Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1

As you walk down the street, people stare. You're used to it. I mean, you were once half of the most talked-about couple in the world — Austin Butler and his mystery girl. That mystery girl? Yeah, that was you.

You and Austin had one of those relationships people romanticized way too hard. The kind that looked perfect on red carpets but behind the scenes? A mess.
It ended badly.
He cheated.
With your best friend — no, scratch that — your ex best friend. The girl you’d known since high school. The one who used to sneak into auditions with you and promise you’d always make it big together.

So when it all blew up, you didn’t just lose your boyfriend. You lost your person. Your history. Your whole world flipped.
And after that? You vanished.
Took a break from everything — acting, interviews, life in general. The world noticed. The paparazzi kept asking questions. Headlines kept guessing.
But no one really knew the truth.
Not yet, anyway.

Now here you are — 10 months later — walking back onto a film set for the first time. Trying to pretend you’ve got it all together again. Hair done. Lines memorized. Confidence? Faked, but passable.

The project is Elvis — the kind of film people are already calling “career-defining.” Think glitter, screaming crowds, and the weight of a legend’s legacy hanging over every single scene.

Austin plays Elvis Presley.
Luke Bracey plays Jerry Schilling, Elvis’s right-hand man.
And you? You’re playing Priscilla — the woman who loved him, lived with him, and saw it all.
Funny how art imitates life.

You spot them the second you step on set.
Austin’s in full costume — jet-black hair, leather jacket, rings shining under the studio lights. He’s talking to a crew member, but the second he sees you, he freezes. The look on his face? Priceless.

Luke’s already watching too, but in a completely different way. He leans against the wall, arms crossed, relaxed. There’s a smirk tugging at his lips, like he’s been waiting for this moment and he knows it’s about to get messy.

“Didn’t think you’d actually show up,” Luke says, strolling toward you.

You raise an eyebrow. “Disappointed?”

“Not even a little.”

Austin’s still staring. You don’t give him the satisfaction of looking back. Not yet.

Luke stops just close enough, lowering his voice so only you can hear. “You good?”

You smile, casual, like none of this bothers you. “Better than I’ve ever been.”

Lie. But a necessary one.

Because the truth?
The truth is still a secret.
And when it comes out — everything changes.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2

Your hands are shaking again. you pick up the script and pretend I’m fine. I’m not fine. Every line, every cue feels like it weighs a ton.

The crew is buzzing around you: shouting, dragging cables, adjusting lights. They all look like they know what they’re doing. You? I’m spiraling.

Austin walks past. Leather jacket brushing the air. Hair perfect. That stupid, infuriating smile. Your chest twists. You force your eyes down at your lines. Focus. Lines first. Don’t let him see you crumble. Don’t let anyone see. Not the cameras. Not the crew. Not even Mia.

Mia’s suddenly beside me, brush in hand. Whispering, “Breathe. You’ve got this.” Her calm is a lifeline. I cling to it. She doesn’t know the full truth. Thank God. The secret inside me, buried, heavy, alive and it makes your heartbeat pound. One slip, one wrong look, and it’s all out.

Every laugh from the crew is loud. Every glance from Austin feels like a test. Luke Bracey’s across the set, smirking. Calm. Confident. Untangled. you envy him.

Makeup check. Costume fittings. Reading lines. Smile. Nod. Act professional. Blend in. But inside? I’m crushed under it all. Not just a movie. Your life. Storm of secrets, lies, what-ifs.

By the first scene, your palms are slick, stomach twisted, mind racing. Lines, cues, Austin, Luke, Mia… the secret. It’s not just a secret anymore. It’s alive. Clawing at me. Reminding me of everything you lost. Everything I’m hiding. Everything you can’t let anyone touch.

You have to survive Day One. Not for the movie. Not for appearances. For me. For a future I’m not ready for.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3

It’s a week later and honestly? It’s been hell.

Between the scenes where you have to act civil with Austin, pretend like nothing happened, smile when the director yells “cut,” and then rush off before you break down — you’re exhausted. And now your baby girl has a fever.

Yes, your baby girl.

She’s 12 weeks old now, time is flying by. Her name is Lila Summer Butler. And yes, you gave her his last name. Don’t even ask why. Maybe because no matter how much you hate him, he’s still a part of her. Maybe because deep down you wanted her to have that connection, even if he never knew.

When you first found out you were pregnant, you didn’t know what to do. You were already three months along. Three months. Too far in to pretend it wasn’t real, but not far enough to feel ready. Were you going to keep her? Or give her up? At first, you thought about adoption. You thought maybe you weren’t strong enough. But in the end, you knew. You knew you could take care of this sweet little soul.

And now here she is, twelve weeks old, burning with a fever, and you’re stressing out of your mind. The babysitter called in sick. Your parents flew out of town literally yesterday. So guess what? You had no choice but to bring Lila to work.

The irony of it all? You never planned to see Austin again. Never planned to work with him again. That’s why you didn’t tell him. About the pregnancy. About the baby. About anything. Keeping it from him felt like the safest thing to do after everything he put you through.

It hurt too much. Every time you saw his picture in a magazine, or some stranger on the street who looked like him, you couldn’t breathe. Panic attacks. Heart racing. Chest tight. The kind that made you worry you were hurting the baby too. So you pulled away from the world completely.

You left.

You moved to the Netherlands of all places. Why there? Back in college at Yale, you met two Dutch girls, Hannah and Eva. Best friends since childhood, but they welcomed you in like family. They shared their culture, their food, their inside jokes. And when your world collapsed, they were the ones who said, Come stay with us.

So you did. You stayed with them until you were 36 weeks pregnant. Then you flew back home to have Lila.

Hannah and Eva got you through it all — the morning sickness, the nights you cried yourself to sleep, the fear of raising a baby alone. They were there for you when no one else was.

And right now? They’re on a plane, flying to you. The second they heard Lila was sick, they dropped everything. Just like that.

How sweet is that?

Chapter Text

Chapter 4

Well, you did it. You safely got Lila out of the car and into your trailer, whispering soft promises that today would be okay. She was burning up last night, but the fever’s dipped just enough that you convinced yourself it’s fine to bring her. You rock her gently, humming while scanning through your wardrobe for today’s scene.

It hits you, today’s the last day of filming. Secretly, you’re a little sad about it. Somewhere between the chaos of cameras and the weight of secrets, you carved out a rhythm. And Luke? Luke has been a surprising part of it. Easy laughs. Flirty smirks. A shoulder when you felt the cracks forming. But no matter how kind he is, no matter how much he tries, your heart still feels frozen in time. Stuck back in the wreckage Austin left behind.

You’re halfway into your costume when

BANG. BANG. BANG.

The knock rattles your trailer door. A voice calls out, sharp, impatient. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

You freeze.

The voice is familiar, but muffled, rough. You call back, “Sure! Just a second!” Already moving fast, panic sprinting through your veins.

You glance at Lila. She’s nestled against you, wide-eyed, clutching your shirt with tiny fists. You try to set her in her crib, cover her with a blanket, anything to buy time

The door creaks open. Too soon.

He’s already inside.

You turn, baby still in your arms. And your stomach drops.

Chapter Text

Chapter 5

You started crying, your chest tightening as the edges of your vision blurred. The anxiety hit fast, too fast — shallow breaths, shaky hands, the fear of being caught wrapping tighter around you.

You quickly set Lila down in her crib, whispering apologies you couldn’t even finish. The strong, muscular man stepped closer, steady and calm in a way you weren’t. His hands were gentle as he guided you toward a chair, voice low and grounding.

“Hey, hey… breathe. I’ve got you.”

The voice cut straight through you. Familiar. Unmistakable.

You looked up, and your stomach dropped.

It was Austin.

Yes, Austin. The one person who somehow always knew how to reach you, even when everything else felt out of control. He’s holding you gently, fingers threading through your hair, his voice low and steady as it guides you back from the edge.

“Y/N…” he murmurs, so soft it’s almost a whisper, like he’s afraid if he speaks too loudly he might shatter something fragile inside you.

“Yes, Austin, I know… I’m so sorry. I should have told you,” you whispered, voice trembling.

He held you a little tighter, his hand brushing your hair, sending sparks through you you weren’t ready to admit. Every touch made your chest ache with memories and regrets you hadn’t fully healed from.

“You don’t have to apologize,” he murmured, voice low and warm, almost tender. “You’ve been carrying so much alone.”

You swallowed hard, glancing away, because if you met his eyes, you might crumble completely or worse, fall for him again. “I thought… I thought it was safer this way. To keep it… all to myself,” you admitted quietly.

He pressed a soft kiss to your temple. “Safer doesn't mean right. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Before you could respond, a tiny wail broke through the moment. Lila. Your chest tightened, guilt and panic rising.

Austin’s gaze instantly shifted. In a blink, he scooped her up in his strong arms, cradling her against his chest. And you couldn’t help but notice, even in this tender, protective moment, the Elvis costume clung to him perfectly. The open collar, the tailored fit… he looked unreal. Hot. Heart-stoppingly hot.

“Hey, hey… it’s okay, baby girl,” he soothed, rocking her gently. His voice, low and grounding, immediately calmed her cries. The way he moved, careful, confident, every gesture just right made your chest twist in a way you weren’t ready for.

“You’re amazing,” you whispered, your throat tight.

He glanced at you, his eyes dark with something tender, protective… and maybe desire. “She’s perfect,” he said softly, looking down at her, then back at you. “Just like her mom.”

Your chest ached, a mix of pride, longing, and caution. Part of you wanted to step closer, let yourself lean on him, but another part remembered the heartbreak.

He caught your hesitation, reading you like he always did. “I’ll wait,” he said, voice low, almost a promise. “I’ll wait as long as you need. But right now… we take care of her. Together.”

Even distant, even guarded, your heart couldn’t deny it. Seeing him with Lila like this — protective, gentle, and somehow impossibly sexy in his Elvis suit — stirred something deep inside you that you weren’t ready to ignore.

Chapter Text

Chapter 6

You couldn’t stop replaying the image of Austin holding Lila, the steadiness of his arms, the gentleness in his voice, like he’d been born to be her father. When filming finally wrapped, Austin asked if he could stay in the hotel with you. You tried to say no, to keep the walls up around your heart, but the truth was harder to fight: those feelings you thought you’d buried? They were back.

Since filming was over, it meant the inevitable wrap party was coming up. Hannah and Eva had just landed and, without hesitation, insisted on babysitting Lila so you could finally take a break. “We’ve got her,” Hannah promised, already cooing over Lila in her crib. “You go and have fun.”

Even though Lila was doing better, a knot of guilt sat in your stomach. You had kept her from Austin all this time. What if he hated you for it?

You stood in front of the mirror, smoothing the silky dress Hannah insisted you wear. The soft hotel lights painted your skin in a warm glow, and for a moment, you almost felt like yourself again. Not just the girl holding secrets. Not just the tired mom. Tonight, you were… you.

The ballroom was alive when you arrived, laughter, glasses clinking, music bouncing off the walls. Cast and crew hugged, danced, and gushed about memories from set. You tried to blend in, sipping your drink, letting yourself relax for the first time in weeks.

Then Luke found you.

“Y/N,” he slurred, swaying slightly as he grinned, the alcohol in his system making his usual charm feel sharp and dangerous. “You look amazing tonight.”

“Thanks, Luke,” you said carefully, keeping your distance, feeling that familiar pit of unease form in your stomach.

But he didn’t take the hint. He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. “You think you’re too good for me?” he snapped. “Always acting like I’m beneath you. What’s your problem, huh?”

“I’m not interested, Luke,” you said firmly, taking a step back, hoping the crowd around you would shield you.

He didn’t back down. Instead, his hand shot out, grabbing your arm with a strength that made you wince. “Where do you think you’re going?” he hissed, leaning in too close. His breath smelled of alcohol, and the sharp edge of his words made your stomach twist.

“Let go of me!” you snapped, yanking your arm free, your voice louder than you intended. Some of the nearby partygoers glanced over, but no one stepped in. The hum of music and chatter made your pulse race faster, your heart thumping in your chest like a drum.

Luke’s grin twisted, almost cruel, as he leaned closer, his voice low and dangerous. “You think you can just brush me off, huh? Everyone sees right through you. Don’t pretend.”

Panic surged. Your eyes scanned the room, looking for an escape, and your gaze locked on the exit, the only way out without making a scene. But Luke’s movements mirrored yours, cutting off every path.

The room felt suffocating. You wanted to scream, to push him off, to vanish, anything to get away. And just as his hand reached toward your arm again, tightening his grip…

A shadow fell across the space between you and him, and you froze. Something in the air shifted, the tension stretching so taut it could snap at any second.

The music swelled, the lights glinted off glasses and sequins, and Luke’s expression flickered the first sign that someone else’s presence had registered.

Your pulse quickened. You didn’t know who had stepped in, but instinctively, you felt that everything was about to change.

And then Luke’s grip didn’t loosen. Not yet.

Chapter Text

Chapter 7

I was scared. My body refused to move, like my feet had been glued to the floor. I tried to run, tried to scream, but the panic locked me in place. I had always thought Luke was kind charming, even. I never expected him to turn on me like this. The way his grip tightened, the way his eyes darkened… it wasn’t the Luke I thought I knew.

Thankfully, before his words could cut any deeper, another voice sliced through the noise.

“Let her go.”

It was sharp. Dangerous. Familiar.

Austin.

Luke laughed, low and bitter, his grip on my arm not loosening. “Stay out of this, Butler. This isn’t your business.”

The heat in Austin’s eyes made my heart stutter. He stepped closer, muscles tense beneath the sharp lines of his shirt, his jaw set like stone. “She is my business,” he growled.

Luke sneered, tugging me closer as if to prove a point. “She doesn’t need a hero. She made her choice.” His breath reeked of alcohol, his words slurred but cruel.

Austin didn’t hesitate. One second he was still, the next his fist connected with Luke’s jaw, the crack of impact echoing through the party. Gasps rang out around us, the music faltering as people turned to watch.

Luke stumbled back, clutching his face, rage flaring in his eyes. “You’re gonna regret that,” he spat, lunging forward.

Austin stepped in front of me, shielding me completely, his voice low and lethal. “Touch her again, and I’ll make sure you regret everything.”

My heart raced, my hands trembling as I clutched my chest. Everything blurred the lights, the noise, the chaos. All I could see was Austin, standing between me and the man who had just tried to break me.

And then… Luke lunged again.

Everything happened so fast, but Austin was faster. He caught Luke by the collar and shoved him back hard, the crowd around us gasping as glasses shattered on the floor.

“Don’t,” Austin warned, his voice like steel, low and dangerous.

But Luke wasn’t backing down. His face twisted with anger, the alcohol fueling him as he tried to push past Austin. “You think you can just take her back? That she’s yours?”

Austin didn’t move an inch. His arm stayed out, holding Luke at bay, his body still shielding me completely. “She’s not yours to talk about,” he snapped, his words cutting sharper than any punch.

For a moment, it looked like Luke was about to strike again—but then security rushed in, grabbing him before he could make contact. He fought against them, yelling slurred insults, but they dragged him out of the party while the room buzzed with whispers.

My knees gave out, and I almost collapsed—until Austin caught me. His arms were strong, grounding, pulling me against his chest.

“You’re safe,” he whispered, breath warm against my ear. “I’ve got you.”

The world blurred into background noise as Austin guided me out of the party, his arm wrapped firmly around me. My body was still trembling, every nerve raw, but he didn’t let go. Not once.

By the time we reached his hotel room, I was barely holding it together. My breaths were shallow, uneven, my hands shaking so badly it felt like another panic attack was waiting to swallow me whole.

Austin sat me down gently, kneeling in front of me so his eyes met mine. With careful hands, he brushed my hair back, his touch feather-light against my skin.

“I’ve got you, babe,” he whispered, steady and sure, like his voice alone could anchor me. “Don’t worry… I’ve got you.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 8

The morning came too fast. A soft glow spilled through the curtains, washing the hotel room in gold. You stirred slowly, not because of the light, but because of the weight across your shoulders, a man’s jacket. His jacket.

Austin sat slouched in the chair beside the bed, elbows on his knees, head tilted back against the wall. His lashes rested against his cheek, lips parted slightly, chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He had stayed. All night. Watching over you like he didn’t trust the world to touch you without him there.

You shifted, the jacket sliding down your arm. That tiny movement was enough his eyes blinked open, hazy at first before sharpening the second they found you.

“Hey,” his voice rasped, low and gravelly with sleep.

“Hey,” you whispered back.

He stretched, then crouched in front of you, his hands warm on your knees. “How are you feeling?”

The question was simple, but the way he asked it like nothing else mattered but you cracked something inside. “Better,” you admitted softly. “Thanks to you.”

His smile was small, fleeting, but his eyes stayed serious. “I told you, you don’t have to do this alone anymore.”

The words settled deep in your chest. He already knew about Lila, and instead of pulling away, he’d only stepped closer. Always closer.

Your eyes drifted down to his hands, strong and steady, then back up. The tension between you wasn’t new, but now it felt heavier. Hungrier.

He reached up, brushing a strand of hair from your face. His fingers lingered against your cheek, sliding down to your jaw. “You always hated mornings without coffee,” he teased softly, his voice dipping low, sending a shiver through you.

You laughed, shaky. “You remembered.”

“Of course I did.” His gaze flicked to your lips.

Your breath caught. His thumb brushed across your bottom lip, testing, slow like he was giving you one last chance to stop him. You didn’t.

The kiss hit hard. Desperate. Not soft, not tentative but years of longing, regret, anger, and want poured into one breathless press of lips. You fisted his shirt, pulling him closer, and he groaned against your mouth, deepening it.

The jacket slid to the floor as his hands cupped your face, then slid into your hair, tugging gently. You gasped, and he swallowed it, pressing you harder against him.

“God, I missed you,” he breathed against your throat, his lips trailing lower, slower, each brush leaving fire in their wake.

Your fingers slid beneath his shirt, skimming his stomach, and his breath hitched sharp. He caught your wrist, not to stop you, but to steady himself.

“Are you sure?” he murmured against your skin, his forehead pressing to yours, his voice almost breaking.

Your heart pounded so hard you were sure he felt it. The word “yes” burned on your tongue but it tangled with the weight of everything that had broken between you before.

So instead, you kissed him harder, pouring all the want, all the fear, all the need into him. His hands slid down your back, gripping your hips, pulling you onto his lap. You felt him, hard against you, and the heat between you spiked so fast it made your head spin.

The kisses turned messy, frantic. His teeth grazed your lip, and you moaned into his mouth, fingers tugging at his shirt like you couldn’t get close enough. His hands roamed your thighs, slipping under the hem of your dress, his breath ragged against your ear.

You arched into him, your body betraying every hesitation your mind still clung to. His hand slid higher, fingers grazing bare skin, and you broke against him, shivering.

Just when it felt inevitable when nothing could stop it this time a knock shattered the moment.

Sharp. Loud. Relentless.

You froze, breath caught in your throat, still straddling him, his hands gripping your waist. His chest rose hard against yours, both of you motionless as the knock came again.

Austin’s jaw clenched, his eyes flicking toward the door, then back to you. His voice was low, dangerous, rough with frustration.

“Don’t answer it.”