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thorne93 · 7 years

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Old Flame, New Problems (Part 2)

Prompt: You’re in a serious relationship with Sebastian Stan, when news from your first love informs you that he’s now single and in need of a friend. Will your old flame burn out or will the flames get fanned and consume you?

Word Count: 3683

Warning: language, angst, fighting (verbal), cheating, drama

Notes: This idea came to me when news hit about Hayden and Rachel splitting. Of course I’m sad that a long time relationship such as theirs is ending, but it also means he’s single sooo…Also, no hate towards Rachel. I don’t know her, don’t know what really happened between them, etc. It’s a fic and in no way reflects what I think of either of them or their precious daughter ^.^

Beta’d by @like-a-bag-of-potatoes and flashbacks are in italics

Forever Tags: @capsmuscles @cocosierra94 @essie1876 @magpiegirl80 @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @harleyquinnandscarletwitch @iamwarrenspeace @marvel-imagines-yes-please @superwholocked527 @myparadise1982sand @missinstantgratification @thejemersoninferno @rda1989 @marvelloushamilton @munlis @thefridgeismybestie @bubblyanarocks3 @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @hardcollectionworldtrash @igiveupicantthinkofausername @kaliforniacoastalteens @feelmyroarrrr @kaeling

Sebastian Stan Tag: @nedthegay @lostinspace33 @alwayshave-faith @elleatrixlestrange @buenostardissherlock @lenawiinchester @the-red-world-of-jess-chibi @memory-of-a-goldfish @mellsstark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The phone rang, lighting up a familiar number. The usual pang of hurt assaulted your heart as you read his name. The love of your life. You took a deep breath and answered though, determined to make this friendship work.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Y/N...I, uh, I have some news. Thought you should hear it from me first,” his deep voice said into the phone.

At his words, you stiffened. What news? Why should you need to hear it?

“Okay? What’s up?” you inquired, trying to sound casual.

“I asked Rachel to marry me. She said yes.”

Time stopped.

“Y/N? Are you still there?”

You realized you weren’t breathing so you sucked in air and nodded, even though he couldn’t see that. Fighting back tears and the lump in your throat, you responded, “Uh, yeah, I’m still here. Wow. Hayden, that’s amazing. Congratulations.”

The plane ride made you feel bittersweet. You didn’t want to fight with Sebastian, but Hayden needed a friend. You hoped if the roles were reversed, you’d be supportive of him and his friends, no matter what their past was.

The sweet part was that you did think of Hayden as a friend, though you may have drifted a bit, the communication through the years was still there. When his daughter was born you talked for an hour about her, her name, what she was like. When he got a fashion line designed by him, you supported him and bought a few things for friends. When you won an Oscar for a screenplay, he called you to congratulate you. When your novel hit New York Times Bestseller list, he sent you a bottle of champagne.

No matter what happened, your lives were always a bit intertwined. The relationship had never hit a toxic or bad point that you could remember.

The ride from the airport made you even more nervous. You probably shouldn’t have butterflies going to see your ex, but you couldn’t snuff out feeling happy to see him.

The taxi turned on the driveway of an expansive property and you stifled a gasp as you took in your surroundings. You knew Hayden had bought a farm, but you had no idea he was going all out with livestock and barns and equipment. Sure, he had told you that before...But actually seeing it was another thing entirely. It was gorgeous. Open, peaceful, serene. The sun was just setting beyond the rolling hills directly in front of you as the taxi rolled up.

The driveway was long, of course, as his home sat back a few acres inside the property. Once you reached it though, you were stunned. It was so...him. Homey. Refined. Subtle. Tasteful.

A wide grin debuted on your face as the taxi stopped and you fished out the fare money and gave it to the driver as he asked if you needed help with your bags. You told him no and he popped the trunk.

You looked up to see Hayden walking your way. Donning a gray shirt with shallow V neck and dark jeans and boots, he looked just as handsome as ever. The fact that that thought crossed your mind made a lash of guilt cut across your chest.

Just as you were stepping out and standing up, he reached you. You looked up at him and he looked down at you. It wasn’t awkward...There was more of a static tension between you two more than anything. But suddenly, his arms engulfed your entire body.

“It’s so good to see you,” Hayden said as he held you tight. “Let me help you with your bags,” he offered with a bit of a smile and a happy tone as he let you go and went to the back of the taxi.

“Oh, no, Hayden, it’s fine,” you assured awkwardly as you followed him.

“You always were stubborn,” he stated with a sideways smile as he pulled out your luggage and sat it on the gravel.

“It’s not stubborn,” you retorted, grabbing the laptop backpack and throwing it over your shoulder. “It’s being independent.” Hayden rolled his eyes, grabbed your two suitcases, and lead the way to the house.

Once inside the home, you recognized all the little touches that was Hayden and Rachel’s life together. Pictures of them on the wall, art that Briar Rose had done on the fridge. You knew the sofas were picked by Hayden because they were soft and brown. He loved the earthy colors. But then you saw where Rachel’s taste had come into play. The rug, the coffee table. The kitchen appeared to be their blend of taste and style.

It shouldn’t hurt the way it did to see the home they had built together. You and Hayden hadn’t dated for over ten years now. You had been over him for a while. So why did it hurt to see their family home?

Perhaps because once upon a time this was supposed to be yours. This is what you had envisioned for you two. Hayden was by far your longest relationship, with Sebastian running second at two and a half years. Everyone else in between that time was eight months or less.

“Wow,” you quietly noted as you looked around.

“Let me give you the tour,” he offered with excitement. “Just sit your stuff down wherever.”

You slid the backpack with your notebooks, pens, and laptop off your back and laid it beside your other luggage. He took you all over the house. Four bedrooms, two had wood-burning fireplaces, and all had walk in closets; four bathrooms; an expansive kitchen and walk in pantry and double ovens; a beautiful office; a playroom; and inground swimming pool.

“So that’s the inside,” he said as he finished the tour back in the kitchen. “We could do the outside tomorrow.”

You smiled appreciatively as you walked into the cozy kitchen.

“Yeah, we can do that,” you surmised. “So how many acres do you have here?”

“About fifty,” he stated. “You want anything to drink?” he questioned as he stepped over to his refrigerator.

“Just water’s fine,” you said as he grabbed a bottle and handed it to you while he grabbed a drink of his own. “So you’re a regular old McDonald, hmm?” you teased lightly.

He smirked as he peered at you. “What? Farm life out of your element, city girl?” he joked back.

“I just never thought you’d actually do this...All of this. The farm...the animals…” you stated, gesturing to everything around you before leaning back against the white island with a pale wooden top.

“Yeah. I really wanted this,” he informed, his eyes now dancing around the home.

“And you built all this?’ you questioned, not able to hide the impressiveness in your voice.

He shrugged with a smile as he started to walk back toward the living room and you followed.

“I had help, of course. I didn’t lay the foundation or anything but I did help build it. I worked with the architect to design what I wanted and I was out here every day, putting in studs, drywall, you name it.”

You nodded appreciatively as you sat on the couch next to him. “It’s very beautiful, Hay. I’m really proud. I’ve always wanted to come see it but...I know Rachel isn’t my biggest fan…”

He laughed at your remark and nodded slowly. “Uh, no, no she is not.”

“So is it everything you thought it would be? The farm?”

His eyes went wide for a moment in contemplation as he thought of an answer. “Yeah. It’s a lot of work...But I enjoy it. It’s nice to get out and work, you know?”

You laughed and shook your head. “No. I don’t.”

“No, you don’t,” he agreed with a huge grin and laugh. “You never were one for anything but the city.”

“Hey, that’s not true,” you retorted. “I like the country just fine...I just don’t like working from sun up to sundown.”

He smiled knowingly in response, his eyes casting down to the drink in his hands. “Yeah, I suppose there’s that.”

Silence flowed between you two for several minutes. You knew you were avoiding the elephant in the room. Half of you knew that Hayden needed to address his issue, the other half knew very well that people can’t be pushed to talk about things.

“So...what happened?” you suddenly asked as you glanced up from the coffee table to Hayden.

“Right to the punch, huh?” he asked.

“Hay...You called me up here to be your friend...to help you get through this...We can’t get through this if you don’t talk,” you gently, but firmly, informed.

He sighed and nodded as he placed his drink on the coffee table. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.” He sat back and turned to face you. “I don’t know...really...It started out small...Like she’d want to go out--for drinks or whatever--and I’d tell her I’d want to stay in. For years she seemed fine with it. Until the last year or so...she’d just leave without me. It wasn’t a fight, it would just be like ‘Hey, you wanna come to this party?’ I’d say no, and she’d say ‘Okay, well I’m gonna go,’ and she’d leave. At first, it was fine. She got to go out, I got to stay home. Compromise…”

He stopped talking, probably trying to gather his thoughts, thinking of the moment it all changed. You sat by patiently, peering at your friend, letting him take his time to sort through everything. You knew ten years together, and having a child, that separating after that must be rough. There was no way you could even comprehend the pain of that.

He took a deep breath and jumped back in again, tearing you from your thoughts. “But then...it started to be a problem. She’d ask me to a wedding and I’d say no and it’d turn into an argument.”

“Because of your anxiety?” you quietly questioned, remembering that he had dealt with anxiety and depression for a long time and curious if that was the reason.

A humorless snort came from him, his eyes still on the floor. “Yeah, that’s why. I just...I can’t be in a room with that many people, that many strangers. I can’t stand it or the way it makes me feel. Work...acting, that’s different. I know most of those people and if I don’t, I’ll get to know them. But….all the random social events like parties, going to a bar or club, weddings...My senses go on overdrive and I just can’t…”

“Well you two seemed to deal with it okay for like nine years, what changed? Was it Briar Rose?” you asked. From your point of view, that was the only thing that had changed between them.

“I don’t know...It could’ve been. I know Rach wanted Briar to get out, socialize, see kids her own age...Play dates and all that. But I was fine keeping her here, with us, on the farm.”

You nodded, not sure how to respond. You didn’t have kids so you had no way of knowing what was best for a child.

“But...it just became one thing after the other. Another event or party or night out that I didn’t want to go to. She said she couldn’t let my anxiety bring her down anymore, and I don’t blame her,” he stated with a half smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“Hay,” you said gently, leaning forward, “that’s not fair. She can’t hold you responsible for that. It’s not your fault you have to deal with those sort of things.”

“I know, but she’s right. If my mental shit is wearing on her, it’s not healthy to make her stay, it’ll just put more of a strain on us. I know she gave up being outgoing for several years for me. Maybe having Briar Rose reminded her of who she really was. I mean, in the end it’s for the best. I didn’t like having to tell her no, and seeing her walk out the door looking gorgeous while I stayed here.”

Frowning, you felt your heart twist in sorrow for your oldest friend. This had to be rough on him.

“I’m so sorry,” was all you could manage.

He shrugged and lean back on the couch, his head and eyes tilted up to the ceiling. “Oh, it’s alright. I suppose it’s for the best. It comes down to non-compatibility. I saw this coming for a while. Doesn’t mean it doesn’t fucking hurt though,” he said with a smile and small laugh.

Non-compatibility...you thought in humor to yourself. For you and Hayden, that wasn’t the problem.

“I bet,” you commented with a half smile.

Another few moments of quiet passed as you stared at him, while he stared at the ceiling.

“What about you and Sebastian?” he asked casually. “Was he okay with you coming up here?” he inquired.

You started to laugh without humor before answering as you shook your head. “Uh, no, not really. He was pretty opposed to the idea...But I told him that you needed me, as a friend, and that he needed to trust me…”

“That’s fair,” he noted with a few contemplative nods. “I hope I didn’t cause any problems between you two.”

You shook your head. “No, you didn’t. It’s fine.”

“Are you two doing okay? How’s living together?”

“It’s fine...considering he’s hardly ever there,” you noted quietly with chagrin.

He sat up and looked at you with concern. “Everything okay?”

You shrugged and sighed. “I don’t know. He was gone for about six months from filming and interviews and the like. We didn’t see each other once. He was never in a place long enough for me to come by. He got back two weeks ago and he’s barely noticed me. Not to mention we’ve hardly touched. Every night I’ve tried to start something, he says he’s tired and he’s asleep before I’m even tired.”

He frowned at your news. “Wow...Well I’m sorry. Maybe he’s just busy? I know he’s got a lot of projects.”

“Yeah, no, I know that too,” you responded. ��I’m trying to be supportive and understanding...It’s just...I feel like I’m not high up on his priority list, you know? I feel invisible to him and I hate it.”

He nodded slowly, his eyes casting down for a moment then back up to you.

“Give him some time. He’s busy and he’s doing very well for himself right now. Don’t cut him loose just yet,” he suggested with a smile.

You gave a small grin back. “Yeah, you’re right. I need to give him a chance to get back in the groove of things. I guess I’m just frustrated because I’ve had writer’s block for three freaking weeks and my editor and publisher are expecting five short stories. I can’t come up with a single one.”

“That’s rough.”

“Tell me about it. It’s not just the short stories. I can’t work on my novel. I haven’t thought of any new screenplays. No poems. Nothing. I have nothing.”

“I’m sure something will come to you,” he offered. “It always does.” A heart stopping smile appeared on his face, making you get butterflies and a heavy pit of guilt in your stomach again.

You blushed and cleared your throat, trying to ignore the way he was looking at you.

“Hey, are you hungry? It’s getting late, I could make us something?” he offered suddenly, a brighter tone to his voice.

“Yes. That’d be great, thank you,” you accepted with a sigh of relief.

“Okay, great,” he said with that boyish grin that always dazzled. Both of you stood from the couch and started to make your way to the kitchen before your phone rang.

“Oh, sorry. I’m gonna grab that,” you said before jogging to your bag and retrieving the phone. “Hello?” you greeted, not checking the caller ID.

“Hey,” a solemn, raspy voice said over the phone. “Did you land okay?”

Your heart broke a little at the sound of his voice. He sounded broken...upset. You turned to Hayden and motioned that you would be outside. He nodded and began setting up to make dinner.

Once you got outside in the cool night, you began to talk. “Yeah, I landed fine. I’m at his farm now,” you informed evenly. You were still pretty sore about how you left things with him. He’d practically ignored you for the last several weeks and he was upset that you were helping a friend with a breakup.

“Good. I’m glad you're safe,” he quietly said, sounding dejected.

“Are you okay, Sebastian?” you questioned, a lot more softness in your voice now. Despite the fight, you still loved him and he was still your boyfriend, and you cared if he was upset.

“I’m sorry,” he answered. “I shouldn’t have been so hard on you. It was just my own insecurities coming out, I guess.”

You pursed your lips as you dug your shoe into the dirt. “I forgive you. I know I didn’t exactly put you in a comfortable position. I’m sorry too. I should’ve told you I was leaving before you had to show up and see me packing.”

A small laugh came through the phone. “Yeah that was a bit of a shock,” he admitted. “So how’s he doing?”

Instinctively, you turned to glance at him through the giant kitchen window that faced the front of the home. “Uh, he’s okay. I don’t think it’s sunk in all the way,” you stated. You knew Hayden, pretty well, maybe not as well as Rachel, but you knew when he was trying to repress something, and this was one of them. Sure, he was talking to you about it, but he wasn’t really addressing the fact that she was gone, where his life would lead now, how he would deal with not seeing Briar Rose all the time. He wasn’t handling the actual reality now.

But you also knew him well enough that he needed this time. He needed time to not be in reality. To just have a friend, to focus on other things, to distract himself from what he was about to face. He sort of always set his own calm before the storm. He had this habit of ignoring the problem for a bit, then suddenly, the reality would strike him and he’d fall apart. It’s just the way he was. Was it healthy? Mmm, probably not, but we all have our ways of coping with major shit in our lives.

“That’s fair. They’ve been together a long time, they have a kid,” Sebastian commented. “You’re a good friend and I’m sorry again.”

“Seb, it’s okay. Really, we both messed up. No big deal,” you dismissed, shrugging as you stared over the beautiful landscape before you. A thought crossing your mind that you wished hadn’t: “I could get used to this.” You shook the thought from your head and came back to the conversation.

“Well tell him I said hi. How long you plan on staying?”

“Eh, maybe three or four days just to make sure he’s okay, you know, alone and stuff,” you simply answered.

“Yeah, yeah, you should. Well I won’t keep you. Call you in the morning, if that’s okay,” he tried, worried of your response.

“That’s fine, babe,” you assured, sweetness lacing your voice.

“Okay, cool. I’ll let you get back to it. Goodnight...I love you.”

“I love you too. Talk to you tomorrow.”

After hanging up and coming back inside, Hayden was halfway through dinner. You offered to help and he said you could work on the side dish. Working side by side again, making dinner, it was drudging up a lot of old memories. Memories you weren’t sure you wanted, but you did your best to keep them at bay.

Dinner was delicious and you could tell his culinary skill had improved in ten years.

“Care for some wine?” he asked towards the end of the meal. “It’s Château Rayas, your favorite,” he noted.

“You remember my favorite wine?” you questioned, stunned.

A sideways smile graced his face as he nodded while pouring the bottle. “Of course. We were in Paris, celebrating the release of Revenge of the Sith. We ordered a bottle of wine at dinner, and you said it was the best you’d ever had and you would hate to drink any other kind.”

An amazed feeling swept over you, completely blown away that he even remembered that. You barely did.

The two of you shared the bottle of wine, caught up on work, and prospective projects and any other happenings. You asked about his family and he yours. By the time you were buzzed and feeling tired, you checked the time.

“Oh my god! It’s 2:15!” you exclaimed, jumping up. “I’ve got to go bed.”

“Crap. Yeah, it’s late. I had no idea it had gotten that late…” he commented, seemingly to himself as he frowned. “Well let me show you to your room,” he offered.

You froze. “Uh, I was going to go into the city and get a hotel,” you informed carefully, your eyes avoiding his.

“What? No. That’s insane. It’s the middle of the night. I can’t let you just get in a random cab and go into the city at this hour,” he insisted, but you chewed your lip in response, not sure if it was a good idea or if Sebastian would be okay with it. “Look, you’ll be across the house. My room is at that end, you’ll have the other master with a fireplace, okay? We could set off a cannon in our room and we wouldn’t hear each other,” he assured, a grin popping onto his face. “Please? I’m not taking no for an answer.”

You rolled your eyes lightly. “Okay, fine. I suppose it is too late to get a hotel.”

“Great.”

#old flame new problems #Sebastian Stan #sebastian stan fic #sebastian stan x reader #hayden christensen #hayden christiansen fic #hayden christensen x reader

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