Chapter Text
Elain Archeron stood at the counter of her flower shop, Petals and Peonies, looking around as the clouds dispersed. The natural light came through the ceiling to floor windows, making it feel bright and welcoming.
Elain loved her store and the bustling city where it was located. Velaris was a quaint city tucked between mountains and the sea and was a haven for many people.
Tucked in between a bookstore and coffee store, Petals and Peonies was somewhat cliche but had the coziest vibes and sweet clientele that she enjoyed working with. Four years ago, Elain bought the building with the inheritance from her father and transformed an old butcher shop into a beautiful flower shop. Vines snaked up the brick walls inside the shop with numerous displays lining the large room.
As she arranged a vase of roses for an order to be picked up later that day, Elain heard the familiar twinkle of the bells chiming as the door was opened.
“Hi there, how can I help y-“ she started and then looked up.
Elain’s world tilted as she dropped the scissors she was holding and gaped at the man standing before her.
Azriel.
He was extremely tall, tattooed, and had sharp hazel eyes. She didn’t know a last name or much about him besides that he was fabulous in bed. His raven hair was shorter than she remembered. The nose ring he had glinted in the sun and his tattoos seemed to come to life like shadows in the dark.
She instinctively put a hand over her stomach, not that he could see it with the counter in front of her.
Elain cleared her throat and said quietly, “Hi there, Azriel.” She tucked a piece of golden hair behind her ear and tried to hide her shaking hand.
Azriel sauntered up to the counter, with that infinite level of control he possessed, and laid his two scarred hands on the counter and leaned slightly on it.
“Elain… you live here? In this city?” Azriel spoke quietly and somewhat hoarsely, and she nodded once in response.
“You left that night before I could get your number…and I was just walking by and saw you here,” He spoke softly, “And I just walked in and…” he added sheepishly, looking like he just realized exactly where he was at and who he was with. The tips of his ears went the slightest shade of pink.
“Umm. Yes. I did and I’m sorry… I just never did the one night stand thing before and didn’t know how to react the next morning…and I felt that…” she trailed off, looking down at his beautifully scarred hands on the counter. She remembered exactly how they caressed her face like she was something precious, on that night a few months ago.
“Do you have time to talk?” Elain asked in a timid voice, finally looking up and facing him again. His hazel eyes glinted with anticipation. She knew she had to tell him about the pregnancy, since her prior efforts to track him down had been fruitless.
On a whim, 5 months ago Elain and her two best friends, Nuala and Cerridwen, took a mini road trip to Adriata to visit the beaches there… she had planned to take a real vacation with actual relaxation, but met Azriel at a bar and impulsively went to his hotel with him. After a night spent together, she snuck out early the next morning and never looked back. Elain tried to convince herself that her connection with Azriel was made up in her head, and that it ultimately meant nothing.
As weeks passed after their night together, she began to feel slightly different. Not sick, just… off. Her body felt tender and had a feeling of anticipation she couldn’t shake.
Then came the random vomiting, food aversions and finally the little white test that felt like a bomb in her outdated bathroom.
Elain then had spent 1 month in denial that she was pregnant by a one night stand and then 4 months after that trying to track down Azriel. Either he didn’t do social media or it was obscure or extremely private. Elain had finally made her peace with the fact that her child would grow up without a father, and she’d simply have to fill in the pieces as she went along. Once Feyre and Nesta had accepted the unexpected news and quit pestering Elain about the father’s identity, she knew she’d make it all work.
“Of course, let’s talk.” Azriel replied politely, with a stoic look on his face, pulling Elain out of her train of thoughts.
Elain motioned him to follow and shouted over her shoulder, “Nuala, can you handle the counter for now?” and didn’t wait for a reply back. She led Azriel into a small office, keeping her back to him the entire time.
When Elain turned around to unlock the door to her office, she turned around to face Azriel and he immediately stepped back, looking from her pregnant belly to her face several times. His hazel eyes were wide with shock and disbelief.
“Yes, we have something important to talk about”, Elain said with a timid smile, opening the door to her office and gesturing for him to walk in first.