concern that stood at the forefront of her mind has found an immediate response before the question could dare leave lips. Breath she hardly knew to hold escapes in a sigh of relief as a hand falls over abdomen where their secret grew. What she dreaded most has now become something to protect ... and to see him here instead of work cements his initial words of never abandoning her. He didn’t need to come all this way. “... you came...” (Ayana)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  MADDOX IS DOING HIS best to protect Ayana and their child, but then, there are some things beyond his control. Just like now. He hates this—his anxieties and his fears rendering him vulnerable. He doesn’t think he can handle it if something happens to her and their unborn child. Fuck, he’s becoming soft and sensitive, far from the calloused man that he was. ❝Of course, I would.❞ She seems surprised, and maybe he hasn’t really made it clear enough that she and their child is his top–his number one–priority. He takes a sharp breath, and then turns to look at her, meeting her gaze. ❝H-How are you feeling?❞ he asks gently, prompting a conversation. 

[decadentias-a]

She is washed with relief when the door opens to reveal the help she desired. Her remark is quick to the other to signal a moment of peace before the call ends. The rest was all a blur of questions and movement. Her exhaustion finally winning over to rest in the meantime. By the time conscious dares to return, there is only silence as the scent of antiseptics fill her senses. Evening sky with twinkled lights of the city below being her only form of light source. “What time is it?” (Maddox)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  MADDOX FELT HELPLESS AT this point. The least he could do now was hope that things would go well, that she would be safe. As the call ended, he was left with a heavy feeling in his chest. Life would’ve been better if he was calloused and heartless. He hated to feel, knowing that when he did, he felt intensely. He paced back and forth in his office, and once he got a call confirming her arrival in the hospital, he called them relentlessly, asking about her condition, and wanting to be sure that she was okay, and that she would be fine.

        He went to the hospital, cancelling all his meetings, wanting to focus his whole attention on her. When she was stabilized, he talked to the doctor, got the confirmation that she was  fine, much to his relief. Drained from all the worries, he went to her room and slept by her bedside. As evening came, he woke up, and at the same time, she regained her consciousness. ❝It’s evening,❞ he answered. ❝You were asleep for 5 hours, but you’re okay---you and the baby are okay.❞

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[decadentias-a]

The more she tenses, the worse the pain became. She can barely even hold the phone any longer in lieu of holding her abdomen, practically on her knees as tears fall. It’s excruciating and secretly, she’s wishing he was there. Oh what she wouldn’t give to have him hold her, whispering words of comfort as she endured this. It is almost a chore to grab her phone again, if only to speak between an uneven pace of breathing. “I-I’m trying ... just ... god, what’s taking them so long...?” (Maddox)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  MADDOX WISHES THAT HE could be there by Ayana’s side to give her the comfort and support that she needs. To say that he’s worried would be an understatement. He’s filled with dread, not liking the possible danger that she’s going through, the jeopardy that the life inside her —- their child —- is in. He feels helpless, no idea of what to do, and what to say. ❝Shit. Okay, I’ll do a follow-up.❞ He grabs his other phone, furiously types the 911 number, and urges them to hurry. He doesn’t care if he almost sounds like a mad man for being so fussy; right now, he just wants to do everything he can to take away her pain. 

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[decadentias-a]

“Maddox —“ A sharp breath is inhaled as fingers press against her abdomen. Muscles continue to tense as the cramps worsen, almost becoming unbearable. What ... was happening? Everything has been going well so why? — it couldn’t be ...! “Meet me ... at the hospital. I-I already had your housekeeper call ... the ambulance.” Opposite hand presses the phone close to her ear; teeth burying into lower lip to hold back the agonized cry that threatens to leave. (Ayana-Maddox// YOUR ANGST MISSY)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  MADDOX HEARS THE DIFFICULTY in her breathing, and detects her distress, giving rise to his panic. What’s going on? She doesn’t sound okay. She mentions something about hospital and ambulance, and it makes his stomach flip. Shit! He wants to know what’s happening to her. If he could, he would fly to where she is, just to be by her side. ❝Ayana? Wh-What’s going on?❞ he asks, sucking in a sharp breath. ❝W-Where are you now?❞ He’s never been the kind who would ever freak out, but that’s what he does right now. He places the line on hold, quickly calls his secretary to tell her to cancel all his meetings, and returns to the call. ❝Hang in there, okay?❞

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[decadentheart]

“Should I hide if your chef shows up or do they know our arrangement?” Despite her attempts at making a joke, there is no denying the concern hiding beneath. Thankfully, there is little to show in regards to the pregnancy but it didn’t mean that she didn’t feel the same stress as day one. In fact, she still wonders what to do when she does begin to gain the weight as the baby grows. (Ayana-Maddox)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  OF COURSE, MADDOX IS well-aware of her concern towards their privacy. They had to be careful, after all. With her secret pregnancy, both of their reputation are under jeopardy. Their world is too cruel, but for Ayana, as a woman, it’s twice as worse compared to his. He knows, because he’s witnessed how hard she has worked to prove herself to everyone, which is one of the things that he loves about her. ❝We have a lot of NDAs prepared for whoever we’d meet,❞ he deadpans, going along with her jest. He means it, though. As much as possible, he will protect her from any tribulations that would come their way. ❝Don’t worry about it. Let’s just.  .  .enjoy ourselves.❞ 

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[decadentheart]

It’s unlike him to not know whether he would attend but far more uncharacteristic when he admits his final desire. Truthfully, she felt the same sentiment but whether for the same reason is unknown. Her family — god, she never enjoyed being placed on display like something to be bought by the highest bidder. “Well ... if you’re not going, I don’t think it’s right for me to leave either.” More of an excuse but he didn’t need to know. “Can’t have you alone for the holidays.” (Ayana-Maddox)

✼:*ﾟ:.｡..｡.:*･ ｢ ♚ ｣  MADDOX CAN’T OUTRIGHT EXPRESS his desire to spend thanksgiving with her, rather than his family. He just wants to spend a simple and peaceful day with her; stay at home, have dinner, talk about anything — the typical mundane thing that he never thought he needs. He turns to look at her, and waits for her response. She dreads that she’ll have to go out. If she wants that, he wouldn’t be able to stop her. But when he hears her reply, he’s relieved.  ❝We can cook together and prepare dinner, then,❞ he suggests, already picturing the possibilities of what they could do together. ❝And to make things easier, I can ask my chef to assist us.❞ Somehow, he’s determined to make thanksgiving a good and memorable day for the both of them.

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