#thesharatag
Text
The Ranch {22}
An A Court of Thorns and Roses, Nesta x Cassian, Modern AU, fanfiction.
Collaboration: @snelbz x @tacmc
Summary: Nesta had spent years in Paris, living her dream and drowning in riches as a gourmet chef, capturing the hearts of the city and its people. But, after her father passes away unexpectedly and leaves his cozy, countryside B&B to his oldest daughter, Nesta is moving back home to the tiny town of Velaris, where the ranch, her sisters, and her father’s unfulfilled dream, awaits.
Sidenote: Being posted between two blogs, it is too chaotic to keep up with a tags list, so all chapters will be tagged with “#TheRanchNessian” & “#SharaCollab”.
The Ranch Masterlist
Two weeks after Nesta was discharged from the hospital, Cassian found himself waking up to the sun peeking through the master bedroom of the main house, the scent of bacon filling the air. After blinking a few times to clear his vision, he propped himself up on his elbows to find the other side of the king-sized bed empty, as well as the little bassinet he made that sat on the floor. With a fond shake of his head, his loose hair swinging in all different directions, he put his feet onto the hardwood floor and began his trek through the house.
He followed the delicious smell into the kitchen, where Sloan was laying in a bouncy seat, calm and happy as could be, only a few feet away from where Nesta stood in front of the stove.
“You should’ve woken me up,” Cassian mumbled, walking up behind Nesta and pressing a soft kiss to her neck before wrapping his arms around her waist. “We talked about you taking it easy for a few weeks.”
She leaned back into his body with a small smile. “It’s been a few weeks. I need to cook. And I need to eat something other than your delicious spaghetti and sandwiches.”
She turned around to meet him with a kiss on the lips before he said, “Hey, my spaghetti and sandwiches are delicious.”
Nesta just snorted and pushed against his chest, then Cassian was down on his knees on the hard floor to peek down at his baby girl. “Good morning, beautiful.”
Her dark-blue eyes were wide as she looked up at her daddy but then they roamed around the room again. In the past two weeks, Sloan had been a fairly quiet baby. She loved to look around at her surroundings, to stare up at faces, especially their family, and each time she saw something new, her eyes lit up.
Cassian leaned in and looked closely at her. With a raised eyebrow, he said, “Ooh, Nes, it looks like her eyes are changing.”
Nesta didn’t look away from the skillet. “I’m aware. I carried her for nine months, I went through literal hell and back and gave birth to her squatting over a towel, with no drugs, just for her to come out and look just like you.”
The bitterness in her voice was clearly sarcastic, and Cassian chuckled. “Her eyes could change for up to six months. She could end up with Uncle Rhysie’s eyes for all we know.”
“If that happened, I’m sure you’d have questions,” Nesta mumbled, and Cassian’s grin widened as he unbuckled Sloan from the bouncy seat and slipped her out, cradling her in his arms.
Nesta watched as he rounded the island and pulled out a kitchen chair. Once he was sitting, his feet propped up on the chair across from him, he got his face close to Sloan’s and whispered, “I love you.”
Sloan’s lips fell open as she looked up with wide eyes at Cassian. For a moment, the kitchen remained silent as the two stared at one another, Nesta staring at them. Since she gave birth, Nesta had been overly emotional - which was to be expected, but it had Cassian tip-toeing around her sensitive feelings. So when he heard her sniffle from her place in front of the stovetop, he tensed, before slowly breaking his gaze with Sloan’s and finding Nesta’s.
“I’m okay,” she said, voice breaking, turning off the burners. “Bacon?”
Cassian chuckled, watching her with soft eyes as she took a piece of crunchy bacon off the plate, already cooled off, next to the stove and took a bite. “I wish you’d come relax, Nes.”
She shook her head, and before Cassian could get up to make himself a plate, she was already walking toward him, a plate in each hand. She set one down in front of him before rounding the table and sitting down across from him, digging into her bacon, eggs, and avocado toast.
“Tell me to relax one more time and see where it gets you,” she said, raising a brow.
Cassian only shook his head while holding Sloan in one arm, and using the other to pick at his plate.
“By the way, everyone’s coming over for dinner tonight,” Nesta continued.
Cassian paused and looked around at the kitchen. It was a disaster, similar to the rest of the house. Balancing a newborn and daily chores wasn’t as easy as they’d been hoping, but they also weren’t expecting Nesta’s recovery to be as intense. Life had thrown them a curveball and they were taking it day by day.
But this house could not be cleaned in a day.
Before Cassian could protest, Nesta said, “Az will be over to help at two-thirty when I start cooking and little miss will hang out with mommy while daddy and Uncle Az clean.” Her sentence started out normal but had descended into baby talk by the end.
“You’re cooking?” Cassian asked, blinking. “For six people? Nesta-.”
“Don’t tell me to relax,” she sang, and when she caught Cassian’s uncertain expression, she sighed. “I’m not going crazy, it’s just a simple meal.”
Cassian continued to stare at her.
“I promise,” she added.
Cassian didn’t like it, but only because it worried him. “Fine, but also promise me that at the first sign of you feeling tired or achy or whatever, you sit and call for me, so I can help.”
“Promise,” she said, although the light in her eyes told him that she would do no such thing.
He narrowed his own eyes at her. “Why are we having dinner here? Can’t we have dinner at Rhys and Feyre’s place? They didn’t just have a baby.”
“Because,” Nesta said, taking Sloan from her daddy. “I want to cook. I miss cooking. I miss my sisters and they want to watch Az and Rhys melt into a puddle when they hold the most perfect baby in existence.”
Cassian chuckled and picked his plate up, practically inhaling the meal. Nesta was heading for the laundry room when she heard him groan. “Okay, you win. Better than my spaghetti and sandwiches, for sure.”
After he finished scooping up the last few crumbs, he was doing the dishes, begging Nesta to rest until Azriel showed up later.
She agreed, but she wasn’t happy about it. She took Sloan to the couch to keep her company while she folded a basket of laundry, then turned on bad reality television, which she quickly fell asleep to.
Cassian snorted when he saw her sprawled out on the couch, snoring quietly.
He scooped a yawning Sloan up and sat with her in the recliner, rocking back and forth until she was also put to sleep by the sounds of shitty reality TV. Meanwhile, Cassian quickly became addicted to the real housewives of something or another.
__
When Nesta’s eyes fluttered open, the first thing she noticed was how rested she felt. She stretched and snuggled back into her pillows.
Then she realized she was back in her bed.
Nesta sat up, looking around. “Cass?” Their bedroom door was cracked and Beau was laying on the foot of the bed, but Sloan wasn’t in her bassinet. She glanced over at the clock.
Nesta had never gotten out of bed so quickly in her life.
Pulling her mother’s old robe on, she hurried downstairs and-.
She froze halfway down the stairs and called, “Cassian?”
“Kitchen!”
She cautiously walked down the rest of the stairs and around the corner.
Cassian was standing at the island, while Sloan drooled on his chest where she was strapped into the carrier, fast asleep. Nesta looked around the kitchen, turned back to the living room, and looked back at Cassian.
The house was spotless.
He blinked at her surprise. “Your mouth is hanging open. Not very ladylike.”
She was too shocked to respond to his sarcasm. “The house looks amazing.”
He shrugged. “I know how to clean, apparently.”
“Where’s Azriel?”
“Found your ingredients list,” Cassian said, gesturing to the grocery list on the fridge. “I assumed it was for your simple dinner but you were missing a few things, so he ran up to the market a second to get them for you.”
Nestas brows shot up nearly into her hairline. “You let me sleep.”
“Yes,” he continued, popping an apple slice into his mouth. Sloan stirred against his chest, but quickly went limp again, her cheek squished up against his skin, her little lips hanging open. Cassian chuckled. “Oh, by the way, Sloan’s a fan of the carrier.”
“I see that,” Nesta said, still surprised.
The back door swung open and Azriel stepped in with a paper bag filled with food from the market. He saw Nesta and smiled, softly, before kissing her cheek. “Good morning. Or, afternoon. Whatever. How are you feeling?” After setting the bag on the counter, he walked around the island to peek at his niece, who he kissed on the forehead.
“What? I don’t get one?” Cassian asked, obviously feeling left out of Azriel’s affections.
He just rolled his eyes as he leaned back against the counter and looked at Nesta.
“Really good, actually,” she said. “Pretty well rested.”
“Good,” he smiled, and Nesta was so damn happy they had someone like Az in their life. He’d been their saving grace in more ways than one over the past year, and she wouldn’t ever be able to thank him enough for loving Elain as completely as he did. “I’ve got to pick a few things up before dinner, shower, shave, all that fun stuff. Is it cool if I…?”
Nesta laughed and said, “Of course, we’ll see you later. Call if you need anything.”
With a nervous smile, he was out the back doorway and Cassian was looking at Nesta with narrowed eyes.
She crossed her arms and asked, “What?”
He took a bite of another apple. “You’re meddling.”
“I’ve never meddled,” she said, simply.
“Liar,” he crooned, starting to bounce as Sloan stirred, once again. “You're- ow! Shit!”
Sloan had her mouth pressed against Cassian’s skin, just above his chest, sucking against it, hoping to find milk and only getting frustrated.
“She’s like a tiny, fucking vacuum, what the hell,” Cassian muttered, pulling her off, only to have her start crying. He took her out of the carrier and gently handed her over to Nesta.
Nesta cradled her in her arm and unlatched her nursing cami, helping Sloan latch as she said, “Yeah, now you know how my tits feel.”
Cassian crowned, rubbing at the pained spot on his skin. “Your poor nipples.”
Nesta rolled her eyes as she laughed quietly, Sloan finally satisfied as her tummy filled with milk.
Cassian began taking what Azriel had bought out of the bag and pulling it away. “What else needs to be done before your big night of hosting a family dinner?”
Nesta held Sloan close to her as she opened up a cabinet and pulled out a giant skillet. “Well, seeing how you let me sleep in and now it’s getting late….you, my love, are helping me cook. Welcome to the life of a chef's assistant. You’re my sous-chef of the night.”
Cassian rubbed the back of his neck. “Oh….yay…”
She tossed him an apron, which he caught effortlessly and stared at for an extended period of time.
“Shit, you’re serious?” He asked, watching as she retrieved everything she’d need to prep from under counters, out of cabinets, and from the pantry, all with only one arm while Sloan made happy noises as she fed.
“I am.” She set a box of lasagna noodles on the island and grabbed ground beef and Italian sausage from the refrigerator. “Earn your keep, Nazari.”
Cassian learned that when he had the proper instructions, or a cute baby strapped to his chest to entertain him, he really enjoyed cooking. Or it may have been that every time Nesta reached up into a cabinet or bent down to look into the oven, her robe rode up and he got a glimpse of her ass.
He was a little bitter that she wouldn’t let him taste anything, though. Every time he reached for a nibble, his hand got slapped away.
And it smelled so damn good.
Hours later, Sloan was sleeping soundly in her swing and Cassian was sneaking into the bathroom, the water already running and steamy as Nesta’s shadow moved from behind the curtain. After kicking off his sweatpants, he climbed into the shower behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Her body shook with quiet laughter. “And what do you think you’re doing?”
“Saving time,” he mumbled, moving her wet hair aside and pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. “Imagining all the things i’m gonna do to you when we can have sex again.”
“Ah, my fiancé, father of my child, the romantic,” Nesta crooned, before turning around to wrap her arms around his neck. Her eyes opened wide. “Speaking of, where is she?” She leaned around him and moved the shower curtain aside, trying to peek out.
“She is safe and sound, sleeping and just generally being all around perfect. And in case she wakes up,” he said, already seeing the question in her eyes. “The baby monitor is by the sink.”
She was looking at him with pursed lips, her head tilting slightly to the left. “And you burped her after I fed her?
He nodded, leaning closer. “Mhmm.”
Nesta was looking up at him, lips parted. “And you checked her diaper?”
“I even changed it,” he breathed, his lips brushing against hers. “Father of the Year, I know.”
She chuckled. “Fuck the six week rule,” she said, her quiet voice full of sarcasm. “I need you right now.”
Regardless of the fact that Nesta was right and they both knew they were still a full month away from sex, Cassian kissed her until she was breathless. Gods, he wanted to touch her breasts, but knew how sore they’d become from Sloan.
After a minute of soft, slow kisses, Nesta pushed Cassian’s back against the cool wall and he pulled his lips from hers. “We can’t, Nes-.”
“They said I can’t. They didn’t say anything about you,” she said with a smirk.
“You need to rest,” he muttered, but then she kissed his chest and cupped his balls, making him forget his protests.
She sunk down to her knees before him, taking his hardening cock into her hands and pumping, slowly, before sliding her tongue over the tip and taking him wholly into her mouth.
His eyes fluttered shut as he leaned back against the tiled wall, and he wasn’t even ashamed that he didn’t last long, because the feeling of her mouth sliding over such sensitive skin, of his long fingers tangled into her soaked hair, of the quiet moans that vibrated against his cock, for his pleasure alone, had every bone inside of him completely and utterly on fire.
“Sweetheart,” he breathed, fighting to keep his eyes open. “I’m about to cum.”
His warning was less of a heads up and more of an it’s happening right now thing.
With a groan, he bucked his hips once, and filled her mouth.
She didn’t hesitate, only stayed perfectly still, drinking him in, eyes locked on his, helping him ride it out with a slow, deep bob of her head.
Cassian’s body relaxed as he ran his hands through his hair, Nesta’s lips trailing kisses up his abdomen, then his neck, and his own lips as he caught his breath.
“Now bathe,” she whispered, patting his chest. “Everyone arrives in an hour.”
She left with nothing more, but Cassian peeked out of the curtain and watched her dry off before she disappeared into the bedroom.
__
“You love Aunt Feyre the most, don't you? Yes, you do.”
Sloan’s wide-eyed stare roved over Feyre’s face and then around the room.
“I think it’s too early to say who her favorite is,” Elain said, from where she sat on Azriel’s lap. She was just bitter that both times she’d held Sloan tonight, the baby had ended up crying and had to be given to either Cassian or Nesta.
Feyre rolled her eyes, and said, still in a high-pitched, baby-talk voice, “That's bullshit. Yes it is.”
Nesta laughed and shook her head and Elain’s pursed lips.
Cassian, having taken way too long to get ready and came down dressed five minutes after everyone had gotten there, now swept into the living room holding a plate of appetizers that he’d scolded Nesta for making.
Even though he’d helped her.
Every time she wasn’t taking it easy, she got Cassian’s evil eye.
Except for when she was down on her knees in the shower.
He hadn’t complained then.
“When are you gonna knock Feyre up?” Cassian asked, flicking Rhysand on the back of the head. “Apparently she’s good with babies.”
“It’s a work in progress,” he said with a smirk.
“Rhys!” Elain said, blush high on her cheeks.
He laughed and Feyre chuckled and said, “I mean, he’s not wrong.”
Nesta’s eyebrows rose. “You’re trying to have a baby?”
They glanced at one another, softly smiling, and Feyre looked back down at Sloan. Rhys said, “I wouldn’t say we’re trying, it’s more that we’re not not trying.”
“Hell yeah, give Sloan a cousin,” Cassian said, setting the plate down and taking his squirming daughter. He immediately dissolved into baby-talk, which happened every time he held his daughter, something that never failed to make Nesta melt. “Babies are the best. Especially when they’re perfect like you.”
“Stop, or I’m gonna want you to knock me up all over again,” she crooned, leaning over the back of the couch to wrap her arms around his body and kissing the top of his head.
“Don’t tempt me,” he shot back, still in his baby talk voice.
“We’re all sitting right here,” Azriel awkwardly sang, eyeing the new parents.
Nesta laughed, quietly, wandering to an armchair on the opposite side of the couch. “Don’t worry. We’re going to get married first before we think of having more babies. Besides, Sloan was a miracle baby, so who knows if we’ll even have any more.”
“If we don’t, that’ll be okay, too,” Cassian added, eyes soft.
“Yeah,” Nesta agreed, watching him with their daughter. “It’ll be perfect, either way.”
“Oh my gods,” Elain breathed, fanning her eyes. “Stop or you’ll make me cry. Y’all are so sweet.”
“Yeah, so sweet that you’re going to make me puke,” Rhys said, standing. “Let’s eat.”
Nesta just sighed and said “Y’all go sit down, I’ll have it right out.” Nesta knew Cassian would immediately offer to help, so she said, “Rhys, will you give me a hand?”
“Sure thing,” he said, not hesitating as she headed in the direction of the kitchen.
They walked through the door and Rhys took a deep breath. “Cassian told me he helped and I refuse to believe he could make something that smells this good.”
She laughed and said, “He did actually. Though I think he was more of a distraction than Sloan was.” She turned back towards him when she reached the island. “I have an ulterior motive for bringing you in here.”
Rhysand’s eyebrows raised. He warily said, “Okay?”
“When I pull Feyre up to the nursery after dinner, I need you to convince Cass to leave Az and Elain alone together for a few minutes.”
Understanding lit up his face. “For real?”
She nodded, smiling. “For real.”
Rhysand was terrible at keeping secrets. Not because he said a word about it, but because he was practically bouncing in his seat for the entirety of their meal. Feyre kept looking at him, concerned, asking if he was feeling okay.
Nesta just kept shaking her head, apologizing silently to Azriel that she’d asked Rhysand for the minor part in his grand plan.
After dinner, where everybody asked for seconds and not a crumb was leftover, their party made their way back into the living room. Wine was provided, and everyone but Nesta, who was breastfeeding, indulged themselves.
Which was ironic, considering Nesta picked out and paid for the fancy variety that lined the coffee table.
Feyre whistled as she popped to top to a sweet red and filled herself a glass. “You really went all out, Nes.”
“I only get the best for my family,” she said, unable to help her gaze slowly trail to Azriel, where he was plopped back on the couch, Elain in his lap, once again.
They talked and laughed and just enjoyed each other’s presence. It had been a long few weeks, understandably so, and the six of them had had so little time all together. “Nesta?”
She looked up from where Sloan was silently staring up at the ceiling in wonder. The baby loved the mobile hanging above her head, but she adored ceiling fans. Cassian was planning to put one in her nursery when he had a spare moment to breathe. Feyre was looking at her with concern on her face. “Are you...okay?”
For a minute, Nesta wasn’t sitting on a comfortable couch, fiancé’s arm around her. No she was in a rigid wooden chair, rope wrapped over and around her. The skin on her wrists was going to be permanently scarred from how hard she’d tried to break free, and that same panicked fear she’d felt filled her veins. Cassian’s arms tightened around her and she didn’t have to look up at him to know he was giving her as much of his strength as he could. Nesta’s eyes flicked back down to Sloan, who was gazing at her now. The love she felt for the sweet baby girl in her arms was overwhelming most days. She didn’t know it was possible to love someone so much. She took a deep breath. “Yeah, I am. I’m just...still processing, I think.” She looked up at Cassian who was looking down at her with the same sad look in his eyes.
“I can imagine,” Elain breathed.
No one really knew what to say other than what had already been said in the recent weeks. For a moment, they dwelled in a comfortable silence, Cassian drawing small circles with his fingers on her arm. Nesta didn’t know how long it would take to process what had happened to her. She wasn’t sure if she would ever fully process it. What had happened to her had been a nightmare, to say the least, but as she looked back down at Sloan, she realized she would do it all over again if it meant that Sloan was born happy and healthy and safe.
The nightmare she was forced to go through would linger, but it would not ruin the outcome, would not take away from the gift she’d been given.
Her daughter.
Her miracle baby.
Cassian pressed a kiss to the top of Nesta’s head and then took Sloan, who brightened up as soon as she was in her father’s arms.
Elain was tearing up as she watched the precious scene, holding Azriel’s hand on her lap. His eyes flicked to Nesta and she saw the smallest inclination of his head. Nesta said, “Feyre, can I show you something I was thinking of adding to the walls in Sloan’s room?”
“Of course,” Feyre said, grabbing her wine glass and standing.
Elain said, “I wanna see,” and moved to stand, but Azriel’s arm tightened around her waist.
Rhysand asked Cassian, “Did you ever draw up plans for the new stables?”
Cass said, “Oh, shit, yeah, they’re in the kitchen on the island. Come on, I’ll show you.”
“That was weird,” Feyre whispered, as she followed Nesta up the stairs. “Why are-.”
“Hush,” Nesta snapped, quietly, and took Feyre’s hand to make her move quicker, until they disappeared. They didn’t make it to the nursery, though. Behind the wall, they stood, perfectly quiet, and listened.
__
After everyone left the living room, all at once, Elain’s narrowed gaze slowly turned to Azriel, who was already watching her, adoringly.
“Is there a reason our entire family just hauled themselves out of here?” Elain whispered, laughing quietly.
Azriel’s scarred fingers brushed her curled hair back behind her ears, and he licked his lips, slowly. ”I wanted a moment alone with you.”
Elain rolled her eyes, fondly. “We live together, Az, we’re always alone.”
“Maybe so,” he agreed, eyes bright, “but, this way, everyone will be here to celebrate.”
“Celebrate?” she asked, smile faltering as confused furrowed her brows.
Azriel just nodded, and gently moved her off of his lap before he stood up. Elain’s eyes widened as he got down on one knee in front of her, and took her trembling hands into his.
“Az,” she breathed, tears already forming in her eyes.
He smiled, not a glimmer of nervousness in his hazel eyes, but gods, they were so full of love. “Elain, I’ve loved you since I first laid eyes on you, and I’ll love you until I close my eyes and take my last breath. Everything that our family has gone through has shown me how much you mean to me, how much I don’t want to lose you. So…” He chuckled and pulled a dark blue ring box from the pocket of his jeans. “I guess it’s time for me to make you an honest woman. Elain Archeron, will you marry me?”
Quiet laughter shook her entire body as she sat up straighter, tears flowing down her cheeks, and said, “Of course.”
He opened the box and she was greeted with a large, pear-shaped diamond seated upon a thin, silver band. With shaky hands, Azriel took it out, and slid it onto her finger. Thanks to Nesta’s nosiness, the ring fit her finger perfectly.
Once it was secured, Elain practically tackled Azriel to the ground, and when his back was against the rug, her slender body pressed against his, she kissed him, softly, and he knew her tears were only tears of joy, but he reached up to brush them away, nonetheless.
“I love you,” he breathed.
“I love you, too,” she promised. “Oh, Az, I’m so happy. It’s about time you asked.”
Azriel stilled, and blinked, but it only made Elain’s laughter flutter around him, and it was the most beautiful, joyous sound he’d ever heard.
“Can we come out now?” Feyre called, from where she’d disappeared with Nesta beyond the top of the stairs.
Elain laughed. “You knew?”
Feyre was down the stairs nearly before Elain had time to blink and she embraced her sister. “No, you know I would have told you. I wouldn’t have been able to keep it from you.”
Elain leaned back, looking from Feyre to Az. “Then who-?”
Nesta was just stepping back through the living room doorway when Elain breathed, “Nes, you did all this? For me?”
“For both of you,” she corrected, and just as she was about to say something sweet, Cassian was storming in from the kitchen, staring at Azriel with narrowed eyes.
“You didn’t tell me?”
Azriel just shook his head from where he still sat on the carpet, leaning back on his hands. “Cass, I love you, but you can’t keep a secret.”
“I can too,” he said, then looked to Nesta for confirmation.
“Yeah, no,” she began, hesitantly, making Rhysand laugh from behind him. “You can’t keep a secret.”
Then, Cassian’s eyes widened. “Fuck, you kept it a secret from me, too. That’s double betrayal. How rude.”
Nesta whispered something into his ear that had his disgruntled look turning into a wide, sly grin. “Fair enough. I’m holding you up to that promise, though.”
Nesta snorted. “Oh, I know.” When she looked back to Elain, she was looking at all of them, taking all of them in, taking in this moment, this milestone, surrounded by her family.
__
Nesta held the baby monitor close to her body as she sat by Cassian on the couch, bundled up beneath a blanket as a fire roared from inside the fireplace, a movie on the television. Rhysand and Feyre were bundled up on the floor, the latter having far too many glasses of wine and nearly about to fall asleep on her husband’s chest.
Elain and Azriel were in heaven, staring deeply into each other’s eyes as they cuddled together in the lazyboy.
When Nesta looked up at Cassian, he was already watching her, fondly. He gently took the baby monitor from her hand and turned it all the way up before putting it on the table beside him and pulling Nesta into his lap. He rubbed her back, softly, as she rested her head on his shoulder.
“You look happy,” Cassian whispered.
Nesta wanted to laugh. It was such a simple, unprofound statement, and yet it was so true that it made her heart ache.
Yes, she was happy.
A little lost, a little paranoid, but those were just thoughts in the back of her mind that she prayed would fade with time.
She couldn’t deny her happiness, though, the wholeness that she had found in this little town that she wanted so desperately to get away from all those years ago. She had lived her dream, had toured the world and cooked for the rich and famous. She had owned her own restaurants, had been wildly successful for such a young woman.
But she had never been happy.
Here, though? With her sisters, with Cassian, with Sloan...she was so fucking happy.
A soft little whine came through the baby monitor, and Nesta’s body instantly tensed.
“It’s okay,” Cassian breathed. “I’ll get her.”
After kissing Nesta on the forehead, he was heading up the stairs, and although Nesta tried not to, she followed him soon after. As she rounded the top of the stairs and made her way down the hall, she could hear Cassian’s soft, soothing voice comforting their newborn. And when she stopped at the nursery and leaned against the threshold, she found herself tearing up.
Cassian was such a natural.
He held her close to his chest, bouncing her, patting her back gently until her cries subsided and her eyelids fell shut, once again.
“Just needed her daddy?” Nesta whispered, wiping at her face.
Cassian looked over his shoulder at his fiancée and chuckled. “Maybe so. Maybe she just needs a bedtime story.”
“A bedtime story?” Nesta repeated. “And what will be her bedtime story tonight?”
“Hmm,” Cassian began, walking in small, slow circles around the rug with his baby girl. “She really likes the one about the handsome ranch hand and the stuck up city girl who thinks she’s hot shit.”
Nesta had to cover her mouth from laughing so it wouldn’t wake Sloan. “Wow, sounds a little intense for a newborn.”
“She gets the abridged version,” he said with a smile.
Nesta couldn’t help herself as she stepped further into the room, smoothing the dark hair back off Sloan’s forehead. She loved the moments like this, when she was able to stop and appreciate her daughter’s beauty, Cassian’s love, the outpouring of support from her sisters.
He reached out with his free hand and brushed away the tears that had fallen down Nesta’s cheeks. He didn’t say anything, just smiled softly and pressed a kiss to her forehead. After swaddling Sloan back into her blanket, Cassian turned, wrapping his arms around Nesta and kissed her gently.
Her eyes were closed, but she sniffled, resting her forehead against his chest. “Thank you,” she breathed.
His arms tightened and he chuckled. He asked quietly, “For what?”
“For giving me the life I never let myself dream of.”
Cassian took her face into his hands and leaned back, only to press his lips against hers, softly. “Get used to this life, cause this is what the rest of your life is going to look like, Nesta Archeron.”
“Good,” she breathed, unable to help the smile that graced her lips. “Although, you’ll have to get used to calling me Nesta Nazari, soon.”
Cassian arched a brow. “Does this mean the wedding planning is starting?”
“Yes,” she said, leaning up on her toes to kiss him, gently.
“Good,” he said, repeating her statement.
They stayed like that for a long moment, as the night went on, in each other’s arms, saying nothing but breathing in every second. Sloan was sound asleep in her crib beside them, their family was downstairs, and Nesta and Cassian had the rest of their lives ahead of them.
Nesta meant what she said.
Cassian had given her a life she’d never dreamt of.
This wonderful, beautiful life that she was pretty sure she didn’t deserve, but never wanted to be without.
For the first time in her life, Nesta Archeron was perfectly happy with the life she was living, and she never wanted anything more.
297 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Ranch {16}
An A Court of Thorns and Roses, Nesta x Cassian, Modern AU, fanfiction.
Collaboration: @snelbz x @tacmc
Summary: Nesta had spent years in Paris, living her dream and drowning in riches as a gourmet chef, capturing the hearts of the city and its people. But, after her father passes away unexpectedly and leaves his cozy, countryside B&B to his oldest daughter, Nesta is moving back home to the tiny town of Velaris, where the ranch, her sisters, and her father’s unfulfilled dream, awaits.
Sidenote: Being posted between two blogs, it is too chaotic to keep up with a tags list, so all chapters will be tagged with “#TheRanchNessian” & “#SharaCollab”.
The Ranch Masterlist
Cassian stared at the broken window, his hands on his hips. Beau was groaning at his feet, fully aware that something had happened that was total shit. Nesta was cooking breakfast for the guests inside of the B&B. She decided that a daily morning breakfast would be a regular occurrence, and she wanted to make the first morning breakfast a grand occasion.
Even if she hadn’t slept at all the night before.
Every time she drifted off, she was panicking, which meant Cassian had stayed up all night comforting her. Which, he loved doing, loved being there for her, felt it was his duty to be there for her, but none of that erased the fact that he was completely, utterly exhausted.
A truck pulled up behind him and the engine turned off. A few seconds later, Azriel was standing beside him. With a whistle, he said, “Fuck.”
“Yeah,” Cassian breathed. “Just after midnight. Brick flew through the window, Nesta was screaming bloody murder, Beau nearly shot himself out the door and tore his balls off.”
“Maybe he should’ve,” Azriel muttered, stepping closer to the broken window, careful to avoid the glass shards, even though he was wearing his boots. “Tomas did this?”
“Who else would’ve?” Cassian grumbled.
Even Azriel couldn’t argue with that. “Well, let’s put some plastic over it, then I’ll bring you into town to get a new window and help put it in.”
Cassian didn’t have any plastic. If he had, he would have patched it up in the middle of the night. Instead, he had laid a thin piece of plywood over the hole.
“Probably best to just go ahead and get the window,” Cassian said with a yawn.
Azriel nodded and the two of them got in the truck, heading for the main house.
“Aside from that, how was the first night?” He asked, nodding towards the house in front of them.
Cassian blew out a breath. “Good, I think. Nobody called us about anything, but from what I can tell, nothing was done to the house.”
Just Nesta’s small house that the two of them had been occupying.
They parked in front of the big wrap around porch, heading up the stairs. A couple was sitting on porch swing, and they waved as Cassian and Az walked into the house.
There was sound everywhere, people bustling to and fro. It was almost unnerving after the silence of the house for so many months.
“Nes?” He called her name, even though he knew exactly where she was.
“Kitchen!”
Walking into the kitchen, they found the table full, both of food and people in the chairs. Nesta was still at the stove, happily stirring away at a pan of gravy while her guests stuffed themselves.
“Smells great, baby.” He pressed a kiss to her head and she smiled.
Her eyes were lit up. “Thanks. Az, are you hungry?”
“Elain fed me on the way out the door, but I might say no next time.” He was eyeing the spread of classic country breakfast on the table.
Nesta laughed, and turned to Cassian. “What’s up?”
He gently took her hand, rubbing small circles into the back of it. “We gotta go into town. I’m fixing that window today.”
He watched the color leech from her face.
“Please don’t leave me here alone.”
Cassian hesitated.
“It’s fine,” Azriel said, quickly. “Rhys has today off, I’ll pick him up on the way and we’ll get it here. I’ll let you know when we’re back.”
“Are you sure?” Nesta said, suddenly realizing that it took more than one man to get a window into the back of a truck.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Azriel said, with a genuine smile. “And, uh, now that I think about it, maybe I’ll take a biscuit to go?”
Nesta chuckled, although the light didn’t reach her eyes. She wrapped a biscuit in a napkin and handed it over, then Azriel was off.
Cassian looked around at the guests, chatting happily and stuffing their faces.
“You should be proud,” Cassian said, quietly.
Nesta nodded before turning back to the stove.
“I, um, want your blessing on something.”
Nesta froze before looking at him over her shoulder.
“Maybe we should talk alone,” Cassian went on.
She turned to look at him. “My blessing for what?”
Cassian hesitated, then sighed. “I want to go talk to Tomas.”
“No.” Nesta turned back to the stove.
Cassian gave her a look before walking away, into the laundry room that was off to the side, knowing full well she would follow. Nesta Archeron did not leave conversations unresolved.
She closed the door behind her before asking, “Why the hell would you do something stupid like that?”
“Because he threatened you,” Cassian said, through his teeth. “Because he threatened me, and our guests, and our unborn child, and he can’t do that.”
“You can’t just-.”
“I’m just going to talk,” Cassian said. “Or, I can go to the police for vandalism, but I’m going to do one of the two, it’s your call.”
Nesta crossed her arms over her chest. “I’d rather you fix the window and we pretend this never happened.”
Cassian stared at her. “I can’t do that.”
“You can’t fight your way out of this, Cass!” She said, beginning to pace in the small room. “Fighting with Tomas already ruined your roping career.”
Cassian’s jaw hardened. “I was defending you.”
“And I love you for that, but it doesn’t change the fact that what you did was stupid.” Nesta stopped and looked at him, putting her hands on his chest. “I’ve seen how good you were, you should’ve won that championship. But you didn’t. You let your anger and a stupid decision take that from you.”
Cassian sighed and said, “Make your choice: either I go to the police or he and I have a man to man talk.”
Nesta’s eyes, shimmering with frustrated tears, flicked down to his hurt shoulder. She opened the laundry room door, looking back at him, and said, “At least wait until Azriel and Rhys get back,” before shutting the door a little harder than necessary and walking back into the kitchen.
He felt guilty, but he wasn’t going to let that guilt talk him out of this. He had to talk to Tomas, had to let him know that this wasn’t okay.
Nesta had gone through enough.
She didn’t need to go through anymore.
So, he did as she asked and waited until Azriel and Rhys got back with the window before grabbing the keys without a word and driving himself into town, without so much as a goodbye to anyone.
He was seeing red.
Not only did this man make Nesta throw up out of fear at her own grand opening, but he threw a fucking brick through their window, scaring her even more, then Cassian was the one who got snapped at for wanting to correct it?
That wasn’t going to cut it.
He had finally gotten his happiness and Tomas fucking Mandray wasn’t going to take that away from him.
Cassian drove through town and to the other side, where he pulled onto the grounds of a small ranch. He spotted Tomas right away, working on a tractor just outside of the garage.
Cassian was opening the door before he even put the truck in park. “What the fuck is your problem, Mandray?”
“Don’t have a problem at all,” Tomas said, shit-eating grin on his face. “You got a problem?”
It took everything in Cassian to not hurl that brick back into his smug face. But he’d made a promise to Nesta. He was only here to talk, he wouldn’t start a fight with Tomas.
So instead, he very calmly reached into the truck, grabbed the brick off of the passenger seat, and lifted it up so Tomas could see it. “I think you left this at my girlfriend’s house.”
Cassian promised he wouldn’t start a fight with Tomas Mandray.
He didn’t say anything about finishing one.
Without another word, he launched the brick through Tomas’ workshop window.
“You fucking dick,” he yelled. “I’m going to fucking k-.”
“Heard you bought the old Carlson ranch,” Cassian interrupted. “Had to come give my congratulations.”
He swore he could see Tomas face change color as his own trick was used against him.
Cass continued, “You know, I hadn’t even heard you were back in town until just a week or two before Nesta came home.” He slammed the truck door and moved closer to the shop. Closer to Tomas. “Was that a coincidence or were you hurling bricks through her window in Paris, too?”
“Oh, fuck you.” The tone in Tomas’ voice… that was hatred. Pure and unadulterated hatred. “You think you get to come in, like some white knight? You’re saving the day again?”
Cassian wasn’t able to stop himself as he got in Tomas’ face. “You do anything to put my girlfriend or child in danger, ever again, and I will gladly reenact the ass whooping I gave you back at Worlds.”
His phone rang and he pulled it out of his pocket, answering it without looking, knowing who it was.
“Yes?”
“That’s enough. Whatever you’ve said, it’s enough.” She had no idea how wrong she was. It would never be enough. “Please.”
With a deep sigh, he said, “Okay. I’ll be right there.”
Nesta’s relieved voice came across the ear piece, loud and clear. “Thank you, Cass. I love you.”
He stared Tomas down, knowing he’d heard every word of their conversation, and said, “I love you, too, sweetheart.”
He hung up and slipped the phone back into his back pocket. “Don’t ever come on our property again. It’ll be the last mistake you ever make.”
He turned and was heading for the truck, when Tomas spoke up. “Has Nesta ever told you how she found out she wasn't able to have kids? Or, well, wasn’t supposed to be able to.”
Cassian froze. Mostly everyone had guessed that Nesta’s pregnancy was an accident, but her supposed infertility wasn’t a known fact.
He turned. “How the hell do you know that?”
“Who do you think was holding her hand in a Parisian women’s clinic?”
Cassian blinked. “What?”
“She didn’t leave me here, Nazari,” Tomas said, with complete satisfaction that Cassian was caught off guard. “I was with her there, too, for a little while. I was there when we found out she couldn’t have kids. I was there when she cried, when she brushed it off and said it wasn’t a big deal. I was the one who dried her tears. Did she tell you that?”
No.
No she hadn’t.
Cassian’s jaw locked, but he said nothing.
“You’ve been with her for months,” Tomas spat, eyes turning cold, angry. “I was with her for years. She can try all she wants to, but in the end, she always comes back to me.”
“Stop talking,” Cassian warned.
“You sound worried,” Tomas crooned, eyes lighting with satisfaction. “Jealous, even.”
Cassian took a second to think about his next move, even as that anger brewed beneath the surface. He had already broken his window, had said what he had to say, and Nesta’s words replayed in the back of his mind.
Nesta.
Who apparently hadn’t told him the entire story of her and Tomas.
“Just stay off my fucking property,” Cassian said, meeting Tomas’s gaze as he climbed back into the truck, slammed the door shut, and made his way back to the road.
He kept the radio off as Tomas’ words came back to him. Tomas’ words, not Nesta’s. She had made Cassian believe that she had left Tomas here to begin again.
He felt foolish.
He felt pissed.
He took the turn onto the property a little too quickly and fishtailed, spitting rocks in every direction from the little gravel drive.
They were all sitting on the porch, his mismatched family. Rhys was the closest, leaning against the stair railing. Azriel was by the door. Feyre sat on the railing next to her husband. And Elain, sweet Elain was sitting on the porch swing.
Holding Nesta’s hand.
Cassian parked in front of the house and cut the engine. The silence was almost as defeating as the roar of the engine had been. He got out of the truck and shut the door with a gentleness he honestly didn’t think he was capable of in that moment.
Azriel said, “Give me my keys, asshole.”
Cass threw them to him, without looking, and started heading away from the main house, towards his cabin.
“Cass?”
The sound of his name from her lips clanged through him. He didn’t stop walking.
Light footsteps on wood. “Cass!”
Rhys called, “Cass, where are you going?”
He didn’t stop.
Her voice was hurt. “Cassian…”
He couldn’t stop.
Couldn’t stop because he couldn’t bear for them to see the silent tears streaming down his face.
Beau was at his side in an instant, trailing after his master with a soft whine as he made his way down the dirt path. He cursed himself as he angrily wiped at his face, steps hurried, urgent until he made it to his cabin.
Perhaps he should have locked it, but he hadn’t, and the door swung open easily. Beau laid on the couch as Cassian stomped to the fridge and pulled out a mostly full bottle of whiskey.
Tomas had been with Nesta in France?
The thought still echoed in his mind, leaving him breathless.
She would be here soon, no doubt, demanding to know what had happened.
Cassian looked at the bottle, unscrewed the top, and downed as much of the burning liquor as he could handle. He stopped, muttered a curse, and downed some more.
Beau only watched with concern in his pleading brown eyes.
It was only a few minutes before he heard footsteps outside, but the heavy, booted stride wasn’t the one he expected.
The door opened and Azriel came in. Cassian didn’t look up from the knot in the wooden flooring as it shut and Az made his was into the living room. He sat in the chair beside the couch.
“Your pregnant girlfriend is crying her eyes out right now. Any reason you’re not up there talking to her?”
Cassian looked at him then, letting him see the tears shimmering on his own face.
“Shit,” Azriel breathed, genuine surprise written on his face. “What happened out there?”
Cassian stayed quiet for a long moment, looking down at Beau while he fiddled with the top of the whiskey bottle. Then, he asked, “Did you know that Tomas was in France? With her?”
The stricken look on Azriel’s face told him that he didn’t.
“He was there with her for years,” Cassian said, that anger returning, fueling his words. “Living with her. She fucking stayed with him, Az. Which means that I not only lost my career, my dream, for fucking nothing, but that Nesta has been lying to me for months.”
Azriel opened his mouth to say something, but his words failed him.
“I feel like an idiot,” he said, taking another sip from the bottle. “I’m not up there comforting her right now because every word that’ll come out of my mouth will be one I end up regretting.”
Azriel stayed quiet for a few more minutes. Finally, he said, “She’s scared.” Cass looked up at him. “She thinks you did something stupid, that Tomas is somewhere laying in a ditch.”
Cassian scoffed. “Glad she’s so worried about him.”
“She’s not worried about him, you dumbass,” he said, disbelief coloring his tone. “She’s worried about you going to jail.”
Cassian didn’t answer, just took another swig from the bottle.
Azriel asked, “You’re not going to talk to her?”
“Not until I can be sure I won’t say something wrong.” He ran a hand through his hair, it had come loose from the hair tie at some point. “I just need to get my head on straight.”
“She’s carrying your child,” Azriel said, incredulously.
“Right now, all indicators are pointing to me being just a sperm donor so Tomas Mandray can have his perfect fucking life with the woman I’ve been in love with since high school.”
Azriel’s hazel eyes had gone cold. “I’m going to assume that’s the booze talking, because right now, you’re acting like a fucking prick.” He stood heading for the door. “She lied to you, yes, and that’s fucked up, but she didn’t do it on purpose. She wouldn’t do anything to hurt you because she loves you.”
He didn’t say anything else as he walked out, slamming the door shut behind him.
Cassian watched him go, not caring that Azriel was right. He was acting like a prick, but he deserved to be able to act like a prick.
He wasn’t in the wrong here.
He hadn’t fucking lied.
All she had ever told him about Tomas had pointed to the fact that she dumped him after that day at the rodeo, after she found out he was cheating, after Cassian had kicked his ass. And now he finds that all he had thought was complete bullshit? Had she thought she was pregnant with Tomas’s child at some point? Was that how they had found out she couldn’t have kids? Fuck, Tomas knew she thought she couldn’t have kids, a fact that hardly anyone knows.
Cassian felt fucking stupid.
And betrayed.
He finished off the bottle and tossed the glass onto the side table with a clatter, forcing Beau on his feet, instantly alarmed. Cassian pulled himself up from the couch and swayed, nearly falling back over. He steadied himself, though, and took one step forward, trying hard to clear his vision before taking another.
Azriel thought he should talk to Nesta so badly?
Fine.
He would.
If he could fucking make it there.
Cassian threw open the front door but misjudged the front steps. He tripped, and went tumbling down the three, his shirt ripping on his back over the bent wood.
“Fuck,” he yelled, the word slurred as he laid in the grass.
He didn’t feel much pain, though.
Shoutout to the whiskey.
Whiskey was a gift, making his body numb, like he was floating on air. His eyes fluttered open and he was staring up at the clear afternoon sky. The sun was bright, not a cloud in sight.
It was a perfect day.
Full of utter shit.
With a grunt, Cassian pulled himself into sitting position and pushed himself back onto his feet. Attempting to catch his balance, he looked up toward the main house.
None of them were on the porch now, and Azriel’s truck was no longer parked where he’d left it out front. He stood, wobbling slightly, planning to head to the main house, but he sighed.
They couldn’t hash this out in front of the guests, they very first guests they’d booked. No, he wouldn’t do that to Nesta, wouldn’t embarrass her like that, or tarnish her reputation.
So he stumbled to the small house by the river, window still smashed to hell and opened the door.
He wasn’t expecting to find Nesta inside, sitting with Elain and Feyre on the couch.
He cleared his throat, trying to make his intentions clear. Beau scurried off to the bedroom.
Her sisters didn’t move an inch. Feyre even looked like she was inclined to light him on fire.
“I need to talk to Nesta,” he said, making his voice as clear as possible. Neither made a move to stand. He added, “Alone.”
“It’s okay,” she whispered, squeezing Elain’s hand in her own.
Even Elain have him a distasteful look as they passed him, out the door. Cassian closed it behind them and turned to face his girlfriend.
She lifted her chin but said nothing.
“Tell me about France,” he demanded, voice low.
“You’re drunk,” she said, then nodded to his arm. “And you’re bleeding.”
He looked down near his elbow and, sure enough, blood was trickling from a scratch, thanks to his fall down his porch stairs.
“I’m fine,” he muttered. “Now, tell me about France.”
He could see the fear in her eyes that she tried to conceal as she said, “What about it?”
The question had been replayed in his head so many times that it didn’t sound right coming out loud now. “How long was he there?”
She blinked. “Who are you talk-?”
“Don’t bullshit me, Nes.” He leaned against the kitchen counter. “How long was Tomas in France? Hmm? Cause I sure felt like a dumbass when he was throwing your infertility in my face, something your own sisters didn’t even know. Telling me how he held your hand in the clinic and dried your tears and then fucked you to make you forget.”
She’d gone pale, the blood even leaching from her lips, and Cassian thought she might be about to vomit again. “He told you?”
Cassian could feel his heart breaking in his chest, thought he might audibly hear the crack, as she confirmed what he was hoping was a last ditch effort by Tomas to lie and get under his skin. “Sure as fuck did.” He tried to stop his voice from wavering, cleared his throat before he spoke again. But it didn’t stop his voice from breaking as he said, “Why didn’t you?”
Nesta tried to speak but a sudden sob came out instead. Cassian felt guilty for making her cry, but he didn’t show it. “He was there for just under two years,” Nesta said, at last, words quiet as tears streamed down her cheeks. “He came, asking for forgiveness, begging me to take him back, saying he wanted to start again. We had a scare. I...had thought I was pregnant but when we went to the doctor, that was when I found out I couldn’t- couldn’t have kids.” The words were barely audible through her sob, through her heartache. Cassian was breathing harder, but his feet stayed planted, just within the door. “He left me after that, weeks later. I hadn’t seen him again. Not until that day we went into town and ran into him at the hardware store.”
Cassian had nothing to say. She was the one crying, but Cassian just felt numb.
Nesta took a deep, shaky breath. “I’m sor-.”
“You lied to me,” Cassian breathed. “I’m the father of your child, and you fucking lied to me.”
“Cass, don’t-.”
“Stop,” he said, but there was no bite in his voice, only exhaustion from the whiskey, from the lies.
He turned to take a step toward the door, but Nesta was on her feet, her eyes narrowing. Her voice was quiet when she snapped, “Don’t you fucking dare walk away from me.”
Cassian stilled, slowly looking up to meet her gaze. “Seriously? You’re a fucking liar, Nesta! I gave everything to you! Even before you knew I existed, I gave everything to you! I don’t care that he was there, Nesta, if you wanted to repeat your mistakes, over and over again, that’s on you, but you lying about it to me? Making me think it never happened? Well, shit, Nes, if you’re always gonna go back to him, what the fuck am I even doing here?”
“Stop,” she seethed.
“When are you gonna get bored with me and go back to that trash?” He knew it was the alcohol speaking, but he couldn’t stop himself. “It seems to be a trend of yours.”
“You’re being an ass-.”
“Is he gonna be the one my kid calls dad, huh?” Cassian spat, and Nesta froze, her face paling, once more. “Or, were you lying to me about all that, too? Maybe Tomas is his dad, maybe you were fucking him-.”
Nesta’s hand came at his face so quickly that he couldn’t collect himself before her open palm came forcefully in contact with his cheek.
He couldn’t believe the words had come out of his mouth. Couldn’t believe he’d said them aloud. But he refused to see himself as the sole problem in the situation. He may not have been able to hold his tongue, but she was the one who had kept the truth from him.
That slap had all but sobered him up and he needed to go.
He didn’t say a word as he turned from her, walked into the back bedroom and start grabbing his shit, throwing it into a backpack he’d found in the closet.
“Are you leaving me?”
Her voice came from the doorway, and when he turned to look at her, the sadness on her face nearly brought him to his knees. Instead he continued to pack up his bag, grabbing necessities he couldn’t get from main house. “No. Of course not. But I’m staying in the cabin tonight.”
She begged, “Cassian, please-.”
“I can’t stay here tonight,” he said, voice breaking. “I’m going to keep saying things I’m going to regret. And I’m-.” He closed his eyes, fighting the moisture he felt threatening to spill over again. He couldn’t stop the break in his voice. “I’m so fucking hurt, Nesta. You, of all people, you lied to me. I need time to myself, to think.”
He ignored her protests, ignored her tears as he hauled the bag over his shoulder and left, hurrying past Elain and Feyre, who had been waiting on the porch, no doubt hearing every word he’d said. He strode into the cabin and threw the bag down before he started jogging down the path that led to the stables. Behind the stables was an old shed, which he pushed open with his shoulder.
His wood working supplies and a heap of wood laid just inside. He used to do it more, his wood working, before Isaac died, when he’d had more time. He’d sold quite a bit of the furniture he’d made through the years, leaving him with one hell of a savings.
He loved it.
And he was good at it.
And it took his mind off things.
And right now, there was only one thing on his mind.
He worked throughout the night, taking his aggression out on the wood, hacking and chipping and carving and sawing.
He didn’t even know what he was making until it took form in front of him. He just let the wood find itself in his skilled hands.
When the sun was breaking over the trees, he walked back to the cabin, carrying the piece in his arms. He was surprised to find Beau dozing on the front porch, locked out. “What are you doing out here, bud?” He asked, leaning down to scratch behind his soft ears. Beau whined at the door.
He opened the door and immediately knew why Beau had been forgotten outside.
Nesta was asleep on his couch, one of his team roping hoodies swallowing her. He softly closed the door and walked around the room, setting the piece on the wooden coffee table with a thud.
Nesta’s eyes opened and she blinked a few times, before her eyes focused on Cassian.
And then on the small, wooden cradle he’d set down on the table.
Nesta’s eyes slowly trailed up to Cassian’s as she brought her knees up to her chest. “What is this?”
“A bassinet,” Cassian said, his voice low, “and an apology.”
Nesta slowly reached out her fingers to brush along the smooth surface. It was flawless. Her lips parted as she took a deep breath.
“I’m not going to pretend I’m not pissed, Nesta,” he continued, his hands in his pockets, “but I didn’t mean the things I said. I was drunk and I was mad, but I was wrong to say the things that I did.”
She nodded, subtly, still staring at the cradle. Her eyes lined with silver. “It’s beautiful, Cassian.”
She still wouldn’t look at him.
His jaw tightened. He hated making her cry, but this wasn’t a conversation that they could sweep under the rug. He sat down next to her, not quite touching her, but also not far away.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He asked, voice quiet.
He would keep his temper in check, he had no choice not to.
She just continued to brush her finger along the smooth, curved edge. “Where did you get this?”
“I made it.” There was no bragging, no pride.
“You…made it?” Her voice was incredulous. “How?”
He stood and held it out his hand to her. “I’ll show you.”
He lead her down the path, past the stables and to the workshop. He shoved the door aside and Nesta’s eyes didn’t know where to look first. “Cass…”
“Nesta, please.” His voice broke again. She turned to look at him, leaning against the open door frame, seeing the man in front of her, the man she loved, more broken than he’d ever been. His eyes were lined with silver. “Is there something you need to tell me?”
Nesta’s shoulders sagged as she looked away from him, eyes drifting around his little workshop. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about Tomas in Paris. No one knew, because… because I was ashamed of it.”
Her words were near silent, but they filled the little shed. Cassian said nothing, and she didn’t dare look at him again as she went on. “I should have told you. And I’m sorry you had to hear about it from him. But you know, now, Cass. All of it, all my secrets. I continuously went back to a shitty, mentally abusive relationship because that’s what I thought I deserved for so long.”
Cassian couldn’t help the tear that fell from his eye. He blamed it on the fact that he’d gotten drunk and stayed up all night, that he was too old for that shit, but he knew that wasn’t why.
“I have always feared how much you love me,” she whispered. “Since the moment I met you… You’ve been so passionate, so genuine, and I didn’t know how to handle that. Then I learned that you were the one that beat up Tomas for cheating on me… I knew I shouldn’t have gone back to him, Cass, knew I shouldn't have taken him back when he showed up in Paris, but I was weak. And I didn’t care, you know? I didn’t care if I got into a relationship that wasn’t…ideal. I stayed with him because I deserved it after all I’d done throughout the years. My family didn’t talk to me. I pushed everyone away, for the most part. But Tom? He was my only consistency. After he left in Paris, though, I was done. I was content on being alone. And I always feared him, a little bit, even before I knew I had real reason to. He’s a cruel man, and I have had nothing to do with him for years.” She turned to meet him, then, her pale cheeks red and blotchy. “This baby is yours, and yours alone. Half you, half me. Tomas is dead to me, Cass. He haunts my dreams and plagues my memories, but he is not a part of my life or my future.”
Cassian didn’t speak. Nesta knew he was processing, knew he hadn’t ignored her confession, that he was turning it over and over in his head. So instead of interrupting him, instead of distracting him, she began to walk through his shop. There were things of every shape and size, from a towering wardrobe to the tiniest, most detailed figurines. She saw chairs, and platforms, pallets and easels. There were different tools used to shape and sand and manipulate the wood into whatever shape he wanted.
Her fingers were skimming across the surface of an unfinished kitchen table with thick, rustic legs, when Cassian’s voice came from right behind her. “You two are the most important things in my life.” She turned expecting to find him by the door, but he was in the heart of the workshop with her. “I said some shit that I didn’t mean, and I’m sorry.” He tucked some of her loose hair behind her ear. “I was hurt and drunk and confused and…” He sighed. “I’m sorry, Nesta. I love you and I’m so, so sorry.”
“I know,” she breathed, reaching up to cup his face in her hands. “I am, too.”
He leaned down and kissed her, softly, her arms wrapping around his neck as he did so.
“I promise to be truthful,” Nesta said, running her hands down his broad arms. “Always. Every day.” Her fingers stopped and grazed the cut on his arm, just above his elbow.
Cassian chuckled, surprising her. She looked up to meet his gaze, his tired eyes lit with amusement.
“I fell down my porch stairs yesterday,” Cassian mumbled.
Nesta, eyes still misty, broke out in a grin. “Your feet are too big to walk on when you’re drunk.”
“You know what they say about big feet,” Cassian said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“They come with a cocky attitude?” Nesta asked, her arms resuming their position, hands clasped behind his neck.
Cassian laughed, breathlessly. “Close enough.”
He lifted her up against him, taking a few steps back until he was setting her on an empty spot on his workshop table. His rough hands ran down her thighs as he kissed her again, his teeth tugging gently on her bottom lip.
“I have to go make breakfast for the guests,” she said, quietly, not wanting to ruin the moment, but knowing her duties.
“What time?” he asked.
“Eight,” she said, quietly.
Cassian pulled his nearly-dead phone out of his pocket before shoving it right back in, his lips finding her neck. “That’s an hour from now.”
She laughed, but leaned her head back, giving him better access. Even then, she said, breathlessly, “One more day. Doctor’s orders.”
His hand wove into her hair, tilting her head down. He said, “Fuck the doctor’s orders,” and kissed her, hard, pulling her body against his.
Her arms tightened around his neck.
The hand that wasn’t tugging on Nesta’s hair lifted the hem of his sweatshirt she wore. His fingers skimmed along her back, every pass going lower and lower...
She wasn’t wearing anything beneath the hoodie.
He pulled back, eyes wide in surprise.
Her lips were swollen from his kisses, but he could see her cheeks redden. “I might have been planning to apologize myself. Yours was just better.”
“I don’t know, yours looks pretty good…” he mumbled, his thumbs brushing over her peaked nipples as he palmed her breasts. “The fact that you’re wearing nothing but boots right now is, like, the center of every fantasy I’ve ever had.”
Nesta laughed quietly as she wrapped her legs around Cassians waist and pulled him into her. She tugged on his shirt until his chest was bare and her fingers were exploring him hungrily.
They skimmed over that red, angry scar, barely eliciting a reaction from him. Just a slight pull of air through his teeth.
“Does it still hurt?” The words were a whisper, the early morning quiet this far from the city.
He shook his head. “No. It’s actually pretty numb now, just sore sometimes.” He took her hand, gently pressing the palm down over his chest, rather than her fingers above. She could feel the steady beat beneath his skin. “This is the only thing I feel there now. And it’s yours.”
A slow smile captured her lips as she kissed him, passionately, her mind empty of all thoughts except for one: how much she loved this man before her. Even with all of his imperfections, his anger being at the top of that list. But she knew that he loved her just the same.
With hasty fingers, she undid the button that held up his jeans, fully aware of how hard he’d become.
It had been a while.
Too long.
The low groan that escaped his throat as she undid his zipper told her as much.
He reached between them, wanting to work her slowly, to have her falling apart on his hand, to…
“You’re already soaked, sweetheart,” he breathed.
As if it were explanation enough, she tossed her head back and said, “I need you, Cass.”
That was enough for him.
He surprised her though, not by roughly slamming his cock inside her, like she expected - and wanted, truthfully - but by dropping to his knees and feasting on her.
The moan that left her was louder than it should have been. Anyone in the area would have known precisely what they were doing. But neither of them could really be bothered by anything taking place outside of the small workshop.
Within those walls, it was just the two of them, and that was all that mattered.
His tongue swept between her folds, hungrily, and found her clit with desperate expertise. With her slender fingers tangling into his hair, Nesta’s body clenched, overwhelmed by the pleasure he was giving her.
If this was the way they made up, perhaps they should fight more often, Nesta thought. Over something small, miniscule, but she’d make a scene if this was the outcome.
She whispered his name into the silence, putting every emotion she could fathom into the syllables, that one word. Cassian gripped her ass, pulled her closer into his mouth. His fingers would surely leave marks, ones she gladly welcomed. Her legs wrapped around his neck, her boots hanging down his back, the thick, worn leather grazing his bare skin.
He worshipped her with his tongue, touching and biting and kissing until Nesta was a whimpering mess.
Her back arched and she groaned, the words rushing out of her on a heavy breath. “Cassian, gods, please, don’t stop.”
He obeyed, one of his thumbs rubbing slow, torturous circles on her clit while he fucked her with his tongue. He groaned as she shuddered, her legs like a vice around his head, his name like a reverent prayer, repeated over and over again.
She was on the edge, hardly managing to hold on as Cassian's mouth fell away, leaving her suddenly cold and bare, and just as she was about to protest, he was thrusting his cock into her, being anything but gentle. His pace was quick, steady, rough, his hands still holding onto her ass as his head fell back, his long, damn hair hanging loosely, brushing along his shoulders as his eyes rolled back into his head.
Nesta leaned back, trying to find something to hold onto as he shook her body with his, leaving her off balance. She found nothing but the hard table beneath her, but Cassian's grip tightened against her skin as he cursed, brutally, beautifully.
“Fuck, I’ve missed your body,” he said, panting heavily. He looked down, watching as she unraveled around him. Her breasts shook and Cassian couldn’t take his eyes off of them.
Nesta leaned back on her elbows, letting her head roll back. “Baby. Hold on, wait, wait,” she said, sitting up and gently pushing his chest.
He froze, loosening the grip on her ass, but holding her tighter to him. “What? Are you okay?”
She pushed him back and he shuffled back, jeans still around his legs. She hopped off the table and turned around, rising up on her toes and lifting her ass. She looked over her shoulder at him, wiggling slightly.
Cassian nearly came at the sight of her in those boots, bent over his work bench, everything on display for him.
He hesitated, but not because he didn’t want to, but because he wanted to drink the sight in before him for as long as possible.
But she was waiting.
And he wouldn’t make her wait.
He took her ass into his hands and positioned himself just right before pushing himself into her, slowly. A long, quiet moan fell from her body as her back arched and her ass lifted further, and Cassian reached around her, one hand finding her breast, the other rolling a slow, taunting finger over her clit as he found a slow, steady pace, thrusting his cock into her. He breathed in her scent as his teeth found the back of her neck, nipping at her skin.
“I love you so much,” Cassian breathed, resting his forehead between her shoulder blade. He pressed soft kisses up her spine until his mouth was by her ear. “Fuck, marry me, Nesta. Be my wife. Make me the happiest fucking man in the world.”
She gasped lightly and reached backwards, grabbing for his hip. He slowed and stopped, cock filling her as he paused with his hips flush to her ass, and she looked back at him, whispering, “What did you say?”
He brushed the loose hairs off her face and caressed her cheek softly. “Marry me, sweetheart. Not because of the baby, not because I think it’s the right thing to do. But because I love you. I will never love anyone the way I love you. It doesn’t have to be right now, it doesn’t even need to be soon after the baby comes, just…” He pressed another kiss to the middle of her back. “Say you’ll marry me, Nesta.”
Her breathing was ragged as she swayed her hips, a gentle movement that forced a moan to fall from his lips, muffled against the skin of her back.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” she breathed. “There’s nothing I want more. Soon, later, whenever. Yes, yes, yes.”
He kissed her neck, and down her spine as the breaths she took grew shaky, pulling out slowly as he did so. Then he slammed his hips into hers and she cried out his name as that pace resumed, his mind a mess of beautiful things and chaotic emotions that could only be brought on by the woman before him.
His future wife.
“I’m close,” he grunted, his fingers digging into her hips. “I want you to come with me, baby.” She whimpered, her head resting atop the table. “Let me feel that perfect pussy come on my cock.”
“Please, Cassian, please,” she panted. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Her knees began to quiver and Cass slipped his hand around, furiously rubbing her clit and it was only a matter of seconds before she was shattering around him, his name falling from her lips in a breathy moan.
Cassian’s heart was pounding inside of his chest as he spilled himself inside of her, his eyes falling shut as his head fell between her shoulder blades, his breath heavy, hot, against her skin as he moved in her, riding it out. For a moment, neither of them said a word, neither of them moved. The silence was filled with panting breaths and soft curses.
Nesta could feel his heart thrumming against her back, wild and alive.
Her knees still shook, ever-so-slightly, and when he pulled himself out, she had to bite her lip from whimpering from the absence of him. Cassian gently pushed on her hips so that she'd turn to face him, and when she did, his hands met her abdomen in a gentle, tender touch. Then he met her gaze, and his hazel eyes were soft, thoughtful, not at all like they had been only moments before - wild, reckless.
He kissed her, slowly, and whispered against her lips, “I love you.”
Her arms wrapped around him, burying her face in his chest. “I love you, too.”
They cleaned up in silence, Cassian helping her pull the oversized sweatshirt back over her head. They were walking back towards the cabin when Nesta yawned and said, “I need to go make breakfast.”
Cassian kissed her forehead and said, “Go sleep. I’ll handle basic breakfast and let the guests know that we’ll be unavailable today.”
She nodded and rose up on her toes, kissing him. He watched her walk down the path before he turned and made his way up to the house. As he got closer he took a deep breath and realized he was smelling bacon cooking.
He entered through the back door, finding Feyre and Elain feeding the guests. He blinked. “Uh, good morning.”
Feyre refused to look at him. Elain sighed and asked, “Did you two make up?”
He looked at the clock above the stove. “Just spent the last hour and a half doing just that, yeah.”
“Gross,” Feyre mumbled, but she shot Cassian a smirk and he knew that he’d been forgiven.
Yesterday would not be forgotten. No, it was a very important moment in the story of who they were, but it was a day that would be treated as a lesson.
It was also the day that Nesta agreed to be his wife. But they didn’t need to know that yet.
249 notes
·
View notes
Text
The Ranch {18}
An A Court of Thorns and Roses, Nesta x Cassian, Modern AU, fanfiction.
Collaboration: @snelbz x @tacmc
Summary: Nesta had spent years in Paris, living her dream and drowning in riches as a gourmet chef, capturing the hearts of the city and its people. But, after her father passes away unexpectedly and leaves his cozy, countryside B&B to his oldest daughter, Nesta is moving back home to the tiny town of Velaris, where the ranch, her sisters, and her father’s unfulfilled dream, awaits.
Sidenote: Being posted between two blogs, it is too chaotic to keep up with a tags list, so all chapters will be tagged with “#TheRanchNessian” & “#SharaCollab”.
The Ranch Masterlist
Nesta was overwhelmed by all the love, and the shower hadn’t even started yet. Elain had put her planning skills to use, once again. The B&B’s living room was covered in streamers and banners and delicate pink and gold decor. A table was set up, full of snacks and desserts, and Cassian and the other men had been ordered to stay away.
Which meant that they were out back, drinking.
Every time Nesta asked if she could do something to help or even tried to get out of her seat, she was ordered to sit back down, put her feet up and relax.
She was doing just that when Viviane and Mor flopped down on the couch to her left.
“So,” Mor asked, sipping her mimosa through a pink-and-white striped straw. “Do we have any names picked out yet?”
Nesta looked at the mimosa longingly, but she blinked, coming back to the conversation and smiled. “We have a few, but we haven’t decided yet.” She rubbed her hand over her belly, gazing fondly at it, at the perfect, little girl growing inside her.
“And?” Viv asked, just as sweet as she was the day Nesta had met her. “What are they?”
She blushed, thinking of what Cassian had told her while they’d laid in bed last night.
Everyone is going to want to see and know every little thing about her as soon as she’s here, he’d said, his finger drawing long lines up and down her spine. Let’s keep them to ourselves for now.
“It’s a secret,” Nesta said, and when Mor groaned at the given answer, Nesta only smiled.
“She won’t even tell us, so don’t feel too bed,” Feyre said, sitting on Nesta’s other side. “Your fiancé is drunk by the way.”
“Already?” Nesta asked, gazing out the back window with narrowed eyes. He was laying in the green, lush grass in the back yard with a bottle to his lips while Rhysand and Azriel threw a football over him, back and forth.
Feyre chuckled and held up a mini cupcake. “Here, snuck one when Elain wasn’t looking.”
“I’ve never loved you so much,” Nesta muttered, popping the cupcake into her mouth in one bite. They were ordered to keep hands off the food until all guests arrived.
Nesta glanced up at the grand clock as she chewed.
They still had twenty more minutes before it truly began.
Elain had invited anyone Nesta had ever been close to and she was surprised when she’d told her there had been over thirty confirmed yes RSVP’s. And as the pile of gifts in the corner, Nesta’s heart became more and more full.
The back door opened and they heard, “Uh, Nes… can you come here for a second?”
Nesta and Elain’s eyes locked as her boyfriend’s tense voice floated to them. All three sisters made their way out into the backyard. Azriel was the only one there, although the football had been left behind, as well as Rhys and Cassian’s shirts.
Feyre began, “Where are-.”
“On the way down do the roping pen,” Azriel interrupted. “Because the two of them started talking about the old days and they’re drunk and now they're going to try and rope the herd.”
“We left you out here to stop them from making stupid decisions,” Feyre groaned.
He threw his hands in the air. “There’s two of them, one of me, and they’re both drinking. And then they took their shirts off and at that point, it was out of my hands.”
“One of them is going to get hurt.” Nesta began to rub small circles into her belly. She’d begun to do so when she was stressed out, trying to make sure her sweet girl knew everything was okay. She knew when she was freaking out, she flooded her with the hormones as well.
Elain smiled sweetly, kissed Azriel’s cheek and said, “I’ll handle it, you two go back inside.” She hurried her sisters back inside and they watched from the window as she began walking in the direction of the round pen.
Nesta said, “What is she-?”
“Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to,” Azriel mumbled, grabbing a handful of trail mix, overloaded with pink and white m&m’s. “She’s persuasive when she wants to be and terrifying when she needs to be.”
Feyre blinked. “You may want to keep that in mind while you eat the food she ordered no one to touch.”
Azriel hesitated before popping the handful into his mouth. “If you say anything,” he began, mouth full, “I will destroy you.”
Nesta snorted as Azriel walked to the front porch and sat in a rocking chair while guests continued to arrive. WIth a shake of her head, Nesta was looking back out of the back window, where Elain had disappeared to. A moment later, she returned with her chin held high, Cassian and Rhysand trailing behind, looking like two children that were being dragged to timeout.
Nesta was pulled into conversation after conversation after that. They pretty much were all the same.
Yes, they were so excited for her to be here.
No, they weren’t announcing her name yet.
Yes, she'd be having an epidural.
“Some people have no boundaries,” Viviane muttered, saving Nesta from a conversation where she’d been asked if she and Cassian still had an “aggressive sex life”.
Nesta was still laughing from the look on the woman’s face when she informed her she’d have to wait to find out if he’d gotten her throat pregnant the night before.
“You know she goes to the local church, right?” Feyre asked, nibbling on the brownies Nesta had baked when she couldn’t sleep this morning.
Nesta shrugged. “Then she shouldn’t have been asking such intrusive questions.”
An hour passed and guests were beginning to leave. Nesta found herself exhausted as she fell back into the couch with a plate of mini cupcakes. The back door swung open and Cassian stumbled inside, still shirtless, grinning at an older woman with a wink - the same woman that Nesta appalled with her sex life details. She looked him over, once, shook her head and walked away.
“Hi, baby mama,” Cassian said, a slight slur to his words as he leaned over the back of the couch and put his sweaty arms around her.
“Hi,” she said, taking a bite of her cupcake. “You stink.”
He muttered a reply as he pressed his lips to the side of her neck. “Did we get a lot of cute shit?”
Nesta pointed to the long table on the other side of the room, where the opened gifts sat - diapers, clothes, headbands, shoes, socks, bibs, blankets, and the list went on and on and on. She had received both things that were necessary and things that were not, and although she was incredibly grateful, she had no idea where the hell it would all go.
Cassian whistled as he observed the gifts. “That’s a lot of cute shit.”
“Yeah,” Nesta said, quietly, picking up another cupcake.
Cassian blinked, then frowned as he looked at Nesta and caught her expression. “What’s wrong?”
Her lip began to wobble.
“What? No, no no,” he began, coming around the couch and kneeling before her, He took the plate off her lap and took her hands in his. “Don’t cry. Why are you crying? It’s a happy day.”
“Where are we going to put all of this stuff, Cass?” she asked, quietly. “We have enough shit to fill two nurseries, and we don’t even have one.”
The look on his face told her that she wasn’t the only one who’d been thinking about that. They had discussed building a new home, like Cassian had wanted, but knew that ultimately, they’d always end up back in the ranch house, so it would be a colossal waste of both time and money. They’d discussed adding onto the cabin or her little house by the river, but again, they knew where they’d end up.
Cassian had found her standing in the doorway of her old bedroom when it was unoccupied by guests, on more than one occasion. He knew what the best resolution was for both of them, but knew neither of them wanted to admit it.
He cupped her face in his hands, using his thumbs to brush away the few tears that had slipped over. “I think we need to sit down and have a talk with your sisters soon.”
She nodded, the tears starting a new, knowing exactly what conversation he meant.
He sat next to her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”
She sniffled again and said, “Seriously, you stink.” He chuckled, but didn’t have a chance to reply before Elain’s frantic voice filled the nearly empty house.
“Why is she crying?” She asked, coming into the living room, eyes narrowing on Cassian. “What did you do?”
He shrugged. “Knocked her up?”
Rhys shoved a mini cupcake in his mouth and said, “Well, you’re not wrong.”
Feyre nudged him in the side with her elbow and Nesta chuckled, wiping at her eyes. “I’m fine.”
Elain’s eyes narrowed further. “You’re lying.”
Yes, she was, but she wasn’t about to have this conversation while there were still guests in the house. To save her from lying, once more, Cassian sighed, loudly and dramatically. “Well, if you’re all staying around for a while, I guess I should run into town and get more shit for dinner. I’m drunk, so one of you has to drive me.”
“Might wanna put a shirt on first,” Elain muttered, still uneasy.
“I’ll drive you,” Azriel said, but Cass shook his head.
“I think Feyre needs to come with me.”
Rhys had popped another cupcake into his mouth, so he mumbled, “What? Why?”
“Hush, and stop talking with your mouth open.” Feyre leaned down and kissed his cheek. “That’s fine, Cass. But you’re changing first, you really do stink. Let’s stop at the cabin.”
He so badly wanted to protest, but didn’t. Instead, he followed Feyre down to his cabin, who was eyeing him suspiciously for the entire walk.
“At what point during this outing are you going to tell me why it had to be me to accompany you?” Feyre asked, when they reached the cabin’s porch.
“Can I not simply enjoy your company?” Cassian asked, one brow arched.
“You can, but I also know you better than that,” Feyre said, amused.
He chuckled. “That’s fair. I’ll tell you when we leave. I just...need a second perspective on some things.”
Her expression didn’t ease as she looked at him though, it got more worried.
Cassian hustled up the stairs and went in to quickly wash down and change, while Feyre stayed out on the porch. It was brisk outside, the middle of October and the crisp fall day was beautiful.
Feyre leaned against the porch rail, looking out into the woods behind the cabin. She’d grown up, running through these woods, and she loved everything about it. She had painted every scene you could see on this land. When she was-.
Something caught her eye, and Feyre stared into the wooded area, trying to discern exactly what she was seeing. Or who.
The door of the cabin opened and Cass said, “Alright, much better. Want to smell?”
He lifted up his arm and Feyre rolled her eyes, pushing him away. “Shut up, let’s go.”
She decided that what she’d seen in the woods was just a shadow of a tree, as the sun was beginning to go down, and not a figure in the distance.
Cassian and Feyre walked to the truck where he, like the gentleman he was, opened the passenger door for Feyre before helping himself behind the wheel.
“So?” She said, as he pulled onto the road.
Cassian hesitated, then went with, “I want to give your sister the world.”
Feyre blinked. “I know. You are, surprisingly, very sweet to her. Go on.”
Cassian rolled his eyes but continued, “We don’t have enough room, Feyre, for a baby. Even then, it’s too much, you know? A ranch, a B&B, a newborn? Fuck, one of those is enough, but juggling all three?”
Feyre watched him, then turned her eyes toward the road as she said, “I know you, Cass, so stop dancing around the subject and spit it out.”
“Nesta doesn’t want to reopen the bed and breakfast when she’s done with maternity leave.”
The words hung between them. Feyre didn’t say anything, which almost terrified Cass more.
They pulled into the parking lot of the diner and he put it in park, turning to look at her. “Say something, anything, please.”
She gnawed on her lip. “I’m trying to decide what to say.”
“Are you mad or are you surprised?” He asked.
“I’m...in shock,” she said.
He nodded, slowly. “Why?”
Feyre laughed, breathlessly. “At first, I was surprised that she wanted to open the B&B to begin with. Then, she put so much work into it, put her whole heart into it...it hasn’t even been a year, and y’all want to close it?”
Cassian sighed. “It’s not that we want to, but it’s more of a necessity. Nesta has been scared to close it down...but, I think it’s for the best. We need the main house, and we make enough money on the ranch without it. We have no room for the baby, Feyre, no time. And...I don’t know. Raising the baby in the main house? She’ll have her own room, Nesta will have her own kitchen….It makes more sense. Right?” He added the question at the end, hoping for Feyre’s approval, but unsure of what she’d say.
She didn’t say anything, she just sat there, tapping her foot.
“I’m gonna go get the food, I’ll be right back, just…” Cassian sighed and ran his hand through his hair. “I just want to do what’s best for my family.”
He got out of the truck and headed inside and Feyre was…floored.
After Nesta had sacrificed so much, after she’d given up everything she’d ever known, she was already willing to quit. She had sold her restaurants, her life’s work, all to come back to Velaris and reopen the B&B. And just like that, she was done?
The more Feyre thought it over, the more angry she was getting and by the time Cassian was carrying the food to the truck, Feyre wasn’t even sure what she wanted to speak to him.
The drive back home was silent, she stared out the window, and Feyre was trying to calm her breathing before they returned home. She’d slapped Nesta on her first day here. She was pregnant, but if she was going to destroy their father’s dream-.
Feyre closed her eyes and sighed.
Their father’s dream.
Not Nesta’s.
Nesta’s dreams were back in Paris, London, Rome. And she’d left them.
To come back home.
She leaned her head back, letting it fall against the headrest, and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Cassian noticed it, too.They were close to pulling into the driveway, but not quite. Cassian finally broke the silence by saying, “You know it breaks my heart, don’t you? I know how much work Nesta has put into this, Feyre, and your dad was a good friend.” He had been, Feyre knew. Cassian was one of her father’s favorite people in the end. “I wanted him to succeed. I wanted them both to succeed, and this decision isn’t easy, but we’re having a baby, Feyre. A fucking kid. It’s not just about me, and it’s not just about Nes...it’s not about either of us, it’s all about this baby, and I…”
His words trailed off, and he was still staring at the road as he ran his hand down his face in frustration. Feyre pretended not to notice how his eyes welled up with tears.
“I’m so fucking scared, Feyre. That I’ll fuck up somehow.” His voice broke. “I didn’t have a father, I don’t know how to be a father. I’ll mess this kid up or I���ll do something and she’ll get sick of me.”
There was Tomas again, always in the back of his mind. Even if they hadn’t seen him in weeks, he still haunted nearly every thought.
“If Nesta wants to give up the B&B, I’m going to support her in that.” His jaw was set and Feyre knew it wasn’t for a fight. “I just… I have to do what’s best for my family.”
She noticed the change from his earlier statement, saw the determination and devotion in his eyes. Feyre never been so thankful that her big sister had found someone so absolutely devoted to her than she was in that moment.
After a deep breath, Feyre reached across the center console and took her friend’s hand in hers. “We will support you, too, in whatever you decide to do, whatever you feel you need to do. And you’re going to be a good husband, and a good father. I know it.”
Cassian didn’t look in her direction and he took his hand off the wheel for a split second to wipe at his face as he nodded, shortly.
“Nesta’s stressed,” he said, at last. “I don’t know how to help her. Nesta was a pain in the ass to begin with, but pregnant Nesta? I feel helpless.”
Feyre chuckled and patted his hand before wiping away her tears. “You’re doing better than you think you are, Cass. That woman loves you. I have never seen her love anyone, anything, the way she loves you.”
Cassian did though. He knew one thing that Nesta loved as much as him, as much as her sisters, as much as their unborn baby.
And he knew what they could do.
When they pulled up to the house, all cars except those belonging to their family were gone. As they made their way up the stairs, they could hear the laughter of their families inside.
“This,” he breathed, stopping.. “This is what I want to come home to after a long day. My family, laughing, living, just being together. Not- not strangers in my living room.”
Feyre’s eyes softened. “I know, Cass. I get it.”
He nodded, and took a deep breath before pushing open the front door and holding up the bags of food. “Let’s eat!”
He was met with a round of hollers, all but from Nesta, who was watching him, wistfully. She knew him too well. Knew that something had happened, something had been talked about in their absence.
He gave her a gentle smile before making his way to the kitchen and unloading the to-go boxes for everyone to choose from.
He set out plates and napkins, and everyone came through and loaded up their plates, Nesta being last.
She met Cassian’s stare and said, “You talked to her about it, didn’t you?”
“I-.” He looked to the living room where Feyre was laughing at something Azriel had said. “How did you know?”
Nesta rolled her eyes. “What did she say?”
He was quiet for a minute and while he made plates for them, and as he opened his mouth to say something, Rhys hollered, “You guys know you can’t make another baby until Nesta pops that one out, right?”
Cass chuckled and kissed Nesta’s forehead. “Come on. We’ll talk later. Let’s go spend time with our family.”
A few hours later, the six of them ended up around a bonfire, and Cassian cleared his throat. “There’s something Nes and I want to talk to you guys about.”
Feyre didn’t look surprised. She simply folded her hands in her lap and waited, along with the others. Nesta was staring at her hands.
Cassian took a long, slow drink from his bottle before meeting Nesta’s gaze. She nodded, slowly, and after a breath, Cassian said, “Nesta and I are going to discontinue the B&B.”
Elain, Azriel, and Rhysand stared at him, open-mouthed, but Feyre just nodded, slowly.
“And before anyone says anything, yes, we have thought about it,” Cassian continued. “We need room for the baby, and we need privacy… We realize the B&B was Isaac’s dream, and we’re glad we were able to make it successful, but as we’re starting a family...we just need to do this. So, we’re going to shut down the B&B and continue the ranch...and, Nesta’s going to open her own restaurant.”
The circle went silent.
Nesta, included.
In fact, she was the first to say, “What?”
He nodded. “It’s your passion, sweetheart. I get to do what I love every single day. I get to live my passion.” He took her face in his hands. “You left your passion behind in your restaurants, in your food. You can keep doing that though. You can do what you love.”
“Where?” She asked, tears already spilling over. “The house?”
“If you want, some nights,” he said. “Or we can find you a place. Or I’ll build you one, on the property, I don’t care.”
Nesta was floored. “I- Are you- Really?”
He almost looked taken about. “Of course, really.” He didn’t care that the others were around, that they were watching, listening. “You’re giving me a baby, Nes. A family. And I just want you to be happy, and I will do everything in my power to make sure that you’re happy.”
He wiped at the tears falling down her cheeks, knowing full well they were happy tears, not tears of sadness.
“Cass,” she breathed, shaking her head slowly.
“If we close the B&B, tell me what you want and I’ll make it happen,” he whispered. “Tell me what you want, and it’s yours.”
She nodded, unable to form the words needed to express to him her love, her gratitude, her thanks.
But he didn’t need any of those. He could see the truth in her eyes, the amazement and the devotion there. So he kissed her, knowing that they were on the right path to their future.
___
It was getting late. They had all piled into the little house outback once the bonfire began to fade away. Then, Rhysand and Feyre took off, leaving Elain and Azriel snuggling together on the couch. A movie had been playing, and the couple were soon sleeping soundly.
Nesta and Cassian crept into the bedroom, Beau just behind.
Nesta crashed into the bed, her eyes dropping. It had been a long day and she was so over it.
“You look like you need a massage,” Cassian said, kicking off his boots and slipping his shirt over his head.
“A massage, a drink,” she muttered. “The list is long.”
“I can’t exactly condone the latter,” he said, laying down behind her, one hand covering her stomach, as it did every night, and pressing a kiss to the back of her neck. “But I can help with the former for sure.”
He let his other hand knit into her hair and scratched at her scalp. Nesta’s head lulled back, giving him better access to her neck and he kissed the delicate column of her throat before he whispered, “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” she breathed.
“I’m drunk,” he muttered.
Nesta snorted. “You’ve been drunk since three.”
“Not true,” he said, trailing his kisses across her shoulder.
“So true,” she protested, but didn’t push him away, only closed her eyes as he slipped the strap of her tank top down her arm.
“You know, in a few months, I won’t be able to fuck you whenever I want.”
Nesta rolled her eyes and snorted. “How romantic. The father of my child, ladies and gentleman.”
But Cassian was grinning, his mouth against her skin. “I’m not wrong.”
“Hmmm.” She pretended to be unaffected by his advances, but Cassian turned her face towards him and kissed her. Nesta giggled and turned over, wrapping her arms around him.
“So what did I hear about our aggressive sex life today?” Cass asked, kissing her jaw.
Nesta laughed and said, “Remember the woman that you scandalized earlier?” Cassian blinked, clearly not recalling. “You were drunk, remember?”
“No, but I’ll take your word for it,” he mumbled, his attention redirected to more important things as his face planted between her breasts.
“Well, I basically told an elderly woman that I suck you dry, so..” Nesta trailed off.
Cassian snorted, propping himself up on his elbows. “You scandalized an old woman?”
“It makes me mad when people ask stupid things,” she said, shrugging.
Cassian blinked. “Is it weird that I’'m completely turned on right now?”
Nesta took his face into her hands. “When are you not turned on?”
Cassian grinned. “Fair point.”
He kissed her hard, his tongue sweeping along her bottom lip. She opened up, giving him access and moaned quietly as his tongue brushed against her own.
“Make love to me,” she breathed. “Make love to me in our home.”
Cass pulled back, gazing down at her.
Our home.
She watched as his eyes filled up with tears, but before one could fall, she pulled his lips back down to hers and kissed him, pouring everything she wanted to say into it.
He pulled himself over her but was careful for her belly. She kept telling him that a little bit of weight was okay, but he was overly protective of what that bump held.
A few more months, and they would go from being a couple to being a family of three. They would close the B&B and make the big house their home. They would raise their daughter within those walls.
And Cassian couldn’t wait.
218 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
flowers016
☀️
kirsteinkisses
kaleidoscope ✰
misakitsuki
If this is not a place to fangirl?
halgiefanfics
Not You Too
suppaiku
L’Autre Blog De Suppaiku