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The morning light hit her face with the same force as her headache. Uma had been right. She shouldn't have tried to drink like the others in the crew.
But for one night Audrey had wanted to live a little lighter. Lost Revenge was a safe place, the press wouldn’t find out about it. That's what Harry had promised. So, she could break the rules a bit and everything would be fine.
Uma helped her choose clothes that according to the captain, ‘My ship my rules’. And Audrey had had to be honest with herself. Uma didn't have to envy Evie's wardrobe or her own. Uma pushed her into leather pants, a loose green shirt, and a mustard-colored corset. To Uma's surprise, Audrey had required that the corset be tightened more because otherwise what was the point of wearing one? Harry had helped her with her hair, a loose, unkempt bun with a green scarf tied around her head to clear her face. Reddish chocolate lipstick and smoky eyeliner just like Harry's.
The final touch had been Gil interrupting in Uma's cabin and getting so excited to see her that Audrey found herself having to touch up her makeup and clean Gil's face.
It really was nice that modesty flew out of the hatch when she was with them.
Audrey didn't have to worry about bothering anyone with a simple show of affection or exploring the passion her boyfriend provoked in her. Audrey was free with them.
That led to the party itself. She had started by being hand in hand with Gil chatting with new people but mainly with Uma who sought to introduce her to all the customs that her crew had. Afterward, Audrey was against Gil's side as everyone sang and she had joined in, feeling her cheeks hot from the way Gil was looking at her like her voice was amazing or something. That's where the dance came from where Harry stole most of her time by challenging her with intricate moves and slowly pushing her to show off until at one point, in a twist, to be precious. She ended up in her boyfriend's arms. Gil shot her a look. And they sneaked away from the party for a few minutes. When they returned, the ridiculous competitions had started. A blend of liquor and skill that anyone in Auradon, including her, would think was a danger. But maybe she had already had too much dancing, liquor, and adrenaline, because instead of seeing a problem there, Audrey cheered Gil on for the entire competition.
At some point, Uma joined her with her impromptu cheerleader chants. That made Gil win most of the competitions. And in the end, Audrey had contributed by sitting in a chair and letting Gil lift her with one arm.
Yes, she could see the parallelism.
The party continued and...
Audrey didn't remember anything else.
Until that morning. Where everything was moving but it was not by nausea.
And the worst scenario that her grandmother had given her became real: A strange bed, in a place she did not know. Audrey bit back a cry as she realized she was completely naked. Panic began to grow in her belly until she noticed that most of her body was leaning against someone else. Noticeably big. Equally naked. Audrey stared doubtfully until she noticed Gil's distinctive hair.
Then the concern returned.
Oh no…
That was bad. Awfully bad.
Audrey gently pulled away from Gil and slowly got up, resting her body only her tiptoes. She looked at Gil's calm face and almost convinced herself to go back until she remembered that she was indeed completely naked and in what was possibly Gil's cabin. Audrey looked at her clothes from the night before and decided that she definitely couldn't wear those pants in absolute silence. But one of Gil's sweatpants. She moved gently, retrieving everything but her underwear. Because, of course, that was precisely what she wasn’t going to find. Audrey managed to keep her balance as she pulled on some pants and made her mental escape route. Where was her shirt? She held her head for a second, thinking how many excuses she would make to her grandmother if she found out about all this.
No, she wouldn't find out about anything.
Absolutely not.
What kind of princess maintained these kinds of behaviors? Oh no. If someone found out...?
“Audrey...?”
She stopped. Audrey had finally found her shirt, so she slowly pressed it against her chest. Meanwhile, Gil sat up in bed and she almost had a small heart attack. The same daylight that had disturbed her dream now illuminated Gil's hair and fell to his broad shoulders. Big arms. Oh, her boyfriend was huge. All muscle. How was it possible to have such an adorable face and such an imposing body?
Although all of that went perfectly well with the sweet love that Gil offered her and his intense passion that gave her life.
“Good Morning?” She swallowed even though her voice was hoarse.
“Where are you going?” Gil dropped his head on his shoulder and rubbed his eyes “Are you hungry? I can prepare something for you, or we can go to eat wherever you want. Or do you want to take a bath?”
She denied, shrugging herself. Now she didn't just feel terrible about the idea that everyone would know the second they saw her go back to her dorm. But now she was complicating things with Gil.
“Are you okay?”
Audrey didn't move. She wasn't sure how to answer that. A part of her brain, the one that felt free every time she was with Gil, begged her to close the distance between them and go back to bed. But the rest of her mind was making noticeably clear all the rules that she had broken. That wasn’t the same as the Christmas holidays. Because there the castle staff and her own family were witnesses of decorum. That was the protocol. It didn't matter if something really happened, all that really mattered was social reputation. A princess was worth nothing if her reputation was tainted. What if someone saw her? What if someone noticed...?
“Audrey?”
Her body knew better than her mind. She closed the distance between them, dropping her shirt on the way and climbing onto Gil's lap. He immediately hugged her and stroked her hair. Even if Gil didn't know what was going on, he was always there to give her affection. Audrey hid her face in Gil's neck.
“It's kind of stupid…”
“You always tell me that if it's important to me, then it's not stupid,” Gil nuzzled her over her cheek to get her attention “So if it's important to you it's super important to me.”
Audrey laughed, it was difficult for Auradon and its rules to enter her mind when they were this close.
“I wasn’t supposed to stay overnight here,” She reminded him.
“…I think we had a lot of fun. I don't remember how we got here. I forgot you had to go.” Gil sounded so sad that her heart ached “Sorry.”
“It's not your fault...” Audrey stroked his hair “It's not your obligation to remember my responsibilities.”
She looked at his profile and bit her lower lip.
“I’m not supposed to spend the night outside of the places authorized by my grandmother,” Audrey whispered “Or be without a chaperone. The press could destroy my name, and no one would want to marry me...”
“But I want to marry you,” Gil looked at her surprised that it wasn't obvious “Don't you want to?”
Audrey put enough distance between them to stare at him. Gil was being serious about this. No, not just serious. He spoke as if it were obvious.
“I am not a prince…”
“...and that doesn't matter,” She took his face “I don't want a prince.”
She wanted true love. Audrey wanted to be with Gil. That was their fairy tale.
“Then…?” Gil looked at her confused “Don't you want...?”
“Are you serious?” Audrey felt her voice crack a little with emotion “You would have to deal with so many things… And people would talk about you all the time. Getting involved with royalty is not easy. And my grandma…”
“I’m a VK. And a rare VK. Everyone was talking about me back then.” Gil shrugged. “And on the island, everything was so difficult. They were all difficult. Everything is better here. And there are Harry and Uma with me. We are not alone. We have each other.” He smiled “Don't you want to?”
Audrey nodded strongly. Flower crowns. Impulsive displays of affection. A new family that accepts her as she was. New friends. A big, strong, noble, and good boyfriend. Yes, she wanted it all.
“I accept,” She hugged him tightly “Thank you...”
The door was flung open and before she panicked at being naked from the waist up, Gil covered her with the sheet, like a veil, keeping her back in the direction of the door.
“Breakfast…” Harry's voice trailed off with malicious intonation at the end “Oh... Good morning to you two. Breakfast awaits. Then you two lovebirds can eat the dessert. Not before naughty little ones.”
“...Harry…” Uma's voice came from the corridor “Leave them alone.”
“Good morning,” Gil responded as if it was nothing strange to be technically naked in front of Uma and Harry... maybe it wasn't “We'll be going shortly,”
“... you never let me have fun,” Harry cursed, walking away.
“I let you have too much fun,” Uma secured a second before the door closed.
“I am sorry,” Gil apologized, looking at her “Here-”
“-is perfect,” Audrey answered without hesitation.
There was perfect.