a break up and a make up

The music in the dimly lit basement was loud, a mix of pop songs and awkward laughter bouncing off the walls. It was one of those middle school “makeout” parties, where everyone was only 13 years old but pretended to be older and cooler than they were. Alicent sat on the edge of a lumpy couch, her hands gripping her knees as she stared at the floor. Her cheeks were flushed, a mix of nerves and the heat from so many bodies crammed into the small space.

Laena plopped down beside her, effortlessly relaxed, as always. She took a sip from her can of soda before leaning back and nudging Alicent with her elbow. “You look like you’re about to pass out,” Laena said with a grin. “What’s going on?”

Alicent groaned, burying her face in her hands. “This is a nightmare,” she muttered. “I don’t even know why I came.”

Laena laughed, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “You came because Rhaenyra is here,” she said knowingly, drawing out the name with a teasing tone.

Alicent peeked through her fingers, her expression somewhere between panicked and exasperated. “Don’t remind me,” she mumbled. “We’ve only been dating for three months, and now there’s all this pressure because everyone’s making out. I don’t even know how to kiss, Laena.”

Laena tilted her head, clearly amused. “It’s not that hard,” she said, trying to sound helpful but only succeeding in making Alicent more anxious. “You just… lean in, close your eyes, and hope for the best.”

“That’s not helpful!” Alicent hissed, her voice a sharp whisper. She tugged at the hem of her sweater nervously. “I don’t want to mess it up. What if I’m terrible at it?”

Laena raised an eyebrow. “Well, Rhaenyra can always teach you. I mean after all, she already kissed Mysaria before you and Mysaria is a freshman.”

Alicent’s face turned scarlet, and she groaned again, slumping against the couch. “I know, ” she muttered, her voice muffled by her hands. “Don’t remind me about that either.”

Laena laughed, patting Alicent on the shoulder. “Relax, Ali. You’re her girlfriend now. If she didn’t want to kiss you, she wouldn’t have asked you to come to this party.”

Before Alicent could respond, Rhaenyra’s voice cut through the chatter. “Ali!”

Alicent sat up straight, her heart pounding as she spotted Rhaenyra weaving through the crowd, her silver hair catching the dim light. She was smiling that confident, slightly mischievous smile that always made Alicent’s stomach flip.

“Hey,” Rhaenyra said as she reached them, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her oversized hoodie. “Wanna go upstairs for a bit? It’s kinda loud down here.”

Alicent swallowed hard, nodding quickly as she scrambled to her feet. “Uh, sure. Yeah.”

Laena smirked, giving Alicent a knowing look as she stood. “Have fun, you two,” she said with a wink, disappearing into the crowd before Alicent could protest.

Rhaenyra led Alicent upstairs to the quieter living room, where a few kids were talking in small groups. She glanced back at Alicent, her smile softening as she sat down on the arm of a loveseat. “You okay?” she asked. “You’ve been kinda quiet.”

“I’m fine,” Alicent said quickly, though her voice wavered slightly. She hesitated, then added, “I’m just… nervous.”

Rhaenyra tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. “Nervous about what?”

Alicent bit her lip, fidgeting nervously with the hem of her sweater. “Rhaenyra,” she blurted out suddenly, her voice rising in pitch. “This is my first kiss …like, ever.”

Rhaenyra leaned against the armrest of the loveseat, a grin tugging at her lips. “I know,” she said lightly, her voice warm with amusement. “And it’s not a big deal, Ali. We totally don’t have to.”

But Alicent was already pacing in small, tight circles, her hands gesturing wildly as she started rambling. “I mean, you’ve already kissed Mysaria, so you’re, like, experienced, and I don’t want to be terrible at this, and—what if I’m so bad you regret dating me? Oh my gods , what if—”

“Ali,” Rhaenyra interrupted, trying to suppress her laugh. “You’re not going to—”

“No, seriously, Rhaenyra!” Alicent said, spinning around to face her, her cheeks flushed as she clasped her hands together. “What if I, like, bump your nose or, or—what if I’m so bad you rethink this whole thing?”

Rhaenyra stood, her grin widening as she took a step toward Alicent. “Alicent,” she said softly, her tone soothing now.

Alicent didn’t stop. “You’re going to compare me to Mysaria, and she’s probably a really good kisser, and—”

“Ali,” Rhaenyra said again, stepping closer. “Calm down.”

“I can’t calm down!” Alicent exclaimed, her hands flying to her face. “This is my first kiss , and it’s with you ! What if—”

Before Alicent could spiral further, Rhaenyra gently grabbed her by the shoulders and leaned in, pressing her lips to Alicent’s in a soft, brief kiss.

Alicent froze, her hands still halfway to her face as her eyes fluttered shut. The kiss ended as quickly as it began, Rhaenyra pulling back just enough to look at her, her expression warm and patient.

“There,” Rhaenyra said softly, her hands still resting on Alicent’s shoulders. “No nose bumping, no regrets. Just us.”

Alicent blinked at her, her cheeks still flaming as she stared wide-eyed. “You… you just kissed me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rhaenyra’s grin softened, her thumb brushing lightly over Alicent’s shoulder. “Yeah,” she said with a quiet laugh. “And it was perfect.”

Alicent’s lips twitched into a shy smile, her heart still racing but for an entirely different reason now. “It was?” she asked, her voice small.

“Absolutely,” Rhaenyra replied, her tone full of certainty. “You were perfect, Ali.”

Alicent let out a shaky laugh, her nerves easing as she leaned into Rhaenyra slightly. “Okay,” she said softly, her smile growing. “Okay.”

“See?” Rhaenyra teased, nudging her gently. “Told you it wasn’t a big deal.”

Alicent rolled her eyes, but there was no real heat behind it. “It was a big deal to me,” she muttered, but the warmth in her tone gave her away.

Rhaenyra chuckled, tugging her closer by the hand. “It’ll always be a big deal, then,” she said. “Because it’s you .”

///

The stands were already filling up, the air buzzing with excitement as students and parents alike gathered to cheer for the home team. Alicent stepped out of her mom’s car, her sweater pulled tightly around her as the cool autumn breeze nipped at her cheeks. The faint sound of the marching band warming up carried across the field, mingling with the smell of popcorn and hot chocolate from the concession stand.

“Have fun, sweetie,” her mom said, giving her a warm smile before driving off.

Alicent stood at the edge of the parking lot for a moment, scanning the crowd. She spotted Daemon lounging near the bleachers, leaning against the railing like he owned the place. His leather jacket was slung casually over his shoulders, and a cigarette dangled between his fingers. Alicent let out a soft sigh, rolling her eyes slightly before making her way over.

Daemon glanced up as she approached, his signature smirk already in place. “Hey, Ali,” he said, popping the cigarette to the corner of his mouth as he took her in with a lazy glance. “Looking like you don’t wanna be here.”

Alicent crossed her arms, standing a few feet away from the cloud of smoke he was exhaling. “The game hasn’t started yet, right?” she asked, her tone polite but slightly clipped. She tolerated Daemon because she had to—he was one of Rhaenyra’s closest friends, and by extension, a permanent fixture in their friend group.

“Nah,” Daemon replied, flicking ash from his cigarette. “Still got some time.”

“Good,” Alicent muttered, letting out a small breath of relief. “Rhaenyra promised she’d say hi before the game started.”

Daemon raised an eyebrow, the smirk on his face deepening as he tilted his head toward the field. “She’ll show. She’s probably still getting hyped with the team or something.”

Alicent nodded, her hands fidgeting with the sleeves of her sweater as her eyes darted toward the field. Her heart thudded faintly in her chest, a mix of nerves and anticipation. “Okay,” she said softly.

Before Daemon could respond, another voice joined them. “You’re here early.”

Laena walked up, her hands stuffed into the pockets of her stylish coat. She gave Daemon a knowing smirk before turning her attention to Alicent. “You made it through the parking chaos.”

“Barely,” Alicent said with a faint laugh. Laena was Rhaenyra’s cousin, but they’d grown close back in middle school when Laena moved to town. Alicent always felt a little more at ease when Laena was around.

Daemon straightened slightly, his smirk shifting into something more playful as he addressed Laena. “Hey, Laena. Looking good tonight.”

Laena rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. “Save it,” she said breezily, brushing past him to stand closer to Alicent.

Alicent barely noticed. She kept looking, her heart sinking slightly as she wondered if She was e missed giving Rhaenyra a good luck kiss before the game. It’s their little tradition. She was about to pull out her phone when she felt a familiar presence behind her.

“Looking for me?” Rhaenyra’s voice came, low and teasing, just over her shoulder.

Alicent spun around, her breath catching as she saw Rhaenyra standing there in her football uniform, her silver hair slightly messy under her helmet. A wide grin stretched across her face, her eyes sparkling with mischief and warmth.

“There you are,” Alicent said, her voice soft with relief.

Rhaenyra didn’t respond right away. Instead, she leaned down, brushing a quick kiss against Alicent’s lips in front of everyone. It was casual, easy—so natural that it made Alicent’s cheeks flush, even though no one around them seemed surprised. Rhaenyra grinned, clearly pleased by Alicent’s reaction.

“Sorry I’m late,” Rhaenyra said, pulling something out from under her arm. “Got caught up with the coach. But I brought you this.”

Alicent’s eyes widened as Rhaenyra held out her red-and-white varsity jacket, the one that always smelled faintly of her shampoo and the grass from the football field. “For you,” Rhaenyra said, her voice soft but full of affection. “I figured you’d get cold.”

Alicent blinked, her lips parting in surprise as her heart swelled. “You’re giving me your jacket?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rhaenyra draped the jacket over Alicent’s shoulders, the cool fabric settling warmly against her. “You’re my girlfriend,” she said, a teasing grin tugging at her lips. “You should look the part.”

Alicent blinked, her hands gripping the edges of the jacket as realization dawned. “Wait—does this mean… you made varsity?”

Rhaenyra’s grin widened, her pride barely contained. “It does,” she said, her voice light but confident.

“You’re a sophomore !” Alicent exclaimed, her tone somewhere between amazement and disbelief. “How did you—when did you find out? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Rhaenyra laughed, slipping her hands into her pockets. “I found out at practice yesterday,” she said casually. “And I didn’t say anything because I wanted to see your reaction. Totally worth it, by the way.”

Alicent stared at her for a moment, her expression softening as a wide smile spread across her face. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m so proud of you.”

Rhaenyra leaned closer, her voice low and teasing. “You look better in it than I do.”

Behind them, Daemon glanced over, raising an eyebrow at the scene. “Hey look at that, congrats,” he muttered with a smirk before turning his attention back to Laena. “So, Laena, about that party later…”

“Daemon, don’t embarrass yourself.” Laena scoffed, but there was a small smile tugging at her lips as she waved him off.

Alicent barely noticed the banter in the background, too focused on Rhaenyra. She wrapped her arms around herself, savoring the warmth of the jacket and the way it made her feel like she belonged to Rhaenyra in a way everyone could see.

///

Alicent sat at the corner of the lunch table, nervously picking at the edge of her sandwich wrapper. Her eyes kept darting across the room to where Rhaenyra stood with her usual group of friends, laughing like nothing had changed. But everything had changed. Rhaenyra’s scent was sharper now, commanding in a way it hadn’t been before, and Alicent couldn’t stop herself from overthinking every little thing.

“Laena,” Alicent whispered, leaning closer to her friend. “She’s… she’s been so normal about all of this.”

Laena arched an eyebrow, clearly amused as she took a bite of her apple. “Normal about what?”

“You know what,” Alicent hissed, glancing nervously over at Rhaenyra again. “Her rut…She’s an alpha now. And it’s… different. I mean, she’s always been patient with me, but now I keep hearing how alphas get, like, sex-crazed after their first rut, and what if—”

“Ali,” Laena interrupted, holding up a hand to stop her. “Breathe. You’re spiraling.”

Alicent exhaled shakily, her fingers gripping her lunch tray. “I just don’t want her to think I’m holding her back,” she admitted quietly. “I mean, she’s never pressured me, but now that she’s—”

“An alpha,” Laena finished for her, nodding knowingly. “Look, you don’t have to jump into anything you’re not ready for. You can just keep doing what you’ve been doing.”

Alicent frowned, her brow furrowing. “What do you mean?”

Laena gave her a look, lowering her voice as she leaned in slightly. “You know… everything else but sex. Like blowjobs and—”

“ Gods, Laena! ” Alicent yelped, her face turning crimson as she covered her face with her hands. “We don’t do that !”

Laena blinked, momentarily stunned. “Wait, really? After three years ?”

Alicent peeked through her fingers, her embarrassment clear as she muttered, “Is that bad?”

Laena shrugged, her expression thoughtful. “I mean… no. It’s not bad. But, wow, I just assumed…” She trailed off, shaking her head with a small laugh. “You two really are taking things slow.”

Alicent slumped in her seat, feeling even more self-conscious than before. “I didn’t realize we were that weird,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.

“You’re not weird,” Laena said firmly, her tone softening. “Rhaenyra obviously doesn’t mind, or she would’ve said something by now. You know how crazy she is about you.”

Alicent nodded, her gaze drifting back to Rhaenyra across the room. She was smiling as she talked with Daemon, her silver hair catching the light in a way that made Alicent’s heart flutter despite her nerves. 

Laena tilted her head, her curiosity piqued as she leaned closer. “Wait, hold on,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Now I’m really curious. So… what do you guys even do when you hook up?”

Alicent’s face flushed bright red as she fidgeted with the edge of her tray. “Um… I don’t know,” she mumbled, avoiding Laena’s gaze. “We… kiss?”

Laena raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “And?” she prompted, her grin widening.

Alicent squirmed in her seat, glancing around to make sure no one else could hear. She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Well… sometimes I’ll, um, get on top of her.”

Laena looks at her expectantly. “Go on.”

Alicent groaned, covering her face with her hands for a moment before forcing herself to continue. “And… I can definitely, uh… feel her getting… you know…” She trailed off, her cheeks burning as she gestured vaguely.

“Hard,” Laena finished for her, clearly enjoying Alicent’s embarrassment.

“Yes, that ,” Alicent said quickly, her voice barely audible. She took a shaky breath before continuing. “And then… we stop. After a bit.”

Laena frowned, her curiosity giving way to confusion. “Wait, why?”

Alicent shrugged, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. “Because it, um… it becomes too much,” she admitted softly. 

Laena tilted her head, her curiosity still piqued. “Too much for her or for you?”

Alicent hesitated, biting her lip before mumbling, “Both.”

Laena leaned back slightly, her expression softening as she studied Alicent. “Do you not want to?”

“I don’t know, Laena,” Alicent blurted, her voice rising slightly as she ran a hand through her hair. “This whole topic just… stresses me out.”

Laena caught the hint immediately, raising her hands in a calming gesture. “Alright, Ali, relax,” she said soothingly. “Rhaenyra loves you. She doesn’t need that. She’s been with you for almost four years without it, hasn’t she?”

Alicent nodded but didn’t look convinced. “But she clearly wants it,” she said, her voice quieter now, almost reluctant to admit it.

Laena rolled her eyes playfully but kept her tone light. “Rhaenyra is a junior in high school, a hot-blooded 16-year-old alpha,” she said with a small laugh. “So, yeah, of course she wants it. That’s just biology. But that doesn’t mean shit, Alicent. She’s with you because she loves you, not because of what you’re ready—or not ready—to do.”

Alicent sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as Laena’s words began to sink in. “You really think so?” she asked softly.

“I know so,” Laena said firmly, giving Alicent a reassuring smile. “She’s crazy about you, Ali. And she’s not going anywhere.”

Alicent managed a small, tentative smile, her heart feeling a little lighter. “Thanks, Laena.”

“Anytime,” Laena said with a wink. “Now, stop worrying and go enjoy your lunch. Rhaenyra’s not gonna suddenly turn into some uncontrollable rut monster.”

Alicent laughed softly, the tension in her chest easing just a bit as she glanced back at Rhaenyra across the room. Laena was right. Rhaenyra had always been patient with her, and she didn’t need to let her worries ruin that.

///

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of a desk lamp casting long shadows across the walls. Alicent lay on her back on Rhaenyra’s bed, her heart pounding as Rhaenyra hovered over her, their lips moving together in a slow, heated rhythm. Rhaenyra’s hands were warm against Alicent’s waist, grounding her in a way that made her nerves feel both calmed and electrified all at once.

But Laena’s words from a few days ago kept looping in her head.

Her breaths came faster, and before she could overthink it, Alicent sat up slightly, her fingers trembling as she tugged at the hem of her sweater. In one swift motion, she pulled it over her head, her skin instantly prickling at the cool air. She tossed it to the side, her cheeks flaming as she looked back at Rhaenyra.

Rhaenyra froze, blinking in surprise as her eyes widened. “Whoa. Really?” she said, her voice soft with a mix of awe and hesitation.

“Yeah,” Alicent replied quickly, almost distractedly, as she fumbled with the straps of her bra. Her chaotic energy filled the room, and she barely registered Rhaenyra’s expression as she focused on not letting her nerves get the better of her.

Rhaenyra stared, her hands hovering awkwardly as she tried to process what was happening. “You don’t have to—”

“It’s fine,” Alicent interrupted, her voice higher-pitched than usual. “It’s really fine.”

Before Rhaenyra could say anything else, Alicent reached for Rhaenyra’s belt buckle, her hands clumsy as she worked to undo it. The metallic sound of the buckle echoed in the quiet room, and Rhaenyra’s hand shot out, covering Alicent’s to stop her.

“Whoa, Ali,” Rhaenyra said, her tone gentle but firm as she leaned back slightly. “I hate that I’m killing the mood right now, but… what is going on?”

Alicent froze, her hands still resting against the leather of Rhaenyra’s belt. Her cheeks flushed even deeper, and her eyes darted away as she stammered, “Nothing. I just thought—maybe—it’d be nice if we… you know…”

Rhaenyra tilted her head, her eyes searching Alicent’s face as she gently removed Alicent’s hands from her belt. “Ali,” she said softly, sitting back on her heels. “Talk to me. Did something happen?”

Alicent bit her lip, her eyes watering slightly as she sat up, crossing her arms over her chest self-consciously. “I just… I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t trying. Laena said something, and it made me realize how slow we’ve been going compared to, like, everyone else, and I just—” She let out a shaky breath, her words tumbling over each other. “I don’t want you to feel like I’m holding you back or like you have to wait for me forever.”

Rhaenyra’s face softened instantly, and she reached out, her hand resting gently on Alicent’s knee. “Alicent,” she said quietly, her voice full of care. “I don’t care how slow we’re going. You’re not holding me back. You’ve never made me feel that way.”

Alicent’s lip quivered as she looked down at her lap. “But you want more,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“Of course I want you,” Rhaenyra said honestly, her tone steady but tender. “But not at the expense of you being uncomfortable. Ali, I love you. I don’t need any of that if you’re not ready.”

Alicent looked up at her, her heart squeezing at the sincerity in Rhaenyra’s expression. “Really?” she asked softly.

“Really,” Rhaenyra said with a small, reassuring smile. She leaned forward, pressing a gentle kiss to Alicent’s forehead. 

Alicent quickly adjusts herself and sits cross-legged on Rhaenyra’s bed, her arms folded tightly across her chest as she spoke in rapid, slightly panicked breaths. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes darted everywhere but at Rhaenyra. “You had your first rut,” she said, the words tumbling over each other. “Like, a full-on alpha rut , Rhaenyra. That’s a big deal!”

Rhaenyra, still kneeling in front of her on the bed, let out a soft laugh, the corners of her mouth twitching up into a grin. “I’m aware, Alicent.”

“And your sex drive…” Alicent continued, her hands gesturing wildly as she tried to make her point. “Your alpha sex drive, which is, you know, heightened now ! And I—”

“Trust me, Alicent, I know ,” Rhaenyra interjected, her tone laced with playful amusement.

“See! Exactly!” Alicent exclaimed, throwing her hands up before letting them flop into her lap. She groaned softly, clearly more annoyed at herself than anyone else. “And here I am, being a total disaster about it because I don’t know what to—what to do , and—”

She stopped mid-sentence, finally noticing the way Rhaenyra was staring at her. Rhaenyra’s eyes were wide, her jaw clenched as she sat perfectly still, her gaze locked on Alicent’s torso. Alicent blinked, looking down at herself before remembering she wasn’t wearing her sweater anymore—just her bra. Her cheeks turned scarlet.

“Rhaenyra?” Alicent asked hesitantly, her voice quieter now.

Rhaenyra didn’t respond immediately. She exhaled slowly, her eyes flicking upward briefly before snapping back to Alicent’s face. “Alicent,” she said, her voice tight and strained. “I can’t have this conversation with your shirt off.”

Alicent blinked in confusion. “What? Why—”

Rhaenyra groaned softly, looking up at the ceiling as if begging for strength. “Because this is the first time I’ve ever seen you like this,” she said quickly, her words almost rushed. “Just in a bra. And I can’t… I really can’t think straight right now. You need to put this back on.”

Alicent froze, her mouth opening and closing as she processed what Rhaenyra was saying. Her face somehow turned an even deeper shade of red as she scrambled for her discarded sweater, pulling it over her head in record time. “Oh my gods,” she muttered, her voice muffled by the fabric. “I’m such an idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot,” Rhaenyra said, still looking resolutely at the ceiling. Her tone was softer now, though still edged with tension. “You’re… you’re you . But, Ali, you can’t drop a conversation about my rut and then sit there without a shirt on. That’s… cruel.”

Alicent stared at her, mortified but also slightly amused at Rhaenyra’s clear struggle. “I wasn’t trying to be cruel!” she protested, pulling her sweater into place and crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “I was just—ugh—I don’t even know what I was doing!”

Rhaenyra finally glanced back at her, her expression a mix of exasperation and affection. “You were being you,” she said with a small smile. “And I love you for it. But let’s… maybe have this conversation with a little less temptation next time, yeah?”

Alicent groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I can’t believe I did this,” she muttered.

Rhaenyra chuckled, leaning forward to gently pry Alicent’s hands away from her face. “Hey,” she said softly, her voice full of warmth. “It’s fine. You’re fine. And for the record, I’m not going anywhere—rut or no rut, okay?”

Alicent peeked up at her, her nerves settling just a bit at Rhaenyra’s words. “Okay,” she whispered.

“Good,” Rhaenyra said, her smile widening. “Now, let’s maybe go back to just making out for a while. I think that’s safer.”

Alicent couldn’t help but laugh, the tension in the room finally breaking as she leaned into Rhaenyra’s touch. “Gods I love you,” she muttered.

“I love you more,” Rhaenyra teased, pulling her close and kissing her soundly. All neurotic thoughts put to bed…for now.

///

It’s their senior year prom and Alicent lay on her back against the smooth leather seat of the limo, the faint scent of whiskey lingering in the air. Her breath came fast and uneven as Rhaenyra hovered over her, their lips moving together in a way that felt messy and desperate. The limo swayed gently with every bump in the road, adding a subtle rhythm to the heat between them.

Alicent’s perfectly styled prom hair was a wreck—strands stuck to her face, and the careful curls that had been locked in place with hairspray were now loose and tangled. Her corsage, once pristine, was crushed against her wrist, the delicate petals barely clinging to the band as she gripped Rhaenyra’s shoulder tightly. Every nerve in her body felt alive, raw and exposed in a way that both thrilled and terrified her.

Rhaenyra’s leg pressed firmly between Alicent’s thighs, the friction just right in a way that made Alicent’s head spin. She let out a soft, involuntary gasp as Rhaenyra’s thigh shifted slightly, sending a jolt of heat coursing through her. She didn’t know if it was the whiskey Rhaenyra had smuggled into prom, the romance of the night, or the way Rhaenyra’s lips trailed down her neck, but Alicent felt reckless. She felt like someone else—someone braver, someone ready.

Her hands moved instinctively, one tangling in the fabric of Rhaenyra’s suit jacket while the other slid up her back, her fingers pressing against the warmth of Rhaenyra’s skin where her shirt had ridden up. She’d never felt this out of control before, this untethered, and yet, she didn’t want it to stop.

Rhaenyra pulled back slightly, her lips brushing Alicent’s ear as she whispered, her voice low and rough, “Are you okay?”

Alicent nodded quickly, her breathing shallow as she struggled to form words. “Yeah,” she whispered back, her voice trembling but certain. “I’m okay. I just… don’t stop.”

Rhaenyra’s eyes searched Alicent’s face for a moment, her hand cupping Alicent’s cheek. Her thumb brushed against Alicent’s flushed skin, grounding her in a way that felt both tender and electrifying. “You sure?” she asked softly, her tone careful but heavy with want.

Alicent nodded again, her hands tightening their grip as she pulled Rhaenyra closer. “I’m sure,” she said, her voice steadier this time.

Rhaenyra didn’t need more encouragement. Her lips found Alicent’s again, more insistent this time, and Alicent let herself get lost in the feeling—the warmth, the weight of Rhaenyra above her, the way her heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest. Every sound—their breathing, the faint creak of the leather seat beneath them, the hum of the engine—blurred into the background as the heat between them built.

Alicent had no idea how far she was ready to go tonight, but for the first time, the thought didn’t terrify her. It felt right— Rhaenyra felt right—and that was all that mattered.

Alicent’s back pressed deeper into the leather seat as Rhaenyra’s weight settled against her. Her breathing was erratic, and her thoughts were a chaotic swirl of sensation and confusion. Rhaenyra’s lips moved against hers, hot and insistent, and Alicent clung to her like she was the only thing keeping her grounded. Her hands gripped the fabric of Rhaenyra’s suit jacket, her fingers curling into the seams as if afraid to let go.

They hadn’t done more than this—just making out—for their entire relationship. Four years together, from fumbling middle school kisses to this, and Alicent had always kept the boundary firm. But now, with the way Rhaenyra’s hardness pressed against her, with every shift of her hips sending a wave of heat through her body, Alicent wasn’t sure she could keep holding that line. Her mind was racing, fighting between reason and instinct.

She pulled back slightly, her lips swollen and her voice a shaky whisper. “Rhaenyra, hike my dress up a little.”

Rhaenyra froze, her breath warm against Alicent’s cheek as she pulled back just enough to meet her gaze. “What?” she asked, her voice rough but surprised.

“Not—” Alicent groaned softly, her face burning as she struggled to explain herself. “Not more than that, okay? Just… so I can feel a little more. All underwear stays on. Especially yours.”

Rhaenyra blinked, her lips parting as she processed Alicent’s words. Her expression shifted, a mix of understanding and restraint as she nodded. “Okay,” she said softly. “Only if you’re sure.”

“I’m sure,” Alicent said quickly, though the nervous edge in her voice was obvious. She fidgeted under Rhaenyra, her legs trembling slightly as she felt her resolve waver. “Just… don’t stop.”

Rhaenyra gave her a soft smile, her hands moving carefully to bunch up the fabric of Alicent’s dress, pushing it just high enough that her member pressed directly against Alicent’s core. The added friction made Alicent gasp, her fingers gripping Rhaenyra’s jacket even tighter as her hips instinctively moved to meet the pressure.

The sensations were overwhelming, sending jolts of heat through her body that she wasn’t sure she could handle. Her mind kept circling back to how ridiculous it all was—losing control in the back of a limo on prom night of all nights—but the thought only made her more flustered. Her breaths came faster, her body trembling beneath Rhaenyra’s as she tried to focus on the moment.

Rhaenyra leaned down, her lips brushing against Alicent’s ear as she whispered, “Is this okay?”

“Yes,” Alicent gasped, her voice shaky but full of certainty. “Don’t stop.”

Rhaenyra’s hardness grinded against her, the deliberate motion making Alicent let out a soft whimper. Her head tilted back, her perfectly styled hair now a complete mess as stray strands stuck to her damp skin. She felt lightheaded, like the world was spinning too fast, but she didn’t want it to stop. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts—how much she loved Rhaenyra, how terrifying and exhilarating this all felt, and how she was on the verge of something she didn’t entirely understand.

She clung to Rhaenyra tighter, her voice trembling as she whispered, “This is good. I like this. Just this.”

Rhaenyra nodded, her movements slow and careful as she watched Alicent’s face. Her own breathing was uneven, but she kept her pace steady, her restraint evident. “I won’t do more,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice soft but firm. “I promise.”

Alicent’s head spun as the sensations coursed through her. Is this what all the fuss is about? she wondered, her heart hammering against her ribcage. It felt so good it almost scared her. A small part of her wanted to hold the line, to keep things exactly where they’d always been. But another part—bigger, louder—was desperate for more. Her lip trembled as she fought to keep the words in, her mind racing as the question burned at the back of her throat.

“Maybe we…” Alicent blurts out, her voice nervous and rushed as her cheeks burned. “Maybe you can take my underwear off?”

Rhaenyra blinked, visibly startled. “Um… what?” she asked, her voice half a whisper, like she wasn’t sure she’d heard correctly.

“Or maybe not, I don’t know,” Alicent added quickly, her hands flying up to her face as she groaned softly. “Gods, I don’t know. I’m just—this feels—” She stopped, exhaling shakily as she peeked at Rhaenyra through her fingers. “Nyra, I feel so desperate right now.”

Rhaenyra stared at her for a moment before a soft laugh escaped her, her lips quirking into a grin. She leaned down, pressing a kiss to Alicent’s lips, slow and steady. When she pulled back, her eyes searched Alicent’s flushed face. “Ali,” she said gently, her voice calm but warm. “If you’re not sure—”

“No, no, do it,” Alicent interrupted, her voice higher than usual as she nodded quickly, almost frantically. “I’m sure. I mean, I think I’m sure. No, I am sure.”

Rhaenyra tilted her head, her grin turning slightly teasing. “Really?”

“Yes, really,” Alicent chirped nervously, her words spilling out in a rush. “But yours—”

“Stay on,” Rhaenyra finished for her, her smile softening as she brushed a strand of hair from Alicent’s flushed face. “I got it.”

Alicent nodded, her breaths coming faster as her heart raced. She couldn’t tell if she was excited or terrified—probably both—but the way Rhaenyra looked at her made her feel safe. Grounded, even as her nerves threatened to spiral.

Rhaenyra moved carefully, her hand brushing over Alicent’s hip as she watched her face for any signs of hesitation. She pulled back slightly, her lips brushing against Alicent’s ear as her breath fanned over her skin. “So… can I touch you down there?” she asked softly, her voice low and careful but edged with desire.

Alicent nodded quickly, her lips chasing Rhaenyra’s as she muttered through their kisses, “Mhm… mhmph… yes.”

Rhaenyra exhaled a shaky breath, her hand sliding lower as she kept her eyes on Alicent’s face. She moved slowly, her fingers brushing over the fabric of Alicent’s underwear before slipping beneath it. Alicent gasped, her hips jerking slightly at the new sensation, her grip tightening on Rhaenyra’s shoulders.

“Is this okay?” Rhaenyra whispered, her voice steady but soft as her fingers moved tentatively.

Alicent nodded again, her head tilting back against the leather seat as a shiver ran through her. “Yeah,” she breathed out, her voice barely audible, her body responding to Rhaenyra’s touch in a way that felt both foreign and overwhelming. “Yeah, it’s… it’s good.”

Rhaenyra’s fingers moved gently at first, exploring, testing, until she found a rhythm that made Alicent’s breath hitch and her thighs tremble. Alicent let out a soft, shaky moan, her hands gripping Rhaenyra’s jacket as her body arched into the sensation.

“Ali,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice dipping lower as she pressed her lips to Alicent’s neck, kissing along her jawline. Her fingers pressed more firmly, and Alicent’s reaction was immediate—a sharp intake of breath followed by a low, breathy whimper that surprised even her.

“Oh gods,” Alicent muttered, her voice high and uneven as her body responded instinctively. The pressure, the friction, the sheer intimacy of it all—it was almost too much. Her mind raced, and for a moment, she wondered if she should stop, if this was too far. But the way Rhaenyra touched her, so deliberate and tender, made her hesitate. She didn’t want to stop. Not now. Not with this.

Rhaenyra kissed her again, swallowing the small sounds Alicent couldn’t hold back, her free hand brushing over Alicent’s side in a soothing gesture. “You’re okay,” she murmured softly, her tone grounding despite the heat between them.

“I’m… I’m really okay,” Alicent managed, her voice trembling but honest. Her body shifted beneath Rhaenyra, her legs parting slightly to give her more room. “Don’t stop.”

Rhaenyra didn’t. Her fingers moved with more purpose now, pressing and circling in a way that made Alicent’s toes curl and her breathing grow ragged. Alicent couldn’t think, couldn’t focus on anything but the way her body was lighting up, the heat pooling low in her stomach as her nerves melted into pure sensation.

Rhaenyra’s fingers kept moving slowly, carefully, but when she finally pressed inside, Alicent tensed, her body jolting slightly at the unfamiliar sensation. It wasn’t exactly painful, but it was unexpected—just enough to make her gasp.

“Wait,” Alicent blurted, her voice tight as she grabbed Rhaenyra’s wrist. Her eyes were wide, her mind racing. “Wait, I don’t know if—”

Rhaenyra froze immediately, her eyes searching Alicent’s face. “Are you okay?” she asked softly, her voice steady but concerned.

Alicent nodded quickly, her breathing shallow as she tried to sort through the flurry of thoughts in her head. “I think so, it’s just—oh gods, I don’t know if this is—”

Before she could finish, Rhaenyra adjusted slightly, curling her fingers in a slow, deliberate motion. The change in angle sent a jolt of pleasure through Alicent so sudden and sharp that her words cut off mid-sentence.

“Nevermind,” Alicent gasped, her voice higher than usual, her hands gripping Rhaenyra’s jacket as her body arched instinctively. “God, nevermind—don’t stop.”

Rhaenyra’s lips quirked into a small, relieved smile as she pressed a soft kiss to Alicent’s cheek. “You sure?” she murmured, her voice low and warm as her fingers moved again, slow but purposeful.

“Yes,” Alicent breathed, her tone full of certainty now. “I’m sure. Just… just keep doing that.”

Rhaenyra didn’t need to be told twice. Her fingers moved with more confidence now, curling and pressing in a way that made Alicent’s head fall back against the seat. Her breathing grew ragged, her body trembling as the initial discomfort faded completely into something overwhelming and good.

“Oh gods,” Alicent whimpered, her hands clutching at Rhaenyra’s shoulders as she bit her lip. Her thoughts were a chaotic swirl, a mix of nerves, wonder, and a need she didn’t fully understand. “Rhaenyra, I—oh gods.”

Her hands slid up to Rhaenyra’s neck, pulling her down for another kiss. It was messy, desperate, her lips parting as she whimpered into Rhaenyra’s mouth. “Oh gods, Rhaenyra,” she muttered between kisses, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“Good?” Rhaenyra asked softly, her lips brushing against Alicent’s as her fingers pressed just right.

Alicent let out a shaky laugh, her head falling back against the seat as her body trembled. “Good,” she gasped, her voice breathless and full of wonder. “Really, really good.”

Alicent’s breathing grew erratic, her hands clinging desperately to Rhaenyra’s shoulders as the overwhelming sensations built into something she couldn’t control. Every curl of Rhaenyra’s fingers, every deliberate press, had her hips jerking instinctively, her thighs trembling as the tension in her body reached its peak.

“Oh gods—oh gods, Rhaenyra!” Alicent cried out, her voice sharp and loud in the enclosed space.

Rhaenyra’s eyes widened, her free hand shooting up to cover Alicent’s mouth as she glanced toward the front of the limo, where the driver was separated only by a partition that might not be soundproof. “Ali!” she hissed, her tone half-scolding, half-amused. “You’re gonna get us both killed.”

Alicent let out a muffled whimper against Rhaenyra’s hand, her body arching as the wave of pleasure crashed over her. It was too much, too good, and her mind blanked completely as she rode it out, her muffled cries growing softer until she was left panting beneath Rhaenyra.

When she finally stilled, her head lolled back against the seat, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to catch her breath. Rhaenyra removed her hand from Alicent’s mouth slowly, her expression a mix of amusement and awe as she studied her.

“You okay?” Rhaenyra asked softly, brushing a strand of Alicent’s messy hair away from her flushed face.

Alicent nodded weakly, her lips parting as she let out a shaky laugh. “I think I just died,” she muttered, her voice still breathless.

Rhaenyra chuckled, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to Alicent’s lips. “Well, you died loud enough for the entire block to hear,” she teased lightly.

Alicent groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Oh my gods, I’m mortified,” she mumbled through her fingers. “Do you think the driver heard?”

Rhaenyra shrugged, grinning as she settled beside Alicent, wrapping an arm around her. “If he did, we’re tipping him extra,” she joked, her tone light but affectionate.

For the first time, Alicent understood what all the fuss was about. And gods, she never wanted it to end.

///

The limo pulled up to the shore house, the thrum of music and chatter from inside filtering out as Alicent stepped onto the gravel driveway. She smoothed down her dress, trying to ignore the lingering flush on her cheeks and the way her legs still felt a little shaky.

Rhaenyra, completely unbothered, smiled and kissed her before walking toward the house with her usual confidence. Alicent watched as she joined Daemon, Laenor, and Harwin near the drinks table, laughing as she grabbed a beer. 

She spotted Laena by the porch railing, a knowing smirk already tugging at her lips. “Ali!” Laena called, waving her over. 

Alicent hesitated, biting her lip as she approached. “Hi,” she said quietly, trying to sound normal.

Laena tilted her head, narrowing her eyes as she studied Alicent more closely. “Why do you look like you were just properly fucked?” she asked bluntly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Alicent’s face turned beet red as she immediately stammered, “I wasn’t…I mean no… I mean… well…” She trailed off, her lips pressing together as she looked down.

Laena’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening as she gasped. “ Alicent Hightower! DId my cousin finally pop your cherry?!”

“No!” Alicent hissed, her hands flying up to cover Laena’s mouth. “Not exactly! Gods, stop !”

Laena pulled back, swatting Alicent’s hands away as her grin only widened. “Okay well like ‘not exactly’ is not a no, ” she pointed out, crossing her arms as she leaned closer. “So? Spill. All the details. Now.”

Alicent groaned, her face buried in her hands. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she muttered.

“You can’t believe this is happening?” Laena shot back, clearly delighted. “Ali, you’re the one who looks like she just saw the face of the gods. So? What happened?”

Alicent peeked at her through her fingers, her voice a hushed whisper. “It was in the limo,” she admitted, her cheeks burning.

Laena gasped again, slapping a hand over her mouth before quickly whispering, “Shut up. You did what in the limo?”

“Not that! ” Alicent hissed, glancing around nervously to make sure no one else could hear. “It was just… she touched me. You know… there. ”

Laena blinked, her mouth falling open as she stared at Alicent. “Wait, like, for real? For the first time?”

“Yes,” Alicent whispered, her voice high and panicked. “And it was… gods, Laena, it was so much, and I didn’t think I was ready, but then I—” She stopped, groaning again as she covered her face. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this!”

“Because I’m your best friend and you clearly need to get this off your chest,” Laena said matter-of-factly. “So… how was it? Like, details. Was it good?”

Alicent’s face turned impossibly redder, and she looked down at her shoes. “It was… better than good,” she admitted quietly. “It was amazing. And terrifying. But mostly amazing.”

Laena let out a low whistle, shaking her head in disbelief. “Damn. Look at you, Miss ‘Firm Boundaries’ finally giving in.”

“Don’t make fun of me,” Alicent muttered, her lips pressing into a pout.

“Oh shut up I’m so not,” Laena said quickly, her tone turning softer. “I’m happy for you guys. Seriously. If it felt right, then that’s all that matters.”

Alicent nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Thanks. Yeah it..it felt right. Really right.”

“Anytime,” Laena said, looping an arm around Alicent’s shoulders. “Now, let’s grab you a drink before you combust from overthinking this.”

Alicent laughed softly, letting Laena steer her toward the house.

///

The bar was loud, filled with the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses. Alicent sat tucked into the booth beside Rhaenyra, her shoulder pressed against her girlfriend’s as the group’s laughter echoed around them. Laena was leaning across the table, gesturing wildly as she told some story about sneaking into the boys’ dorm after curfew, and even Harwin, who rarely laughed at anything, was chuckling.

Alicent smiled, nursing her drink as her eyes darted to Rhaenyra, who was idly tracing patterns on Alicent’s thigh under the table. Rhaenyra leaned in and kissed her temple, the small gesture sending a warm flutter through Alicent’s chest.

They’d been together for over five years now, and they’d grown so much since their awkward teenage years. Alicent had come a long way too—she wasn’t the same nervous girl from high school who could barely handle Rhaenyra’s kisses without overthinking everything. But some things hadn’t changed. They’d gotten comfortable exploring each other in ways they never had before, but they still hadn’t gone all the way.

It wasn’t because she didn’t love Rhaenyra. Alicent loved her more than she knew how to say. But the thought of being completely naked, of letting someone see her like that, still freaked her out. She couldn’t shake the fear that she wouldn’t measure up, that she’d disappoint Rhaenyra somehow. And every time she tried to push past it, her anxiety would rear its ugly head and she’d pull back.

Across the table, Daemon leaned back in his seat, smirking as he raised his glass. “So,” he drawled, his eyes darting between Alicent and Rhaenyra, “how’s dorm life treating you two? You know, with you being so… close and all.”

Alicent stiffened, glancing at him nervously as her cheeks flushed. “It’s… fine,” she said quickly, taking a sip of her drink to avoid elaborating.

Rhaenyra, however, just arched an eyebrow at her uncle. “It’s great, actually,” she said smoothly, her tone calm but firm.

Daemon’s smirk widened, and he leaned forward, his voice dropping conspiratorially. “Really? Because I can’t believe you two still haven’t—”

“Daemon,” Rhaenyra interrupted sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument. She gave him a pointed look before turning to Alicent, her expression softening. She leaned in and kissed Alicent gently, her hand brushing against Alicent’s cheek. “Ignore him,” she murmured, her voice just for Alicent.

Alicent nodded, her heart squeezing at the way Rhaenyra always seemed to know exactly what to do to make her feel safe. She leaned into the kiss, her fingers brushing against Rhaenyra’s wrist. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Daemon, undeterred, let out a low chuckle. “Come on, I’m just saying—”

“Daemon, seriously, enough,” Rhaenyra said, cutting him off again. Her tone was still calm but carried a distinct edge this time. “You’re not funny.”

Laena smacked Daemon’s arm, laughing as she shook her head. “Leave them alone, you ass. Just because you think you’re hilarious doesn’t mean you are.”

Alicent smiled faintly, grateful for Laena’s intervention. The conversation shifted, and soon the group was laughing again as someone brought up an embarrassing story about Harwin’s freshman-year mishap with a vending machine.

Through it all, Alicent couldn’t stop thinking about what Daemon had said. He wasn’t wrong—she and Rhaenyra hadn’t gone all the way yet. And it wasn’t because Rhaenyra hadn’t been patient or understanding. Rhaenyra never pushed, never made Alicent feel like she was lacking or not enough. But Alicent wanted to give Rhaenyra more. She wanted to be able to let go of the fear that held her back.

Rhaenyra’s arm slipped around Alicent’s waist, pulling her closer as the group’s laughter swirled around them. She kissed Alicent’s temple again, her lips lingering for just a moment before she whispered, “You okay?”

Alicent nodded, her heart swelling at how gentle Rhaenyra always was with her. She tilted her head slightly to meet Rhaenyra’s gaze, her voice soft. “I’m okay,” she said, though her thoughts were far from settled.

For now, she let herself relax in Rhaenyra’s arms, the warmth of her presence soothing the restless thoughts that buzzed in her mind. But she knew those thoughts wouldn’t stay quiet for long. Something had to change—she just didn’t know how to get there yet.

///

The kitchen was quiet except for the clinking of spoons against ceramic bowls and the faint hum of the fridge. Alicent sat across from her mom at the small table, a box of cereal between them. Her mom was mid-sentence, animatedly talking to Alicent’s older about her new internship.

“It’s such a great opportunity, honey,” her mom was saying, her voice warm but insistent. “You’ll learn so much, and it’ll look fantastic on your resume.”

Alicent barely heard her, her focus drifting as she bit nervously at her thumbnail. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, replaying a million different scenarios about how this conversation might go. She was half-listening when her mom’s hand reached out casually, without missing a beat, and gently tugged Alicent’s hand away from her mouth.

“Stop biting your nails,” her mom said automatically, not even looking at her as she continued talking to her sister.

Alicent blinked, glancing at her mom and then down at her hands. Her stomach twisted, and before she could think better of it, the words slipped out. “I want to go on the pill.”

Her mom’s voice trailed off mid-sentence as she turned to look at Alicent, her expression a mix of surprise and curiosity. “What?”

Alicent’s sister let out a loud laugh. “Jesus, Ali,” she said, her voice brimming with amusement. “I could’ve just driven you to Planned Parenthood. You didn’t have to blurt it out to mom like this.”

Alicent’s face turned crimson as she glared at her sister through the phone. “Shut up!” she snapped, her voice high-pitched with embarrassment.

Her mom sighed, rubbing her temple as she set her spoon down. “Girls, enough,” she said firmly. “Let me talk to your sister. Go in the other room.”

“Why am I getting kicked out?” Alicent’s sister muttered, clearly still amused as she grabbed her phone and headed toward the door. “She’s the one announcing to mom she’s horny. It’s not my fault she is banging her alpha girlfriend all over her college campus.”

“ We aren’t! ” Alicent spluttered, practically leaping out of her chair. “Mom, we aren’t!” She turned back to her sister, who was halfway out of the room. “We’re not ! Stop saying that!”

Her mom raised a hand to calm her, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips as she waited for the room to settle. Once her older daughter was gone, she turned back to Alicent, who was still bright red and fidgeting with her spoon.

“Okay,” her mom said gently, leaning forward slightly. “So, I take it you and Rhaenyra are getting… closer now that you’re both in school?”

Alicent’s mouth opened and closed a few times as she tried to find the right words. “Not like that,” she said quickly. “We haven’t—um, you know, done that . But… we’ve been together for so long, and I love her, and I just thought it might be, you know… a good idea.”

Her mom nodded slowly, her expression calm and understanding. “That makes sense,” she said, her tone light. “I can make an appointment for you, if you want.”

Alicent relaxed slightly, her shoulders dropping as she nodded. “Yeah,” she said quietly. 

Her mom reached across the table, giving Alicent’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “Ali, you don’t have to be so nervous about this stuff,” she said softly. “You’re being thoughtful about it, and that’s a good thing.”

Alicent nodded again, her chest feeling a little less tight. “Okay,” she said, her voice steadier now.

Her mom smiled, picking up her spoon again. “Now finish your cereal before it gets soggy,” she said with a wink.

Alicent let out a small, nervous laugh but felt better knowing her mom was always in her corner, no matter how chaotic her overthinking got.

///

Alicent’s sophomore year had started with so much promise. She and Rhaenyra were more in sync than ever, balancing classes, late-night study sessions, and weekends spent exploring the city. But as the semester wore on, the weight of everything seemed to press down on Alicent more and more, until it felt like she couldn’t breathe.

It started small—an anxious thought here, a restless night there. But those thoughts grew louder, harder to ignore, until they consumed every quiet moment. Soon, the panic attacks started. At first, they were occasional, but within weeks, they became almost daily. Her chest would tighten, her hands would shake, and no amount of grounding techniques could pull her out of it.

“Ali,” Rhaenyra’s voice would come through, calm and steady, whenever Alicent found herself spiraling. “Breathe with me, okay? In… and out. You’re safe.”

Alicent clung to Rhaenyra during those moments, her head pressed against her girlfriend’s chest as Rhaenyra stroked her back gently. The rhythmic sound of Rhaenyra’s voice and the warmth of her touch were sometimes the only things that could pull her back from the edge.

But even Rhaenyra’s presence wasn’t enough to stop the attacks entirely. Alicent started dreading leaving her dorm, terrified that she’d fall apart in the middle of class or on the walk to the dining hall. She stopped eating meals regularly, her stomach too tied up in knots to handle much more than a granola bar. Her grades, once impeccable, began to slip, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t seem to claw her way back to feeling normal.

One particularly bad night, Alicent found herself curled up on the bathroom floor of her dorm, her knees tucked to her chest as she tried to steady her breathing. Rhaenyra had come running the second she’d heard Alicent’s shaky voice on the phone. Now, she sat beside her, her arm wrapped tightly around Alicent’s shoulders.

“You’re not broken,” Rhaenyra said softly, pressing a kiss to Alicent’s temple. “You’re just overwhelmed. We’re going to figure this out.”

Alicent let out a shaky breath, her face buried in Rhaenyra’s shoulder. “I hate this,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I hate feeling like this all the time.”

“I know,” Rhaenyra murmured, her hand gently brushing through Alicent’s hair. “But you don’t have to handle it alone, Ali. We’re going to get you some help.”

The next morning, Rhaenyra sat with Alicent as she made an appointment with the campus health center. She held Alicent’s hand the entire time, her thumb brushing over Alicent’s knuckles in a quiet show of support.

A few weeks later, Alicent started medication for her anxiety. It wasn’t an instant fix, and there were still hard days, but slowly, the panic attacks became less frequent. She started sleeping through the night again, eating full meals without her stomach tying in knots. Rhaenyra was there for every step of the process, cheering on even the smallest victories.

“You’re stronger than you think, Ali,” Rhaenyra told her one night as they lay in bed, Alicent’s head resting on her chest. “And I’m so proud of you.”

Alicent smiled faintly, her fingers twisting in the fabric of Rhaenyra’s shirt. “I don’t know what I’d do without you,” she whispered.

“You’ll never have to find out,” Rhaenyra replied, her voice firm but full of love. “I’m not going anywhere.”

For the first time in months, Alicent believed her.

///

The house party was buzzing with music and laughter, the air thick with the faint scent of beer and something sweet-smelling wafting from the kitchen. Alicent sat on the couch with Rhaenyra beside her, their group sprawled out around the living room. For the first time in what felt like forever, Alicent felt like herself. The knot of anxiety that had been her constant companion was gone tonight, replaced with lightness she hadn’t felt in months.

She laughed along with the others, leaning into Rhaenyra’s side as Laena told a ridiculous story about one of their high school teachers. Even Daemon was there, leaning against the wall with his usual smirk, tossing sarcastic remarks into the conversation.

At some point, Daemon wandered over, a beer in hand, and plopped down into the armchair beside Alicent and Rhaenyra. He gave Alicent a once-over, his smirk softening just slightly. “Hey, Alicent,” he said, his voice casual but carrying a note of something unspoken. “I’m glad you’re looking better and not, you know, like a zombie anymore.”

Rhaenyra immediately glared at him, her arm slipping protectively around Alicent’s shoulders. “Dude, fuck off,” she said sharply, her tone more annoyed than angry.

But Alicent just smiled, a soft laugh escaping her. “It’s okay,” she said, glancing at Rhaenyra before turning back to Daemon. “Thanks, Daemon.”

Daemon raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by her response, but he nodded, tipping his beer slightly in her direction. “Anytime,” he said, leaning back in his seat with a faint grin.

Rhaenyra frowned at him but let it go, her hand brushing over Alicent’s shoulder as she leaned closer. “You okay?” she murmured, her voice low enough for only Alicent to hear.

Alicent nodded, her smile widening as she looked at Rhaenyra. “Yeah,” she said softly, the warmth in her chest spreading. “I really am.”

The night carried on, and Alicent found herself laughing more than she had in months, surrounded by friends who cared for her in their own strange, wonderful ways. For the first time, she felt like things might actually be okay.

///

The anticipation for the trip to Greece had been building for months. Alicent had never been out of the country before, and the idea of traveling somewhere so beautiful with Rhaenyra felt like a dream come true. She’d spent weeks meticulously planning, researching the best spots to visit, and even creating a color-coded itinerary that Rhaenyra had jokingly teased her about.

But there was one thing Alicent hadn’t told Rhaenyra. Shortly before her anxiety had spiraled out of control at the start of the year, she’d gone on the pill, thinking she might be ready to take the next step in their relationship. But the timing had been all wrong. With her panic attacks and everything else, the thought of being that vulnerable had felt impossible.

Now, though, things were different. Alicent felt more like herself again, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she felt ready. She wanted this trip to be special—not just because it was Greece, but because she finally felt like she could let go of the fear that had held her back for so long.

She packed carefully, her suitcase neatly organized as always. Hidden beneath her neatly folded dresses and swimsuits was something she’d never packed before: lingerie. It wasn’t anything overly bold—just a soft, lacy set in her favorite color—but it felt like a big deal. It felt like a step she was ready to take.

As they boarded the plane, Alicent’s nerves were buzzing, but it wasn’t the usual kind of anxiety. It was excitement, anticipation, and a little bit of fear all rolled into one. Rhaenyra was practically glowing with excitement, her arm draped around Alicent’s shoulders as they settled into their seats.

“This is going to be the best trip ever,” Rhaenyra said with a grin, pressing a kiss to Alicent’s temple. “Just you and me, no classes, no stress.”

Alicent smiled, her heart fluttering. “Yeah,” she said softly, leaning into Rhaenyra’s touch. “It will be.”

What Alicent didn’t say was that she hoped this trip would be a turning point for them. She didn’t know how to bring up the fact that she was on the pill now or that she’d packed lingerie, but she knew the right moment would come. For now, she let herself enjoy the thought of everything Greece had to offer—the beaches, the sunsets, and most of all, the time she’d have with Rhaenyra.

///

The room was quiet except for the soft sound of waves in the distance, the moonlight spilling gently through the curtains. Alicent lay awake, her head turned toward Rhaenyra. Her girlfriend’s face was calm, her breathing steady, her lashes brushing against her cheeks. Alicent had always thought Rhaenyra was beautiful, but tonight she looked different—so peaceful, so safe. Something about it made Alicent feel both nervous and sure all at once.

Her heart thudded in her chest as she reached out, her hand trembling slightly as her fingers brushed lightly against Rhaenyra’s cheek. The touch was featherlight, tentative, but it was enough to make Rhaenyra stir. Alicent hesitated, biting her lip, before whispering, “Rhaenyra.”

Rhaenyra let out a soft sound, somewhere between a hum and a sigh, her eyes still closed. “Mm?” she murmured, her voice groggy.

Alicent swallowed hard, her fingers tracing along Rhaenyra’s jaw now. “Rhaenyra,” she said again, her voice a little firmer this time, though it still wavered. “I’m ready.”

Rhaenyra’s eyes blinked open, confusion flickering across her face as she turned toward Alicent. “Babywhatdoyoumean?” she mumbled almost incoherently and altogether, her tone gentle, still half-asleep.

For a moment, Alicent didn’t respond. Her hand stayed on Rhaenyra’s cheek, her fingers cool against her girlfriend’s warm skin. She took a shaky breath, her heart racing, but when she finally spoke, her voice was steadier than she expected. “I’m ready,” she said quietly, the words hanging heavy in the air.

Rhaenyra blinked, the sleep clearing from her eyes as they widened slightly. “Ali…” she started, her voice trailing off as she tried to process what Alicent was saying.

Alicent nodded, her lips pressing together briefly as she tried to steel herself. “I mean it,” she said, her voice soft but certain, though the way her fingers trembled against Rhaenyra’s cheek betrayed the nervous energy bubbling under the surface. “I want to.”

Rhaenyra stared at her, and for a moment, neither of them said anything. The silence stretched, thick and meaningful, and Alicent thought she might shatter under the weight of it. But then Rhaenyra reached up, her hand covering Alicent’s as her thumb gently stroked the back of her hand.

Rhaenyra searched her face for a moment longer, her eyes soft but intent, as if she were memorizing every detail. Then, slowly, she leaned in. Their lips met in a kiss that was gentle at first, Rhaenyra’s touch steady and grounding, but it deepened with each passing second, warmth blooming between them.

Rhaenyra shifted carefully, situating herself on top of Alicent, her knee brushing against Alicent’s hip as her hand slid down to Alicent’s waist. Her movements were unhurried, almost drowsy, her excitement tempered by the lingering sleepiness in her eyes. But the way her body pressed against Alicent’s betrayed how thrilled she truly was.

Alicent, meanwhile, was internally losing her mind . Her heart pounded so hard she was sure Rhaenyra could hear it. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts all at once—fear, exhilaration, disbelief that this was finally happening—but the one thing that cut through the chaos was how deeply, utterly, hopelessly in love she was with the girl on top of her.

“I love you,” Alicent whispered between kisses, her voice trembling but full of raw emotion. She said it again, louder this time, as Rhaenyra kissed her jaw and then the corner of her mouth. “I love you so much.”

Rhaenyra paused for just a second, her forehead resting against Alicent’s as she let out a soft laugh, her breath warm against Alicent’s lips. “I love you too,” she murmured, her voice low and thick with affection. She kissed Alicent again, her hand sliding up to cup Alicent’s cheek, her thumb brushing against her skin.

Alicent felt like her heart was about to burst. “I love you,” she said again, the words spilling out of her in a rush as if saying them enough times would somehow anchor her in the moment. “I love you, I love you, I—”

Rhaenyra cut her off with another kiss, slow and deliberate, her lips warm and soft against Alicent’s. “I know, Ali,” she whispered when she pulled back just slightly, her smile small but full of something tender and unspoken. “I know.”

Alicent’s hands slid up to Rhaenyra’s shoulders, her fingers trembling as she gripped the fabric of her sleep shirt. Her body was buzzing, her nerves sparking with every brush of Rhaenyra’s lips against her skin. “I just—” Alicent started, her voice faltering as her breath hitched. “I love you so much it scares me.”

Rhaenyra’s smile softened, and she leaned down, pressing a kiss to Alicent’s forehead. “You don’t have to be scared,” she murmured, her voice steady and soothing. “I love you, Alicent. So fucking much.”

They kept kissing for a while—a long while, if Alicent was being honest. It was lovely, Rhaenyra’s lips soft and unhurried, her hands warm and steady as they brushed against Alicent’s sides. Every kiss felt like it was pulling Alicent deeper into a cocoon of warmth and safety, but her nerves were still buzzing just beneath the surface.

She was grateful Rhaenyra wasn’t rushing her, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but notice how much time was passing. Rhaenyra was still just kissing her, her touch tender but not moving further. It made Alicent’s chest tighten, not with fear but with uncertainty. She didn’t know how to make the next move, certainly not with how nervous she felt. Her hands stayed frozen where they clung to Rhaenyra’s shoulders, too timid to roam or signal anything beyond what they were already doing.

Alicent’s breathing was uneven, her hands clutching at Rhaenyra’s shoulders as her nerves bubbled just beneath the surface. Her mind was racing, but her voice came out calm—too calm—when she said, “You can take off my pajamas. And yours too. If you want.”

She delivered it so matter-of-factly that it made Rhaenyra pause. For a second, she just stared at Alicent, her lips twitching before a soft laugh escaped her.

Alicent’s brow furrowed, her lips parting in confusion. “Why are you laughing?” she asked, her tone hesitant, unsure if she’d said something wrong.

Rhaenyra shook her head, leaning down to press their foreheads together. Her hand came up to gently cup Alicent’s cheek, her thumb brushing over the warm skin. “Because,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice soft and full of affection, “you’re just so adorable.”

Alicent blinked, her cheeks flushing as her lips pressed into a small pout. “But you can,” she insisted quietly, her voice steady even as her fingers twisted nervously in Rhaenyra’s shirt.

Rhaenyra’s smile widened, and she kissed Alicent tenderly, lingering for a moment before pulling back just enough to whisper, “I will, baby. I will.”

Alicent nodded, her breathing hitching slightly as her nerves warred with the quiet excitement building in her chest. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible as she clung to Rhaenyra. “I just… I want this.”

“Me too, Gods, me too.” Rhaenyra kissed her again, her lips warm and steady against Alicent’s as her hands moved to the hem of Alicent’s pajama top. She paused, her eyes meeting Alicent’s for a moment, silently asking for permission. Alicent gave a small nod, her lips pressed tightly together as she tried to keep herself calm. Rhaenyra pulled the top up and off in one smooth motion, her touch deliberate but tender.

Alicent’s heart was pounding so hard she was sure Rhaenyra could hear it. The cool air on her skin made her shiver, and her arms instinctively moved to cover herself, but Rhaenyra stopped her gently, her hands resting lightly on Alicent’s wrists.

“You’re beautiful,” Rhaenyra said softly, her voice steady and sincere as her thumb brushed over Alicent’s wrist. She leaned in, pressing a slow kiss to Alicent’s lips before moving to slide her pajama bottoms down next.

Alicent bit her lip, her cheeks flaming as she lay there in just her underwear. Her nerves buzzed under her skin, but she didn’t stop Rhaenyra, even as she felt like her entire body might burst from how exposed she felt.

When Rhaenyra began to undress herself, Alicent’s breath caught in her throat. Her gaze darted away instinctively, but her curiosity got the better of her, and her eyes flicked back, only to widen when she caught sight of Rhaenyra’s member. Her entire face turned red, and she quickly pressed her hands to her cheeks, trying to cool the heat that was radiating from her skin.

Rhaenyra, now fully undressed, noticed Alicent’s reaction and chuckled softly. She climbed back onto the bed, situating herself carefully on top of Alicent again, her body warm against Alicent’s trembling form. “You okay?” she asked, her tone gentle but amused as she leaned in to kiss her again.

“I…” Alicent stammered, her voice high and flustered. “I have no idea what to do with… with that ,” she admitted, gesturing vaguely toward Rhaenyra’s lower half. Her eyes darted away again, too embarrassed to look directly at her.

Rhaenyra let out another soft laugh, cupping Alicent’s cheek and guiding her gaze back to hers. “Hey,” she said quietly, her tone soothing. “Let me handle it this time, okay?”

Alicent blinked up at her, her breath shaky as she nodded quickly. “Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Rhaenyra shifted carefully, settling on top of Alicent with a quiet ease that made Alicent’s heart race even faster. Her lips found Alicent’s neck, pressing soft, deliberate kisses to her skin, and Alicent felt the heat of Rhaenyra’s body against hers. She could feel it—and it made her chest tighten and her cheeks flame.

Her thoughts immediately spiraled. Oh gods, it’s right there. What do I even do with that? What am I supposed to—do I move? Am I supposed to say something? What if—

Alicent blinked, her nerves temporarily forgotten as her heart squeezed. “I’m sorry for rambling so much,” she said quickly, her voice a little rushed. “You know when I’m nervous I just—”

“I know,” Rhaenyra interrupted gently, a soft smile tugging at her lips as her hand stroked Alicent’s side soothingly. 

“And before you say we can stop at any time,” Alicent added, her voice climbing slightly as she cut Rhaenyra off. “I am fully aware of that, Rhaenyra. It’s a good nervous, okay?”

Rhaenyra blinked at her for a moment, then let out a soft laugh, her eyes warm with affection as she leaned down to press their foreheads together. “Okay,” she said softly. “Good nervous. Got it.”

Alicent nodded, her cheeks still bright red but her breathing a little steadier now. “I just…” She paused, her hands gripping Rhaenyra’s arms as she tried to ground herself. “I love you too. I just want you to know that.”

You make life so interesting,” Rhaenyra murmured quietly, her lips brushing against Alicent’s collarbone before pulling back to kiss her gently on the lips. “I love you.”

Alicent’s heart raced, her nerves thrumming as Rhaenyra shifted, positioning herself carefully. The weight of what was about to happen settled over Alicent, but instead of fear, there was a strange sense of anticipation—an aching need that overpowered everything else. She gripped Rhaenyra’s shoulders, her voice breathy but firm when she said, “Do it.”

Rhaenyra froze for a second, blinking down at Alicent before a quiet laugh escaped her. “Ali,” she murmured, shaking her head softly, “I’m trying, but you’re a bit… tight.” She brushed a strand of hair from Alicent’s face, her expression full of tenderness. “It might hurt. I don’t want to hurt you.”

Alicent’s cheeks burned, her fingers flexing nervously against Rhaenyra’s shoulders as she swallowed hard. “I know,” she whispered, her voice a little shaky but full of conviction. “I just… I want this. I can handle it.”

Rhaenyra nodded, her hand moving to cup Alicent’s cheek as she kissed her again, slow and grounding. “We’ll go slow,” she said softly, her voice steady but thick with emotion. “Tell me if it’s too much, okay?”

Alicent nodded quickly, her breath hitching as she felt Rhaenyra shift again, the pressure at her entrance making her tense instinctively. Rhaenyra paused immediately, her hand sliding down to Alicent’s hip to steady her.

“Relax,” Rhaenyra whispered, her tone soothing as she pressed her forehead to Alicent’s. “You’re okay. Just breathe.”

Alicent exhaled shakily, her body trembling as she tried to loosen up. She focused on Rhaenyra’s eyes, the love and care written so plainly in them, and let herself trust that everything would be okay. “Okay,” she said softly, her voice barely audible. “I’m ready.”

Rhaenyra moved again, slow and deliberate, watching Alicent’s face closely for any sign of discomfort. Alicent’s grip on her shoulders tightened as the pressure intensified, and she winced slightly, her breath catching in her throat.

“Ali,” Rhaenyra said softly, pausing immediately. “Do you need me to stop?”

“No,” Alicent said quickly, shaking her head. “Just… keep going. Please.”

“Tell me if it’s—oh, fuck…” Rhaenyra’s words cut off abruptly, her breath hitching as she froze, gripping the headboard tightly. Her eyes squeezed shut, her jaw tense, and for a moment, she didn’t move at all.

Alicent lay beneath her, quiet and still, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched Rhaenyra’s reaction. “Are you okay?” she asked softly, her voice laced with concern.

Rhaenyra didn’t answer immediately. Her fingers flexed against the headboard, and her breath came in sharp, uneven bursts. She let out a shaky exhale, her voice thick when she finally muttered, “Gods, Alicent.”

Alicent blinked, confused at first, but then realization hit her like a wave. Her cheeks flushed deep red as her eyes darted away, embarrassed but unable to stop the small smile that tugged at her lips. “Oh,” she whispered, biting her lip as she peeked back at Rhaenyra. “Um… sorry?”

Rhaenyra let out a low, humorless laugh, her head tilting forward as she pressed her forehead against Alicent’s shoulder. “Don’t apologize,” she murmured, her voice strained but full of affection. “Just… give me a second.”

Alicent nodded, her blush deepening as she reached up to lightly brush her fingers through Rhaenyra’s hair. The tension in Rhaenyra’s body was palpable, but Alicent couldn’t help feeling a little flattered, even if her nerves were still buzzing.

Rhaenyra shifted slightly, her breath steadying as she leaned up to press a soft kiss to Alicent’s temple. “You’re… gods, Ali, you’re amazing,” she murmured, her tone almost reverent.

Alicent’s smile grew, though she was still flustered. 

Rhaenyra exhaled slowly, her grip on the headboard relaxing just slightly. “Okay,” she muttered, her voice still shaky. “I’m good. I’m…” She trailed off as her breath hitched again, her eyes squeezing shut for a moment. “Fuck… no, I’m good. I’m gonna move again.”

Alicent bit her lip, her cheeks flushed as she nodded quickly. “Okay,” she whispered, her hands resting tentatively on Rhaenyra’s arms, grounding herself with the warmth of her girlfriend’s touch.

Rhaenyra shifted, her movements slow and deliberate as she began to move. The sensation was new, overwhelming, and Alicent’s breath hitched as her body adjusted. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, her fingers curling slightly against Rhaenyra’s skin.

Rhaenyra’s lips brushed against Alicent’s jaw, her breath warm and unsteady as she murmured, “You’re doing so good, Ali.”

Alicent couldn’t form words, her thoughts jumbled as her body responded to the new sensations. Her breathing grew heavier, her hands sliding up to grip Rhaenyra’s shoulders as her head tilted back against the pillow. 

Alicent clung to her, her body trembling as she tried to keep up with everything she was feeling—new, intense, overwhelming in ways she couldn’t describe. Her breathing was heavy, shaky, and her voice cracked when she managed to speak, her hands gripping tighter at Rhaenyra’s shoulders. “Nyra,” she gasped, her words rushing out as though she couldn’t stop them. “It feels really, really good.”

Rhaenyra kissed her softly, her lips brushing over Alicent’s in a way that steadied her nerves for a moment. “Can I go faster? This pace…it’s..it’s not enough for me.”

Alicent nodded, her breath hitching as Rhaenyra shifted slightly, her movements becoming a little more deliberate, a little more confident. The slow build was driving Alicent crazy in the best way, and her hands slipped to Rhaenyra’s back, her nails digging in lightly as her body arched.

Rhaenyra kissed her softly, her lips brushing over Alicent’s in a way that steadied her nerves, grounding her in the moment. As she pulled back slightly, her voice was low, thick with restraint, and barely above a whisper. “Can I go faster?” she asked, her breath warm against Alicent’s cheek. “This pace… it’s… it’s not enough for me.”

Alicent blinked up at her, her cheeks flushed and her breathing uneven as she tried to process the question. Her hands trembled slightly against Rhaenyra’s back, but she nodded, her voice small but clear. “Y-yeah. You can.”

Rhaenyra exhaled sharply, a mix of relief and desire flashing in her eyes as her grip on Alicent’s hips tightened. “Are you sure?” she asked again, her tone steady but edged with longing.

“I’m sure,” Alicent whispered, her voice trembling but honest. She gripped Rhaenyra’s shoulders, her nails pressing lightly into her skin as her legs shifted slightly. “I want you to.”

Rhaenyra let out a soft, shaky laugh, leaning down to press a lingering kiss to Alicent’s lips before whispering, “Okay. Tell me if it’s too much.”

Alicent nodded quickly, her breath hitching as Rhaenyra began to move, her pace picking up slightly. The change was immediate—deeper, more intense—and Alicent’s body arched instinctively, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

“Ali,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice rough but full of care as her hands slid to Alicent’s waist, steadying her. “You’re doing so good. Just breathe, baby.”

Alicent’s chest rose and fell unevenly as she tried to match her breathing to Rhaenyra’s rhythm. Her thoughts were a blur, her nerves still present but fading into the background as her body responded. “It’s—it’s good,” she stammered, her voice cracking slightly as her hands clung to Rhaenyra’s arms. “Oh gods, it’s so good.”

Alicent’s body jolted slightly with each movement, the soft thud of the headboard hitting the wall in rhythm filling the room. She tried to keep her focus, her breath coming in uneven gasps as Rhaenyra moved above her, steady and deliberate, but so quiet. Too quiet.

“How…” Alicent started, her voice breaking as the headboard thudded again. “…does… it…”

Rhaenyra’s pace faltered slightly, her eyes snapping down to Alicent’s flushed face as she realized she was being addressed. But Alicent wasn’t done.

“…feel… for you?” Alicent finally finished, the question tumbling out between shallow breaths, her words interrupted by the rhythm of Rhaenyra’s movements.

Rhaenyra blinked, clearly caught off guard, and a soft, breathy laugh escaped her lips. She leaned down, her forehead brushing against Alicent’s as she murmured, “You’re asking me that now?”

Alicent’s cheeks flushed even deeper, but she didn’t back down. Her hands gripped Rhaenyra’s shoulders tightly, her voice trembling but insistent. “You’re so quiet,” she managed, her words rushed. “I… I need to know.”

Rhaenyra let out a shaky exhale, her lips quirking into a small, affectionate smile as she kissed Alicent gently, slowing her movements for just a moment. “It’s… gods, Ali,” she murmured, her voice rough with emotion. “It feels incredible. You feel incredible.”

Alicent blinked up at her, her chest rising and falling as her nerves fizzled into something warm and overwhelming. “Good,” she whispered, her voice soft but full of relief. “I just… I wanted to make sure.”

The steady rhythm of the headboard slamming against the wall grew louder, the sound filling the room alongside Alicent’s breathy gasps and the muffled thuds of their movements against the mattress. Rhaenyra was relentless now, her pace quickening, each thrust accompanied by a sharper, more pronounced slam of the headboard that made the whole bed jolt.

Alicent clung to Rhaenyra, her hands fisting the sheets as she struggled to keep herself grounded amidst the overwhelming sensations. “Oh gods, Rhaenyra,” she whimpered, her voice cracking as her body arched involuntarily. “It’s… it’s so much…”

Rhaenyra’s breathing was ragged, her face pressed into Alicent’s neck as she growled softly against her skin. “You’re doing so good, Ali,” she murmured, her voice low and gravelly. “You feel so—fuck, so good.”

The slamming grew louder, more erratic, and just when Alicent thought it couldn’t possibly get more intense, a sharp, muffled bang sounded from the other side of the hotel wall. “Hey! Shut the fuck up!” a frustrated voice shouted.

For a second, Alicent froze, her cheeks flaming with embarrassment, but Rhaenyra only grinned wickedly. “Guess we’re putting on a show,” she said, her voice dripping with mischief, before leaning down to kiss Alicent deeply.

And then Rhaenyra picked up the pace, the sound of the headboard slamming against the wall growing even louder, almost defiantly so. Alicent’s head tilted back into the pillow, her mouth falling open as her toes curled involuntarily. Every nerve in her body felt like it was on fire, the sensations building and building until she couldn’t hold it back anymore.

“Rhaenyra!” Alicent cried out, her voice breaking as her body tightened, her climax hitting her with an intensity that left her trembling. Her hands clawed at Rhaenyra’s back as her legs wrapped around her girlfriend’s waist, her body locking as waves of pleasure crashed over her.

The way Alicent’s body clenched around her was enough to send Rhaenyra over the edge. She let out a guttural groan, her movements faltering as she buried her face against Alicent’s shoulder. “Ali—fuck, gods—” Rhaenyra’s voice broke as she shuddered, her release following Alicent’s, her body trembling as she rode out the waves.

They collapsed together, their breathing uneven and ragged, the room falling into a heavy, charged silence except for the sound of their hearts pounding in tandem. Alicent’s face was buried in Rhaenyra’s neck, her fingers still clutching her back, her body limp but warm and sated.

“I think,” Alicent whispered hoarsely after a long moment, her voice tinged with a mix of humor and embarrassment, “the whole hotel probably heard that.”

Rhaenyra chuckled, her lips brushing against Alicent’s temple as she murmured, “Let them. You’re worth it.” She kissed Alicent’s flushed cheek, her touch soft and tender now. “You’re amazing, Ali.”

Alicent smiled faintly, her exhaustion and euphoria mingling as she let herself sink into Rhaenyra’s warmth. “You are too,” she whispered, her voice soft and full of love.

///

The little apartment was buzzing with life. It was their senior year of college, and Alicent and Rhaenyra were settled into their new place—a tiny but cozy apartment they’d made their own. The place wasn’t big, but it had warmth: soft lighting, personal touches like the photos pinned up on the wall, and the faint scent of Alicent’s freshly baked hors d’oeuvres wafting through the air.

They’d planned this gathering for weeks, a way to celebrate their new home with their closest friends. Rhaenyra and Alicent were in such a good place—madly in love, their relationship stronger than ever, and, as Laena liked to tease, grossly cute . Their sex life was just as good now, but it was more than that. They’d grown together, and it showed in how easily they moved around each other in the small kitchen, how Rhaenyra could tell when Alicent needed help just by the way she bit her lip while staring at the counter.

At that moment, Alicent was pulling a tray of hors d’oeuvres from the oven, her brow furrowed as she carefully arranged them onto a platter. Across the room, Rhaenyra walked in with Daemon, both carrying heavy boxes of beer. Daemon’s laughter filled the space, and Rhaenyra glanced at Alicent, grinning as she adjusted her grip on the box.

“Where do you want these?” Rhaenyra asked, her tone casual but warm.

“On the counter by the fridge,” Alicent called back without turning, distracted by her precise plating.

Daemon set his box down with a dramatic huff. “Next time, we’re bringing less beer,” he said, shooting Rhaenyra a smirk. “You and your ‘just in case’ plans.”

Rhaenyra laughed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s had half of one already,” she said as she pushed the second box into place. Daemon muttered something under his breath, and they both chuckled.

Laena, holding a glass of something pink and fizzy, approached Alicent at the stove. “Hey, I think your friend was coming up behind us,” she said, her tone casual as she popped a cracker into her mouth. “I left the front door propped open.”

Alicent nodded distractedly. “Oh, no problem,” she said, carefully sliding a plate onto the counter. She didn’t look up, her mind already moving to the next task.

A moment later, the door creaked open. “Hey,” came a calm, familiar voice, and Alicent froze for half a second before turning around to see Margaery standing there, holding a bottle of wine. “I thought I’d bring something to contribute,” Margaery said with a smile, stepping inside.

This was Margaery’s first time meeting the group. She was a year older than Alicent and worked at the school where Alicent was doing her teaching practicum. They’d hit it off immediately, and while Margaery had heard plenty about Alicent’s friends—and, of course, her alpha girlfriend—this was the first time she was meeting them all.

“Oh!” Alicent said, blinking before offering a quick smile. “Hi, Margaery. Thanks for bringing that.”

“No problem,” Margaery replied, glancing around the cozy space. “This place is adorable. It suits you.”

Rhaenyra, who had been talking with Daemon at the counter, turned at the sound of Margaery’s voice. Her eyes flicked to the bottle of wine, then to Margaery herself, and she wiped her hands on her jeans before walking over.

“Hey,” Rhaenyra said, her tone friendly but carrying a faint edge of curiosity as her gaze flicked briefly to the bottle of wine in Margaery’s hand before meeting her eyes. She extended a hand for a quick shake. “I’m Rhaenyra. Alicent’s—”

“Oh, you’re the alpha girlfriend Alicent is always blushing about in the break room, right?” Margaery cut in smoothly, a teasing smile tugging at her lips as she took Rhaenyra’s hand.

Rhaenyra blinked, caught off guard for a moment, before a faint smirk spread across her face. “That’s me,” she said, her grip firm but brief as she pulled her hand back. “Nice to finally meet you.”

“You too,” Margaery replied, her tone light and casual as her eyes briefly flicked to Alicent, who was standing nearby, frozen mid-motion with a tray of hors d’oeuvres in her hands.

Alicent’s face flushed crimson, and she quickly turned to set the tray down on the table, busying herself with adjusting the crackers even though they didn’t need it. “I don’t talk about her that much,” she muttered, her voice barely audible but tinged with embarrassment.

Margaery raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Ali,” she said lightly, “you mention her every other sentence in the break room.”

“I do not,” Alicent shot back quickly, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of the tray as she avoided making eye contact.

Rhaenyra, still standing beside her, grinned and leaned in slightly, her voice teasing but warm. “You kind of do,” she said softly, her hand slipping to the small of Alicent’s back. “Not that I’m complaining.”

Alicent groaned, pressing her hands to her warm cheeks as if that would stop the heat from spreading further. “I’m never showing my face at work again,” she muttered dramatically.

Margaery chuckled, her tone playful but kind. “Relax, Alicent. It’s sweet. Everyone thinks it’s sweet.”

“Everyone?” Alicent squeaked, spinning around to stare at Margaery, her eyes wide with horror.

“Relax,” Rhaenyra echoed, laughing softly as she pressed a kiss to the side of Alicent’s head. “I think it’s sweet too.”

Alicent sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly as she shook her head. “I hate all of you,” she mumbled, though there was no real venom behind it.

Margaery just grinned, raising the bottle of wine slightly. “For what it’s worth, I brought a nice wine. Consider it a peace offering.”

“Fine,” Alicent muttered, still blushing furiously as she glanced between Margaery and Rhaenyra. “But I’m still pretending this conversation never happened.”

Rhaenyra chuckled again, giving Alicent’s waist a reassuring squeeze as Margaery moved off to join the rest of the group. “Don’t worry love,” she murmured, her tone low and teasing. “You’re just too cute for your own good.”

“Stop,” Alicent groaned, though she couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips.

///

The dim glow of the lamp illuminated the small living room, their couch creaking softly beneath them as Alicent clung to Rhaenyra, her breath ragged and uneven. The space smelled like sweat and lavender, the faintest remnants of the candle that had long since burned out.

They were both 22 now, nearing the end of their college years, and things had been rocky for a while. The fights had become more frequent—loud and cutting—but the makeups were always the same: raw, desperate, full of emotion they couldn’t seem to express in any other way.

Rhaenyra’s body pressed Alicent deeper into the cushions, her hips moving in slow, deliberate rolls that made Alicent gasp sharply. “Fuck, Rhaenyra,” she whimpered, her voice breathy and strained as her fingers tangled in the fabric of Rhaenyra’s shirt, pulling her impossibly closer.

Rhaenyra’s lips were everywhere—her jaw, her neck, the curve of her shoulder—leaving a trail of heat that made Alicent shiver beneath her. Her hands roamed Alicent’s sides, slipping under her shirt to press against bare skin, her touch firm but full of a reverence that hadn’t wavered, even after all these years.

“Gods, Ali,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice low and husky as she pulled back just enough to look at her. Alicent’s hair was a mess, her lips swollen and parted as her chest rose and fell with every shaky breath. She was beautiful, and Rhaenyra couldn’t help but pause, her thumb brushing over Alicent’s cheek as she whispered, “You’re perfect.”

Alicent let out a soft sound, somewhere between a laugh and a sob, her hands sliding to Rhaenyra’s waist as her legs tightened around her. “Don’t stop,” she whispered, her voice cracking slightly. “Please, don’t stop.”

Rhaenyra didn’t need to be told twice. Her movements picked up again, the friction drawing quiet whimpers and gasps from Alicent that filled the small living room. The intensity built, the sound of their bodies moving together filling the room until Alicent let out a sharp cry, her nails digging into Rhaenyra’s back as she trembled beneath her. The release left her breathless, her mind hazy as she clung to Rhaenyra like she was the only thing keeping her tethered.

Alicent’s legs were wrapped tightly around Rhaenyra’s waist, her hands gripping her shoulders as she gasped, her body trembling with the aftershocks of what had just happened. Rhaenyra’s head was buried in her neck, her breath hot against Alicent’s damp skin as her hands slid up to steady her.

It had been another fight—loud, tense, and messy—but the aftermath was always the same. Explosive, desperate, as if neither of them knew how to untangle the emotions they couldn’t put into words.

Rhaenyra lifted her head slowly, her eyes meeting Alicent’s. Her lips were slightly swollen, her hair disheveled, and her chest still heaving as she let out a shaky breath. “Ali,” she murmured, her tone quiet but heavy with emotion. “You okay?”

Alicent nodded, though her gaze was distant, her mind racing as she tried to catch her breath. “Yeah,” she whispered, her voice soft and unsure. “I’m okay.”

But the weight in the room told a different story. Even now, tangled together on the couch, the tension between them hadn’t fully dissipated. The fight still lingered in the air, unspoken but heavy, and Alicent couldn’t help but feel the cracks that had been forming between them for months.

Rhaenyra shifted slightly, her hands moving to Alicent’s face as she leaned in to press a soft kiss to her forehead. “I love you,” she said quietly, her voice steady but almost pleading. “You know that, right?”

Alicent nodded again, her lips pressing together tightly as she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. “I know,” she said, though the words felt hollow. She didn’t doubt that Rhaenyra loved her—she could feel it in every touch, every kiss—but something about it wasn’t enough anymore. Something was missing.

The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating, until Alicent finally shifted, untangling herself from Rhaenyra’s hold as she reached for the throw blanket draped over the back of the couch. She pulled it over herself, suddenly feeling exposed, vulnerable.

Rhaenyra watched her, her brows furrowing as she sat back, running a hand through her disheveled hair. “Ali…” she started, her voice soft but hesitant, unsure of what to say.

“I’m tired,” Alicent said quickly, cutting her off as she pulled the blanket tighter around her. “I think I just need to go to bed.”

Rhaenyra’s jaw tensed, her eyes searching Alicent’s face for a moment before she nodded slowly. “Okay,” she said quietly, leaning back into the couch as Alicent stood and disappeared down the hallway.

Rhaenyra didn’t move for a long time, her mind replaying the fight, the silence, and the way Alicent had pulled away from her. She loved Alicent more than anything, but lately, it felt like no matter how hard they tried, they were always one fight away from breaking completely.

///

The fight started over something small. It always did.

Alicent had been cleaning the kitchen for the second time that day, her movements sharp and frantic, the sound of dishes clinking together loud enough to be grating. Rhaenyra sat on the couch, her legs stretched out as she scrolled through her phone, the faint tapping of her fingers doing nothing to help the growing tension in the room.

“Do you think you could help me?” Alicent snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. She didn’t even turn to look at Rhaenyra, her hands gripping a dishrag tightly as she scrubbed at a counter that was already spotless.

Rhaenyra glanced up, her eyebrows furrowing as she set her phone down on her lap. “I didn’t think you needed help,” she said, her tone even but tinged with defensiveness. “You didn’t ask.”

“Well, I shouldn’t have to ask,” Alicent fired back, whirling around to face her. Her cheeks were flushed, her chest rising and falling rapidly as she tried to keep her voice steady. “You live here too, Rhaenyra. You could, I don’t know, just get up and do something for once without me having to say anything.”

Rhaenyra sat up straighter, the tension in her shoulders visible as she narrowed her eyes. “That’s not fair,” she said, her tone sharper now. “I do things all the time, Alicent. Just because I’m not constantly running around doesn’t mean I’m not contributing.”

“Oh, please,” Alicent said, throwing the dishrag down onto the counter. “You’re always avoiding things, Rhaenyra. Whenever there’s a problem, you just sit there and pretend it doesn’t exist. You never want to talk about anything. ”

Rhaenyra’s eyes flashed with anger, and she stood abruptly, her phone falling to the couch as she closed the distance between them. “Avoiding things? Really? You’re the one who never lets anything go. You’re always worrying, always stressing, always micromanaging everything! I can’t even breathe without you hovering.”

Alicent’s jaw tightened, her hands shaking slightly as she balled them into fists at her sides. “Because you don’t deal with anything!” she shouted, her voice rising with every word. “You just ignore it and hope it magically goes away. I’m the one who has to clean up the mess every single time! ”

Rhaenyra let out a sharp, humorless laugh, running a hand through her hair as she paced a few steps away before spinning back around to face Alicent. “Oh, sure,” she said sarcastically. “Because you’re such a picture of calm and control, right? You’re practically vibrating all the time, Alicent. Maybe if you stopped freaking out about every little thing, I wouldn’t have to ignore it!”

Alicent flinched at the words, but she refused to back down, her voice trembling as she snapped, “At least I’m trying, Rhaenyra! What do you do? Scroll on your phone, make jokes with Daemon, and then act like everything’s fine when it’s clearly not?”

Rhaenyra scoffed, throwing her hands in the air. “Oh, so now I’m a bad girlfriend because I have a sense of humor? Sorry I don’t spend every second panicking like you!”

Alicent’s mouth fell open, stunned into silence for a moment before the heat in her chest surged again. “I’m panicking because you won’t deal with anything!” she yelled. “You just check out, Rhaenyra! Do you even care about fixing any of this, or is it just easier for you to pretend nothing’s wrong?”

“Of course I care!” Rhaenyra shot back, her voice loud and raw. “But I can’t fix it if you don’t even let me breathe! We’re together all the time, Alicent— all the time. I can’t even think anymore without you being there, and it’s too much!”

Alicent froze, her breath catching as the words hit her. “Too much?” she echoed, her voice dropping to a whisper. Her hands trembled as she took a step back, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You think I’m too much?”

Rhaenyra’s expression softened instantly, guilt flickering across her face, but her frustration didn’t fully fade. “I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, her voice quieter but still firm. “I mean we’re too much. This—us—right now. We’re suffocating each other, and I don’t know how to stop it.”

Alicent’s chest heaved, her heart pounding as she stared at Rhaenyra, her throat tight. “So what, this is my fault now? I’m the one smothering you? Maybe if you’d just talk to me instead of running away every time something gets hard, we wouldn’t be like this!”

“And maybe if you didn’t overthink everything, we could actually enjoy being together instead of fighting all the time!” Rhaenyra shot back, her voice sharp but tinged with desperation.

The words hung in the air like a bomb waiting to go off, both of them breathing heavily as the silence stretched. Alicent’s lip trembled as she finally looked away, her voice breaking when she said, “I don’t even know what we’re fighting about anymore.”

Rhaenyra ran a hand down her face, letting out a frustrated sigh. “Neither do I,” she muttered, her tone defeated. “But it’s exhausting, Ali. I’m exhausted.”

The admission cut through Alicent like a knife, and she nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the floor. “Me too,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

For a moment, neither of them moved, the weight of their words settling heavily in the room. And then Alicent turned, her hands trembling as she picked up the dishrag and started cleaning again, more out of habit than purpose.

Rhaenyra watched her, her jaw tightening as she rubbed the back of her neck. She wanted to say something, to bridge the widening gap between them, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she turned back to the couch, sinking onto it with a heavy sigh, the silence between them deafening.

///

The party was in full swing, the lively hum of conversation and bursts of laughter filling Laena’s favorite rooftop bar. It was a warm evening, with string lights casting a soft glow over the crowd. Laena was surrounded by friends, basking in the attention as she laughed at something Daemon said. Alicent stood in the corner with Rhaenyra, her arms crossed and her lips pressed tightly together, their quiet argument cutting through her thoughts.

It wasn’t the first time they’d been like this lately. It had been months since the tension between them started bubbling up, and while they had good days—sometimes even great days—the fights had become more frequent, more pointed. Tonight wasn’t any different.

“Do you have to do this right now?” Rhaenyra said under her breath, her tone low but sharp as her gaze darted around to make sure no one was paying attention to them.

“You’re the one who made that little comment earlier,” Alicent fired back, her voice equally quiet but trembling slightly with restrained frustration. “If you didn’t want to ‘do this,’ maybe you shouldn’t have—”

“Oh, gods,” Rhaenyra interrupted, rolling her eyes as she crossed her arms. “Are we really going to make this about that? You’re so sensitive sometimes, Alicent. I wasn’t even being serious.”

Alicent flinched at the words, her chest tightening as she stared at Rhaenyra. “Do you even hear yourself?” she asked, her voice trembling. “You’ve been like this for months. Dismissive, short, like I’m just…” She shook her head, struggling to find the words. “Like I’m a burden.”

Rhaenyra sighed heavily, running a hand through her hair. “You’re not a burden, but you make everything so dramatic,” she muttered, her voice low but cutting. “Not everything is a crisis, Alicent. Not everything needs to be dissected or overanalyzed.”

Alicent’s face flushed, her grip tightening on her clutch bag as she looked away. “I’m not dramatic,” she whispered, her voice quiet but shaking. “I just… I want us to be okay, Rhaenyra. But you don’t even talk to me anymore unless it’s like this.”

“Because this is all we do now,” Rhaenyra snapped, her eyes narrowing. “We fight, and then we make up, and then we fight again. It’s exhausting, Alicent. You’re exhausting.”

Alicent froze, her breath catching as the words hit her like a punch to the gut. Her eyes watered, but she quickly blinked the tears back, refusing to let them fall. “I see,” she said softly, her voice brittle. “If I’m so exhausting, then maybe I should just go.”

“You’re not leaving,” Rhaenyra said firmly, stepping closer as she grabbed Alicent’s wrist. Her grip wasn’t harsh, but it was insistent. “You’re not walking out of my cousin’s birthday like this.”

Alicent yanked her hand away, her chest heaving as she glared at Rhaenyra. “Oh, she’s your cousin now, huh?” she shot back bitterly. “Funny how that works. She’s my best friend, Rhaenyra. My best friend, who’s barely even spoken to me tonight because you’ve been hovering and snapping at me all evening.”

Rhaenyra’s jaw tightened, her frustration flashing across her face. “I’m not hovering,” she said defensively. “I’m just trying to keep you from ruining the night.”

“Ruining it?” Alicent repeated, her voice rising slightly before she caught herself, glancing nervously around the room. Lowering her tone, she added, “I’m ruining the night? You’re the one who’s been mean and short with me since we got here. What exactly am I supposed to do, Rhaenyra? Smile and pretend you don’t make me feel like nothing lately?”

Rhaenyra’s expression softened for a moment, guilt flickering in her eyes, but it quickly hardened again. “You’re not nothing, Alicent,” she said, her voice strained. “But you’ve been acting like everything I do is wrong, and I’m tired of it.”

Alicent opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself, her hands trembling as she clutched her bag tighter. Her voice cracked when she finally spoke. “I’m tired too,” she whispered. “Tired of trying so hard when it feels like you don’t even care anymore.”

Rhaenyra sighed, stepping back slightly and running a hand down her face. “I care, Ali,” she said quietly, her voice softer but still edged with frustration. “I just… I don’t know how to fix this.”

Alicent stared at her for a long moment, her heart sinking as she realized she didn’t have an answer either. Letting out a shaky breath, she glanced toward the door. “Maybe I should go,” she muttered.

“No,” Rhaenyra said quickly, stepping forward again. “You can’t leave. Not like this.”

Alicent hesitated, her eyes darting toward the party and back to Rhaenyra. Finally, she let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders sagging. “Fine,” she muttered. “But this conversation isn’t over.”

Rhaenyra nodded, relief flashing across her face, though the tension between them didn’t dissipate. As they returned to the party, Alicent forced a polite smile for Laena, who looped an arm around her, laughing about something Alicent barely heard. Rhaenyra stayed at a distance, grabbing a drink and joining Daemon and Harwin at the bar, but her eyes flicked back to Alicent more than once.

The cracks in their relationship were showing more than ever, but neither of them knew how to stop it from breaking completely.

///

The sun streamed through the windows of their small apartment, warm and golden, but the atmosphere inside was far from calm. Alicent sat at the kitchen table, surrounded by neatly stacked papers she was grading, her red pen darting across the page with meticulous precision. Her brow was furrowed in concentration, and the faint lines of stress etched into her face made it clear she’d been at this for hours.

Rhaenyra wandered into the kitchen, her hair slightly messy from having just rolled out of bed. She held a steaming mug of coffee in her hand, her other scrolling absentmindedly on her phone. She smiled softly as she approached Alicent, leaning down to kiss her temple.

“Good morning,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice warm but still thick with sleep.

Alicent hummed distractedly in response, not looking up from the papers in front of her. “Morning,” she muttered, her tone tight.

Rhaenyra arched an eyebrow but didn’t press, turning to the counter to grab her phone charger. As she shifted, her coffee mug tilted dangerously in her hand. Before she could react, the cup slipped slightly, and the steaming liquid spilled directly onto the stack of papers Alicent had been grading.

“Rhaenyra!” Alicent exclaimed, her voice sharp as she leapt up from her chair, trying to salvage the papers. “What the hell?”

“Oh gods, Ali, I’m so sorry,” Rhaenyra said quickly, grabbing a towel and reaching for the papers. “Here, let me—”

“Don’t touch them!” Alicent snapped, pulling the papers away as if Rhaenyra’s hands would make it worse. “Just—just stop. I’ll handle it.”

Rhaenyra froze, her expression shifting from panicked to defensive. “I’m trying to help,” she said, her tone clipped. “It was an accident.”

“An accident?” Alicent repeated, her voice rising slightly as she glared at Rhaenyra. “You weren’t even paying attention! These are my students’ papers, Rhaenyra. I’ve been working on them all morning, and now they’re ruined.”

“They’re not ruined,” Rhaenyra said, her voice tightening as she gestured toward the damp papers. “They’re just wet. We can dry them, or you can print new copies. It’s not the end of the world.”

Alicent let out a sharp laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Not the end of the world?” she said incredulously. “You don’t get it. You never get it. I have so much to do, and now I have to waste even more time fixing this because you can’t hold a coffee cup properly.”

Rhaenyra’s eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Wow,” she said, her voice cold now. “So this is my fault because I had the audacity to bring coffee into the kitchen? Are you hearing yourself?”

“Yes, I’m hearing myself,” Alicent snapped, slamming the wet papers onto the table. “I’m the one who has to hear myself all the time because you’re too busy scrolling on your phone or hanging out with Daemon to actually pay attention to what’s going on.”

Rhaenyra’s jaw tightened, her eyes narrowing as she leaned against the counter, the towel still clutched in her hand. “Wow,” she said again, her voice sharper now. “So I’m lazy and careless now? Go on, Ali, don’t hold back.”

Alicent sighed heavily, her hands running through her hair in frustration. “I didn’t say that,” she muttered, though her tone wasn’t convincing. “I’m just—Gods, Rhaenyra, did you even look for a job this week? Or were you too busy hanging with your friends at the pub in the middle of the day?”

Rhaenyra blinked, the words hitting her like a slap. For a moment, she didn’t say anything, her lips pressing into a thin line before she set the towel down on the counter with deliberate care. “Wow,” she said, her voice quieter but no less sharp. “Okay. I see where this is going.”

Alicent’s eyes widened, guilt flashing across her face as she realized what she’d said. “No—Rhaenyra…I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Nope,” Rhaenyra interrupted, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “You said it loud and clear. Just go ahead and say what you really think, Alicent.”

 I’ve been so overwhelmed with everything, and I took it out on you.” Alicent got up from her chair, the guilt evident in her eyes as she crossed the room to Rhaenyra. She slipped her arms around her waist from behind, pressing herself against her as her lips brushed against Rhaenyra’s neck. “Baby, I’m sorry,” she murmured softly, her voice low and sincere.

Rhaenyra tilted her head slightly, but her tone stayed firm as she said, “Mhm. That’s not going to fix anything.”

Alicent pouted, her lips brushing against Rhaenyra’s ear as she pressed a mischievous kiss there. “Please?” she asked sweetly, though her tone carried a playful edge.

“Nope,” Rhaenyra said, though her voice wavered slightly as Alicent’s lips trailed lower, brushing over her neck.

Without waiting for a proper invitation, Alicent kissed her neck again, this time sucking hard enough to leave a mark. Her hands slid down to unbutton Rhaenyra’s pants, and she grinned when she felt Rhaenyra’s breath hitch. She gently pushed Rhaenyra against the wall, her lips not leaving her skin for a second.

Rhaenyra let out a low, breathy moan, her head tipping back against the wall as Alicent’s hands moved with purpose. “Ali—” she started, but the words dissolved into a quiet groan as Alicent’s hand slid beneath the waistband of her pants.

“See?” Alicent teased softly, her lips curving into a smirk against Rhaenyra’s neck. “You’re not mad anymore.”

Rhaenyra huffed a quiet laugh, her hands gripping Alicent’s hips tightly. “You’re impossible,” she murmured, her voice rough as she leaned into Alicent’s touch.

“Maybe,” Alicent replied, her tone playful as her kisses grew more deliberate. “But you love me anyway.”

Rhaenyra let out another soft moan, her resolve crumbling as Alicent’s hands and mouth worked in perfect tandem. “Gods,” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper, “I hate how good you are at this.”

Alicent grinned, pressing another lingering kiss to Rhaenyra’s neck. “Apology accepted?” she asked, her tone light but full of mischief.

Rhaenyra laughed softly, her hands pulling Alicent even closer. “Yeah,” she muttered, her voice light and full of love once again.

///

The fight was loud, but it wasn’t mean. Not really. It was just too much, all of it, for both of them. The words didn’t come from hatred or bitterness—they came from exhaustion.

“I can’t keep doing this, Rhaenyra,” Alicent’s voice cracked as she stood in the middle of their cramped kitchen, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “I’m so tired, and I feel like I’m carrying everything on my back.”

“Oh, you’re tired?” Rhaenyra shot back, her voice rising as she gestured wildly. “Do you think I’m not? I’m working all night at the warehouse, applying to every damn job I can find during the day, and trying to keep us afloat, Alicent!”

“I know that!” Alicent shouted, her chest heaving as she struggled to keep her composure. “I know you’re doing everything you can, but so am I! I’m working full-time, trying to keep up with my students, grading papers, and coming home to a house that feels like it’s falling apart.”

Rhaenyra’s jaw tightened, her eyes shining with frustration as she slammed her hand down on the counter. “What do you want me to do, Alicent? I’m already giving everything I have. I don’t have anything left.”

“Neither do I!” Alicent yelled, her voice breaking completely. Her shoulders shook as she tried to hold back tears, her breathing uneven. “I don’t have anything left either, Rhaenyra. That’s the problem.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and raw, the weight of them pressing down on both of them. Rhaenyra let out a shaky breath, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back against the counter. “This isn’t working,” she said quietly, her voice barely audible. “Is it?”

Alicent stared at her, the tears finally spilling over as she shook her head. “I don’t know,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Rhaenyra’s shoulders sagged, her own eyes glassy as she looked away. “I love you,” she said, her voice thick with emotion. “I love you so much, but this… this doesn’t feel like love right now. It feels like survival.”

Alicent nodded, her hands coming up to cover her face as a quiet sob escaped her. “I know,” she whispered through her tears. “I feel the same way.”

They stood there for a long time, the silence between them filled with unspoken words and mutual exhaustion. Finally, Rhaenyra pushed off the counter and crossed the room, her arms wrapping tightly around Alicent. Alicent collapsed into her embrace, her hands clutching at Rhaenyra’s back as she cried into her shoulder.

“I don’t want to lose you,” Alicent choked out, her voice muffled against Rhaenyra’s shirt.

“You won’t,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice shaking as she held Alicent closer. “I promise, you won’t.”

///

The bar was loud, the kind of loud that buzzed in your ears long after you left, but Rhaenyra barely noticed. She was sitting in the corner booth with Daemon, a half-empty pint of beer in front of her, her cheeks flushed from the alcohol coursing through her veins. Her words slurred slightly as she leaned forward, gesturing wildly with her hands.

“I don’t get it,” she said, her voice too loud for the small space. “It’s like, no matter what I do, she’s always on my ass about something. The house, my job, how I breathe, probably. She’s just—” Rhaenyra let out a frustrated groan, throwing herself back against the booth. “She’s impossible.”

Daemon sat across from her, calm and collected as always, sipping his whiskey with an air of detachment. He let her vent without interrupting, his gaze fixed somewhere over her shoulder as she ranted.

“Well?” Rhaenyra demanded after a moment, her eyes narrowing at him. “Say something. You’re just sitting there.”

Daemon shrugged, leaning back in his seat as he set his glass down on the table. “Do you want my no-bullshit opinion?”

Rhaenyra rolled her eyes, her head tipping back slightly as she let out an exaggerated sigh. “Yes, Daemon. That’s literally why I dragged you out here.”

Daemon nodded slowly, his gaze shifting to the bar for a moment before turning back to her. He took another deliberate sip of his drink, drawing out the moment just long enough to irritate her.

“You two have been together too long,” he said finally, his voice blunt but calm.

Rhaenyra scoffed, slamming her hand on the table as her face twisted into a scowl. “Not this noncommittal bullshit again.”

Daemon chuckled, unfazed by her outburst. “It’s not bullshit, mate,” he said, his tone steady. “It’s the truth. This isn’t about whether or not you love each other. I know you do. It’s about the fact that neither of you had space to be your own selves. You’ve been dating since before your balls even dropped.”

Rhaenyra glared at him, her jaw tightening as she reached for her beer. “That’s such a shitty thing to say,” she muttered, taking a long sip and refusing to look at him.

“Is it?” Daemon asked, raising an eyebrow. “Think about it. You’ve been together since you were what, thirteen? Fourteen? You don’t even know who you are without her, and the same goes for her. You’re not fighting because you hate each other. You’re fighting because you’re suffocating.”

Rhaenyra stared down at her glass, her grip tightening around it as the words sank in. She didn’t respond, but the tension in her shoulders spoke volumes.

Daemon leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table as he watched her carefully. “I’m not saying you need to break up or anything,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “But maybe you both need some space. Some time to figure out who you are, separate from each other. That’s not a bad thing, Rhae. It’s just… life.”

Rhaenyra swallowed hard, her throat tight as she finally looked up at him. “It’s not that simple,” she said quietly, her voice cracking slightly. “I don’t know how to be without her.”

Daemon sighed, his expression uncharacteristically serious as he reached across the table to squeeze her hand briefly. “I know,” he said softly. “But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.”

For once, Rhaenyra didn’t argue. She just looked away, her chest heavy as she stared at the bar, letting Daemon’s words settle in the back of her mind.

///

The apartment was quiet when Rhaenyra stumbled in, the soft glow of a lamp in the living room the only light to guide her. She kicked off her shoes clumsily, muttering under her breath as she tripped slightly on the corner of the rug. The smell of the bar still clung to her—beer, smoke, and the faint musk of too many people crammed into one place.

She wandered into the bedroom, her movements slow and a little wobbly. Alicent was curled up in bed, wearing her favorite cozy pajamas—soft flannel pants and a loose sweatshirt—and perched on her nose were her oversized circle glasses, the kind Rhaenyra always teased her about but secretly loved. She had a book resting on her lap, but her focus shifted the second she saw Rhaenyra.

“Gods, you’re drunk,” Alicent said, her voice soft but disapproving as she pushed her glasses up her nose.

Rhaenyra grinned lazily, shrugging as she crossed the room. “Just a little,” she drawled, though her slightly slurred words betrayed her. “Had a long day.”

“Clearly,” Alicent muttered, her nose wrinkling as Rhaenyra got closer. “You smell like beer and bad decisions.”

Rhaenyra chuckled, leaning down to press her forehead against Alicent’s, her weight sinking into the mattress as she climbed on top of her. Alicent immediately groaned, trying to shove her off gently. “Ew, get off me,” she whined, though there was a playful lilt to her voice. “You smell like the bar.”

“Well,” Rhaenyra murmured, her voice low and teasing as she nuzzled Alicent’s neck. “Make me smell like you then.”

Alicent couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of her, her hands coming up to push lightly at Rhaenyra’s shoulders. “Oh gods, you’re in a mood, aren’t you?”

“Maybe,” Rhaenyra admitted, her lips brushing against Alicent’s jaw as she smiled. “But you make it so easy, Ali. All cozy and cute like this.”

Alicent blushed, her glasses slipping slightly as she squirmed beneath Rhaenyra. “I am not cute,” she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction.

“You are,” Rhaenyra countered, her voice softening as she brushed a strand of hair from Alicent’s face. For a moment, she just stared at her, her mind drifting back to Daemon’s words from earlier. They’d been blunt, maybe even cruel, but they’d stuck with her.

Alicent noticed the shift in Rhaenyra’s expression, her teasing smile fading as she tilted her head slightly. “Hey,” she said softly, her hand brushing over Rhaenyra’s arm. “What’s going on?”

Rhaenyra hesitated, her throat tightening as she debated whether to say anything. Finally, she sighed, resting her forehead against Alicent’s. “Nothing,” she murmured. “I’m just drunk and thinking too much.”

Alicent’s lips quirked into a small smile, her hands sliding to Rhaenyra’s sides to hold her gently. “Well, stop thinking,” she said softly. “At least for tonight. Just… be here with me.”

Rhaenyra smiled faintly, nodding as she pressed a soft kiss to Alicent’s lips. “Okay,” she whispered. “Just here.”

And for now, that was enough.

///

The sunlight filtered softly through the kitchen window of the apartment Alicent and Rhaenyra had been sharing for the past three years, casting a warm glow on the small table. Alicent sat hunched over her tea, her nails chewed to the quick, her hands trembling slightly as she fidgeted with the hem of her sweater. Her mom, seated across from her, sipped her tea with a calm that only made Alicent’s nerves more apparent.

At 23, Alicent had everything she thought she wanted. She was finally teaching full-time, doing what she loved, and Rhaenyra had just landed a high-paying job at one of the biggest tech companies in sales. The financial strain that used to cause so many of their fights was gone, replaced by stability. But instead of bringing peace, it seemed to have cracked them open in ways Alicent hadn’t anticipated.

“I don’t understand it,” Alicent said, her voice breaking as she stared into her tea. “We used to fight about money, about her finding a job, and I thought… I thought when she finally got this fancy position, it would solve everything. But it hasn’t. It’s worse, Mom. So much worse.”

Her mom leaned forward slightly, concern etched into her face as she set her mug down. “Worse how?” she asked, her tone gentle but probing.

Alicent swallowed hard, her chest tightening. “We’re fighting all the time,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “And it’s not even about anything big anymore. It’s stupid little things—how she loads the dishwasher, or if she’s late getting home, or if I’m grading papers too long at night. It’s constant. And it’s like… it’s like there’s something bigger underneath it, but I don’t know what it is.”

Her mom nodded slowly, taking in her words as she reached across the table to rest a hand on Alicent’s. “Maybe it’s just the adjustment,” she suggested. “A new job like that can be a lot of pressure, and you know how proud Rhaenyra is. She doesn’t like to let anyone see her struggle.”

“I’ve asked her,” Alicent said quickly, her voice growing more frantic. “I’ve asked her a million times if she’s okay, and she just brushes me off. She says she’s fine, that it’s just work, but then she’s distant, or she snaps at me over nothing, and I just… I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Her mom’s gaze softened, her thumb brushing lightly over Alicent’s hand. “Ali,” she said carefully, “maybe she doesn’t know how to talk about it. She’s always been the type to keep things bottled up.”

Alicent shook her head, her voice trembling. “But I feel like I’m failing her,” she said softly. “Like I’m not enough anymore. I love her so much, Mom, but I’m so tired. And my anxiety—it’s getting bad again. My panic attacks are starting to come back.”

Her mom’s face tightened with worry at those words, and her tone grew more serious. “Alicent,” she said gently, “you didn’t tell me that.”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Alicent muttered, looking down at her lap. Her hands trembled as she added, “I thought I could handle it. But I don’t know how to handle us anymore. I thought money was the problem, but now that it’s not… I don’t know what’s left.”

Her mom leaned back slightly, exhaling deeply as she processed her words. “I love Rhaenyra like my own,” she said after a moment, her voice steady but kind. “You know I do. But, honey… maybe you two need a break.”

Alicent’s head snapped up, her eyes wide. “What?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“I mean it,” her mom said firmly, though her expression remained gentle. “You’ve been together since you were kids, Ali. You’ve built your entire adult lives around each other. And that’s not a bad thing—it’s beautiful. But… maybe you’ve never had the space to figure out who you are without her.”

Tears welled in Alicent’s eyes, and she quickly looked away, her hands clenching in her lap. “I can’t take a break,” she said, her voice cracking. “What if we don’t come back from it?”

Her mom reached out again, brushing a strand of hair from Alicent’s face. “Sometimes a little distance helps you see things more clearly,” she said softly. “You’re suffocating, Ali. I can see it. And maybe Rhaenyra feels that too. A break doesn’t have to mean the end—it can mean figuring out how to love each other better.”

Alicent let out a shaky breath, her tears spilling over as she clutched her mom’s hand. She didn’t know how to respond, didn’t know how to face the possibility of stepping away from the person she’d loved since she was thirteen. All she knew was that she felt lost, and for the first time, she didn’t know how to find her way back.

///

The door clicked shut behind Rhaenyra, and Alicent looked up from the couch, her fingers poised at her lips as she chewed anxiously on her nails. Rhaenyra stepped inside, holding a wriggling bundle of fur in her arms—a tiny golden retriever puppy, its tail wagging furiously.

“Look what I got!” Rhaenyra said with a wide grin, the excitement in her voice undeniable. She set the puppy down gently, and it immediately began sniffing around the apartment, its little paws tapping against the floor.

Alicent blinked, her mouth opening slightly in shock. “Nyra,” she said slowly, her tone already edged with frustration. “How did you do this without asking me?”

Rhaenyra frowned, her smile faltering as she straightened up. “I mean… it was kind of spontaneous,” she admitted, scratching the back of her neck. “I saw her, and she was so cute, and I thought… I don’t know, we could use something happy around here.”

Alicent stood, her movements sharp as she crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “Who’s even going to take care of her, Rhaenyra?” she asked, her voice rising slightly. “We both work crazy hours. A puppy is a lot of work. And—and my mom is allergic. She won’t even be able to come over now. Did you think about that?”

Rhaenyra’s face fell further, her shoulders slumping. “No,” she said quietly, her voice subdued. “I didn’t think about that. I just… I thought it might help.”

Alicent didn’t respond immediately. She stood there, her chest rising and falling as her emotions bubbled beneath the surface. Then, without warning, her eyes welled up, and tears began streaming down her face.

“Ali,” Rhaenyra said softly, stepping closer, her concern evident. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Alicent muttered quickly, swiping at her cheeks as she turned away.

“Hey, Ali,” Rhaenyra said gently, reaching out but stopping short of touching her. “I can give her to Laena. She’s a huge dog lover. It’s fine. It’s not a big deal.”

“That’s not the point,” Alicent snapped, her voice breaking as she turned to face her. Her lips trembled, and she shook her head, her words catching in her throat. “It’s not about the dog.”

Rhaenyra froze, her eyes wide as she searched Alicent’s face. “Then what’s it about?” she asked quietly.

Alicent didn’t answer. She let out a shaky breath, wiping at her face again before turning and walking into the bedroom, closing the door softly but firmly behind her.

Rhaenyra stood there for a moment, her heart sinking as the puppy nuzzled at her ankle, oblivious to the tension in the room. She sighed, scooping the little dog up and pressing her face into its fur.

“I screwed up, didn’t I?” she murmured, her voice thick as she carried the puppy to the couch, unsure how to fix what felt increasingly unfixable.

///

The next morning, the apartment was quieter than usual. Alicent had left early for work, her absence palpable in the stillness. Rhaenyra sat at the kitchen table, nursing a cup of coffee, her head in her hands. She looked up as the door opened, and Laena strolled in, holding the squirming puppy in her arms.

“Well, well,” Laena said, her tone light but pointed as she walked over to Rhaenyra. “Look at this little cutie. What’s her name?”

“I don’t know,” Rhaenyra muttered, her voice flat. “We didn’t get that far.”

Laena raised an eyebrow, gently scratching the puppy behind the ears as it yawned. “Rhaenyra,” she said, her voice dripping with exasperation. “Do you realize this is the equivalent of someone getting knocked up to try and save a marriage?”

Rhaenyra’s head shot up, her eyes narrowing. “That’s not what this is,” she snapped, though her voice wavered slightly.

“Isn’t it?” Laena countered, sitting down across from her and placing the puppy on her lap. “You brought home a dog, completely out of the blue, without even asking Alicent. What did you think was going to happen? She’d see it and just melt into your arms like some sappy movie?”

“I thought…” Rhaenyra started, then stopped, running a hand through her hair as she let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t know what I thought, okay? I just wanted to make her happy.”

Laena’s expression softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. “I get it,” she said. “You love her, and you’re trying. But, Rhaenyra, a puppy isn’t going to fix what’s going on between you two. If anything, it’s just going to add more stress.”

Rhaenyra leaned back in her chair, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I don’t know how to fix it, Laena,” she admitted quietly. “I thought money was the problem, but now we’re not fighting about that anymore, and it’s like… we don’t know how to stop.”

Laena sighed, her hands gently stroking the puppy’s fur as she looked at her cousin. “It sounds like money was just a Band-Aid over something bigger,” she said softly. “You’ve been together for, what, ten years? That’s a long time, Rhae. It’s not surprising things are… complicated now.”

“I don’t want to lose her,” Rhaenyra said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Then stop trying to patch things with quick fixes,” Laena said firmly. “Talk to her. Really talk to her. Figure out what’s actually going on, and stop hiding behind stuff like this.” She gestured to the puppy, who wagged its tail happily, completely unaware of the gravity of the conversation.

Rhaenyra nodded slowly, her jaw tightening as she processed Laena’s words. “You’re right,” she said finally, her voice strained. “You’re right. I’ll talk to her tonight.”

“Good,” Laena said, standing up and cradling the puppy. “And in the meantime, I’ll take this little one off your hands. She’s adorable, but she’s not going to solve your problems.”

Rhaenyra managed a small, grateful smile as she watched Laena head toward the door. “Thanks, Laena.”

“Anytime,” Laena said with a wink. “And, Rhae? You’re not going to fix this overnight. Be patient—with her and with yourself.”

The door closed softly behind her, leaving Rhaenyra alone in the apartment once again. She stared at her coffee cup, the silence pressing in around her as she tried to figure out how to undo the mess she’d made.

///

Rhaenyra sat on the couch, her leg bouncing impatiently as the sun dipped lower outside the window. She had been waiting for hours, rehearsing the conversation in her head, trying to find the right words to say. The silence of the apartment felt oppressive, and she kept glancing at her phone, expecting to hear the familiar sound of Alicent’s keys in the door.

Instead, her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She snatched it up quickly, her stomach tightening when she saw Alicent’s name.

Alicent:Going to cocktails with Margaery and some of the teachers after work. Don’t wait up.

Rhaenyra stared at the screen, her chest tightening. She read the message twice, then a third time, her grip on the phone tightening. She felt a flicker of irritation, but it was quickly overshadowed by a deeper pang of something she couldn’t quite name. Disappointment? Maybe guilt?

She set the phone down with a sigh, leaning back against the couch and running a hand through her hair. The puppy was gone, safely at Laena’s now, and the apartment felt even emptier without its tiny, chaotic presence.

Rhaenyra couldn’t help but picture Alicent sitting at some trendy bar, laughing with Margaery and the other teachers, her smile bright and her cheeks flushed from a cocktail or two. The image should have made her happy, but instead, it gnawed at her.

Her fingers hovered over her phone, debating whether to respond. Part of her wanted to text back something snippy, some passive-aggressive remark that would make her feel better for a moment but wouldn’t solve anything. Instead, she tossed the phone onto the cushion beside her, exhaling heavily.

The conversation she’d been waiting to have would have to wait another day. But deep down, Rhaenyra wondered how many more days they could keep putting it off before it was too late.

///

The bar was bustling, filled with the chatter of teachers unwinding after a long day. Alicent sat at a small round table, nursing her second cocktail. Her cheeks were already flushed, but not just from the alcohol—talking about her relationship was dredging up emotions she wasn’t entirely prepared to confront.

“I don’t know,” Alicent admitted, swirling the ice in her glass with the straw. “It’s just been… so hard lately. We’re fighting all the time, and half the time, I don’t even know what we’re fighting about. It feels like we’re… splintering.”

Margaery, seated beside her, rested her chin on her hand, her gaze steady as she listened. “Relationships go through phases, Ali,” she said gently. “You’ve been together, what? Ten years now?”

“Almost eleven,” Alicent murmured, her lips pulling into a faint, bittersweet smile.

Margaery nodded, her tone calm but firm. “Exactly. That’s a long time, especially considering you’ve been together since you were kids. It’s not surprising you’re hitting some bumps now. But you’ve made it this far. That has to mean something.”

Another teacher, a younger woman named Camila, leaned forward with a grin. “Plus,” she said with a teasing lilt, “she’s hot. That’s gotta count for something, right?”

Alicent blinked, her face growing even redder as she let out an awkward laugh. “I mean, yeah, she is,” she muttered, fidgeting with her straw.

Margaery chuckled, raising her glass. “She’s not wrong, Ali,” she said with a playful smirk. “Rhaenyra is drop-dead gorgeous. If I were you, I’d stick it out just for that.”

Alicent rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. “You’re not helping,” she said, her tone exasperated but fond.

“I’m being serious!” Margaery teased, her grin widening. “She’s smart, she’s successful, and she’s gorgeous. That’s a hell of a package.”

Camila raised her glass in agreement. “Cheers to that,” she said with a laugh.

Alicent couldn’t help but laugh softly, the tension in her chest easing slightly at their playful banter. But as she took another sip of her drink, her thoughts drifted back to the apartment she shared with Rhaenyra. She wasn’t sure if being reminded of how amazing Rhaenyra was made her feel better or worse.

Margaery seemed to notice the shift in Alicent’s expression, and her tone softened. “Ali,” she said gently, resting a hand on her arm. “You’re allowed to be frustrated. And tired. And unsure. It doesn’t mean you don’t love her. It just means you’re human.”

Alicent nodded, her throat tightening as she blinked back tears. All she could think about was getting home to Rhaneyra. 

A few hours later, the apartment was dimly lit when Alicent unlocked the door and stepped inside. The familiar scent of home—Rhaenyra’s perfume lingering faintly in the air, the remnants of dinner still on the table—wrapped around her like a heavy weight. Her heels clicked softly on the floor as she glanced around, her eyes landing on the couch.

Rhaenyra was sprawled there, still in her work clothes, her head resting awkwardly on the armrest. She looked peaceful, her lips slightly parted, her hair a soft mess from where she’d run her fingers through it throughout the day.

Alicent sighed quietly, her chest tightening as she set down her bag. Her eyes drifted to the coffee table, cluttered with beer bottles and the remains of takeout containers. Without thinking, she began tidying up, stacking the bottles into her arms and clearing the mess. She put the leftovers in the fridge, washed a few stray dishes, and wiped down the counters, the repetitive motions momentarily soothing.

When the apartment was quiet again, she sat on the edge of the couch, her gaze softening as she looked at Rhaenyra. In sleep, she looked so unburdened—none of the stress or tension from their arguments lingered on her face. Alicent’s fingers brushed against Rhaenyra’s cheek, and her own eyes welled with tears.

The tears came faster, spilling down her cheeks as a familiar heat built in her chest and crept up her neck. Her head felt light, her body unsteady as the floor seemed to shift beneath her. She knew what was happening—it wasn’t new—but that didn’t make it any less overwhelming.

She slid off the couch, lowering herself to the floor carefully as she pressed her hands to the sides of her head. Her knees drew up, and she bent forward slightly, the flush spreading across her skin as she closed her eyes. Her breathing was shallow, but it wasn’t the lack of air that bothered her—it was the faint buzzing in her ears, the spinning sensation that threatened to tip her over.

The movement must have stirred Rhaenyra because a moment later, Alicent heard her voice, groggy and concerned. “Ali?” Rhaenyra mumbled, sitting up quickly when she saw Alicent on the floor. “Hey, hey, what’s going on?”

Alicent didn’t answer, her hands still pressed against her head as she focused on grounding herself. She wasn’t scared—she knew how this would pass—but her body still felt like it was betraying her.

Rhaenyra was beside her in an instant, kneeling on the floor and brushing Alicent’s hair back from her damp forehead. “Okay,” Rhaenyra said softly, her voice calm and steady. “It’s happening again. Just stay where you are, babe. I’ll take care of it.”

She got up quickly, heading to the freezer and grabbing a bag of ice. When she returned, she knelt beside Alicent and pressed the ice gently against the back of her neck. The cold was a shock, but it started to pull Alicent back, the flush on her skin easing slightly.

“Here,” Rhaenyra said, her tone still soft as she guided Alicent’s free hand to the ice bag. “Hold this in place. It’ll help.”

Alicent obeyed, her movements slow but deliberate as she pressed the ice against her neck. The coolness grounded her, the spinning in her head beginning to subside. She leaned her head back slightly, her eyes fluttering open to meet Rhaenyra’s worried gaze.

“You’re okay,” Rhaenyra murmured, reaching out to brush her thumb across Alicent’s cheek. “Just let it pass. I’m right here.”

Alicent nodded faintly, her chest rising and falling as she focused on the ice, on the solid presence of Rhaenyra beside her. The buzzing in her ears faded, and the room steadied again.

“I’m sorry,” Alicent whispered hoarsely, her voice shaky but calm now. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

Rhaenyra shook her head, leaning in to press a kiss to Alicent’s temple. “Don’t apologize,” she said softly. “You didn’t wake me. And even if you did, I’d want to be here.”

Alicent’s lips quirked into the faintest smile, her hand reaching out to grasp Rhaenyra’s. “Thank you,” she murmured.

“Always,” Rhaenyra said, her voice firm but gentle. She stayed there with Alicent, kneeling on the floor until the color fully returned to her cheeks and the tension in her shoulders eased. Only then did she help Alicent up, guiding her to the couch and wrapping her in a blanket.

///

The coffee shop was warm and bustling, the chatter of patrons and the hum of the espresso machine blending into a low, comforting noise. Alicent sat across from Laena at a small table by the window, her hands wrapped tightly around her latte as she stared down at the foam.

“I don’t know,” Alicent said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s been months, Laena. Months. We haven’t—” She cut herself off, glancing around nervously before leaning in closer. “We haven’t had sex in forever. And I don’t know what’s wrong.”

Laena sipped her coffee, her eyebrow arching slightly as she regarded Alicent. “Is it her?” she asked, her tone blunt but not unkind. “Or you?”

“I don’t know!” Alicent exclaimed softly, her hands tightening on her cup. “Maybe it’s me. Maybe she’s not attracted to me anymore. I mean, we go to that stupid Pilates class on Sundays, and there’s that instructor with the stupid perfect ass, and I know Rhaenyra stares at it. She tries to be subtle, but I see it.”

Laena snorted, nearly choking on her coffee as she set the cup down quickly. “Oh my gods, Alicent,” she said, laughing as she leaned back in her chair.

“What?” Alicent asked, her tone defensive as her cheeks flushed. “Why are you laughing?”

“Because,” Laena said, wiping a tear from the corner of her eye, “number one, why are you two going to Pilates classes together? Like, you’re already so far up each other’s asses. Maybe a little space would do you both some good.”

Alicent frowned, her brow furrowing. “What’s wrong with us doing Pilates together?”

Laena shook her head, a knowing smirk tugging at her lips. “Nothing,” she said lightly. “Except that you don’t give yourselves any breathing room. But that’s not even the point. Number two,” she continued, leaning forward slightly, “you took me to that class once, remember? And honestly… I’d probably stare at that instructor’s ass too, and I don’t even like women.”

Alicent blinked, her face turning an even deeper shade of red as she sputtered. “Laena!”

“What?” Laena said with a shrug, clearly enjoying herself. “I’m just saying, Ali, that doesn’t mean anything. Rhaenyra loves you. That much is obvious. You’re overthinking this.”

“I’m not overthinking it,” Alicent muttered, though her tone was defensive. “She doesn’t even look at me like that anymore. And I—I don’t know. It’s like we’re just… roommates now.”

Laena’s expression softened slightly, her teasing smile fading. “Ali,” she said gently, “have you talked to her about this?”

Alicent shook her head, staring down at her cup. “No,” she admitted quietly. “I’m scared of what she’ll say.”

“Well,” Laena said, her tone firm but kind, “you can’t keep letting this eat you alive. You’re over here spiraling while Rhaenyra’s probably clueless. Just talk to her. And maybe,” she added with a playful smirk, “pick a different workout class next time.”

Alicent let out a reluctant laugh, her lips curving into a small smile. “You’re annoying, you know that?”

“Yeah, but I’m right,” Laena shot back with a wink, raising her coffee cup in a mock toast. “Now go fix your relationship before I have to start charging you for therapy sessions.”

Alicent laughed softly, but the weight in her chest didn’t fully ease. She knew Laena was right—she needed to talk to Rhaenyra. The question was whether she had the courage to do it.

///

Alicent stepped into the apartment, the door clicking softly behind her. It was still the same day, her coffee with Laena fresh in her mind, the words of advice swirling in her head. She spotted Rhaenyra on the couch, completely immersed in her video game. Her silver hair was slightly messy, her legs tucked up under her, and her tongue poked out just a little as she concentrated.

It was… adorable, and Alicent felt a pang in her chest as she watched her. She set her bag down quietly, smoothing her hands over her sweater. Something inside her shifted—Laena’s words urging her forward—and she stepped into Rhaenyra’s line of sight, standing directly in front of the TV.

“Babe, the game,” Rhaenyra said, her voice distracted as her thumbs worked furiously at the controller, her eyes darting around the screen. “Move, I’m about to—”

“Do you want to play the game,” Alicent said boldly, her voice steady but with an edge of nerves, “or do you want to play with me?”

Rhaenyra froze mid-sentence, her fingers halting as her eyes snapped up to Alicent. Her mouth fell open slightly, her expression one of pure shock. “Huh?” she managed, the game momentarily forgotten as her brain struggled to catch up.

“You heard me,” Alicent said firmly, her gaze locked on Rhaenyra’s, her hands resting on her hips. “Pick one.”

Rhaenyra blinked, her grip on the controller slackening. “What—are you serious right now?”

“Completely,” Alicent replied, holding her ground, though the faint blush creeping up her neck betrayed her nerves. She raised an eyebrow, daring Rhaenyra to respond.

It took only a split second for Rhaenyra to react. She set the controller down on the table, a playful grin spreading across her face as she launched off the couch. “You,” she said, her voice low and teasing as she tackled Alicent onto the cushions.

Alicent let out a squeal of laughter as they tumbled onto the couch, Rhaenyra’s arms wrapping around her as she pinned her playfully against the cushions. “Definitely you,” Rhaenyra murmured, leaning down to press a quick, warm kiss to Alicent’s lips.

Alicent giggled, her hands resting on Rhaenyra’s shoulders. “You didn’t even hesitate,” she teased.

“Because I’m not an idiot,” Rhaenyra said, her tone mock-serious as she nuzzled Alicent’s neck. “And, well, you were standing there looking all bossy and hot. How could I resist?”

And despite everything, it was always be true that Rhaenyra could never resist Alicent. 

///

The days blurred together in a haze of tangled sheets and stolen moments. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but somewhere along the way, Alicent and Rhaenyra had stopped talking—really talking. Instead, they were constantly touching, kissing, pulling each other into bed, onto the couch, into the shower. It was as if they were trying to solve everything with their bodies instead of their words.

Alicent had always been meticulous about her routine—her meals, her workouts, her self-care—but lately, she barely had the energy for any of it. Every night, without fail, Rhaenyra would come home, and within minutes, they’d be on each other. And it wasn’t soft, sweet lovemaking; it was intense, consuming, and relentless.

Her clothes had started to fit differently. She noticed it when she pulled on her favorite pair of jeans and they hung a little looser on her hips. The scale confirmed it—ten pounds gone, not from dieting or working out, but from the sheer physicality of her and Rhaenyra’s newfound… rhythm. She joked to herself that it was the most unconventional exercise routine she’d ever been on.

But even as her body hummed with satisfaction, her mind remained restless. When she sat alone at work, grading papers or prepping lessons, she found herself biting her nails again. Her anxiety still lingered, quieter now but ever-present, like a shadow she couldn’t shake.

Rhaenyra seemed to thrive in this unspoken truce. She was more relaxed, more affectionate, always eager to pull Alicent into her lap or press her against the nearest surface. And Alicent let her. It was easier than talking. It felt good—great, even—but it wasn’t enough.

One night, as they lay in bed, Alicent stared at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. Rhaenyra was already half-asleep beside her, her arm draped over Alicent’s waist. The room was silent except for the sound of their breathing, and for the first time in weeks, Alicent felt the weight of everything settle heavily on her chest.

She turned her head to look at Rhaenyra, her heart aching as she took in her peaceful face. She loved her more than anything, but deep down, she knew this wasn’t sustainable. They couldn’t keep avoiding the cracks in their foundation with sex, no matter how good it felt in the moment.

But for now, she let it go. She pressed a soft kiss to Rhaenyra’s forehead, whispering, “I love you,” even though she wasn’t sure Rhaenyra could hear her. Then she closed her eyes, letting the quiet of the night envelop her, knowing the conversation she dreaded would have to happen eventually.

///

Alicent leaned against the bar, chatting with Margaery and Laenor, who was in the middle of recounting a dramatic retelling of his latest date night with Joffrey. Alicent smiled politely, her focus flickering between him and the drink in her hand.

Across the room, Rhaenyra was standing with Criston and Laena, pretending to be engrossed in the conversation. But her gaze kept drifting over to Alicent. The soft, golden light of the bar hit her just right, highlighting the curve of her neck as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She looked incredible—her fitted black dress accentuating her figure, her cheeks slightly flushed from the warmth of the room.

Rhaenyra’s lips quirked into a smirk as she pulled her phone from her pocket, her fingers flying over the keyboard.

Rhaenyra:Meet me in the bathroom in five. Don’t keep me waiting.

She hit send and tucked her phone away, her heart pounding with anticipation as she sipped her beer. She watched from the corner of her eye as Alicent’s phone buzzed on the bar. Alicent picked it up, glancing at the screen, her expression shifting from curiosity to surprise before a faint blush crept up her cheeks.

She glanced up, her eyes searching the room until they landed on Rhaenyra. Rhaenyra raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening as she tilted her head subtly toward the hallway leading to the bathrooms.

Alicent hesitated for a moment, her lips parting slightly as if she were about to say something to Laenor. But instead, she set her drink down, smoothing her dress as she turned toward the hallway, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

Rhaenyra watched her go, waiting just long enough to not make it obvious before excusing herself from Criston and Joffrey. She made her way to the back of the bar, her pulse quickening as she approached the door to the single-stall bathroom. It was already slightly ajar, and when she stepped inside, she found Alicent waiting, her arms crossed and a faux-annoyed expression on her face.

“You’re insufferable,” Alicent said quietly, though the slight curve of her lips betrayed her amusement. “We’re out with our friends.”

“And yet,” Rhaenyra murmured, closing the door behind her and locking it with a soft click, “you’re here.”

Alicent rolled her eyes, but before she could retort, Rhaenyra stepped closer, her hands resting on Alicent’s hips. “You look incredible tonight, Ali,” she said softly, her voice low and husky. “I couldn’t keep my eyes off you.”

Alicent’s breath hitched, her resolve wavering as Rhaenyra leaned in, brushing their noses together before capturing her lips in a heated kiss. The bar, their friends, the noise—all of it faded away as Alicent melted into her, her fingers gripping the front of Rhaenyra’s shirt.

The moment their lips parted, Rhaenyra’s smirk turned wicked. Without a word, she spun Alicent around, her hands firm but gentle on Alicent’s waist. Alicent gasped softly, her palms pressing against the cool tile wall of the bathroom as her heart raced.

“Rhaenyra,” she whispered, her voice shaky but tinged with excitement. “We’re in a bar.”

“Exactly,” Rhaenyra murmured, her lips brushing against Alicent’s ear as her hands slid up her thighs, lifting the hem of Alicent’s skirt. “Better keep quiet then, huh?”

Alicent shivered at the words, her knees going weak as Rhaenyra’s touch grew more deliberate. Her breath hitched, and she bit her lip, trying to keep herself steady against the wall. The sound of her own pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the distant noise of the bar beyond the locked door.

Rhaenyra pressed closer, her breath hot against Alicent’s neck as her hand slid between them. Alicent let out a shaky gasp, her head tipping back slightly as her fingers curled against the tile.

“Gods, Ali,” Rhaenyra whispered, her voice thick with want. “You’re always so ready for me.”

Alicent’s cheeks flushed, and she opened her mouth to respond, but her words dissolved into a soft moan as Rhaenyra’s movements became more purposeful. She pressed her forehead against the wall, her breath coming in quick, shallow bursts as her body responded to every touch, every whispered word.

The faint sound of someone laughing outside the door brought her back to reality, and she clamped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide. “Rhaenyra,” she whispered urgently, her voice muffled against her hand. “Someone will hear.”

“Let them,” Rhaenyra murmured against her skin, her tone teasing but her actions anything but. “You’re mine, Ali. All mine.”

Alicent’s legs trembled, her body betraying her as she leaned back into Rhaenyra’s touch. The mixture of nerves and desire left her dizzy, her mind swimming as she gave in completely. It didn’t matter that they were in a bar, didn’t matter that someone might overhear—nothing mattered except the way Rhaenyra made her feel.

When the tension finally snapped, Alicent buried her face in her arm, muffling the sound that escaped her lips. Rhaenyra stilled for a moment, letting Alicent ride out the waves before pressing a kiss to the back of her neck.

“You’re incredible,” Rhaenyra whispered softly, her hands smoothing Alicent’s skirt back down as she turned her around, cradling Alicent’s flushed face in her hands. “Absolutely incredible.”

Rhaenyra let out a shaky breath, resting her forehead against Alicent’s for a moment before pulling back slightly. She pressed a soft kiss to the corner of Alicent’s mouth before stepping away, her hands deftly adjusting her pants, tucking herself back in and buttoning up. Alicent stood there, leaning slightly against the wall, her knees a little weak and her chest still rising and falling unevenly.

“Alright, love,” Rhaenyra murmured, a playful smirk on her face as she crouched slightly to tug Alicent’s panties back up, her hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her. 

“I think I broke you this time,” Rhaenyra teased gently, smoothing Alicent’s skirt back down and making sure everything was in place. She turned Alicent around briefly, her hands brushing over her hips to straighten out any creases. “There. Perfect. As always.”

Alicent let out a small, breathy laugh, still catching her bearings as Rhaenyra took her hand and led her out of the stall. The mirror above the sink reflected their slightly disheveled states—Rhaenyra’s hair was messier than usual, and Alicent’s cheeks were still glowing with that telltale flush.

Rhaenyra turned the faucet on, grabbing a paper towel to wet it and gently wiping Alicent’s neck where her hair had stuck slightly. Alicent let her, her eyes half-lidded as she leaned against the counter, still too dazed to protest.

Just as Rhaenyra was about to toss the paper towel in the trash, the bathroom door creaked open, and in sauntered Daemon. He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. His nose scrunched almost immediately, and he waved a hand in front of his face dramatically.

Before Alicent could respond, the bathroom door swung open, and Daemon’s unmistakable voice filled the small space. “Gods above, seriously?” he groaned, waving a hand in front of his face dramatically. “The whole hallway reeks of alpha-omega pheromones, and now the bathroom too? You two couldn’t wait until you got back to your mutual little love nest?”

Alicent’s eyes widened, her face turning an even deeper shade of crimson as she quickly buried her face in Rhaenyra’s shoulder. “Oh my gods,” she muttered, her voice muffled.

Rhaenyra, on the other hand, didn’t miss a beat. She smirked at Daemon, crossing her arms as she leaned casually against the sink. “You’re welcome to use another bathroom,” she quipped. “Plenty of stalls in this place.”

Alicent peeked out from Rhaenyra’s shoulder, still mortified but managing a small glare at Daemon. “Don’t tell anyone,” she muttered.

Daemon smirked, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Your secret’s safe with me,” he said. “But at this rate, the whole bar knows.”

Rhaenyra laughed, shaking her head as she led Alicent out of the bathroom, her arm slipping protectively around her waist. As they rejoined their friends, Rhaenyra leaned down to murmur in Alicent’s ear, “He’s just mad he doesn’t have anyone to stink up a bathroom with.”

Alicent groaned softly, hiding her face in her hands as Rhaenyra pressed a quick kiss to her temple, her laughter echoing over the noise of the bar.

///

The fight exploded out of nowhere, a ticking time bomb that finally detonated after months of building tension. It wasn’t about dishes or cleaning or any of the small things that usually set them off—it was everything, years of resentment and frustration spilling out all at once.

“You’re suffocating me!” Rhaenyra yelled, pacing the living room with her hands in her hair. Her voice cracked, not from volume, but from the sheer weight of the truth in her words. “I can’t breathe anymore, Alicent. Every day it’s something. You’re always on me about every little thing, and I just—I can’t.”

Alicent stood near the kitchen table, her arms crossed tightly over her chest like she was trying to hold herself together. Her cheeks were flushed, her breath uneven as she shot back, “You think I’m not suffocating too? Rhaenyra, you’re the one who’s always in my space, always asking for my attention, always needing me to fix everything for you. It’s exhausting!”

Rhaenyra scoffed, throwing her hands up. “Oh, here we go again. I’m the needy one? You’re the one who has to have everything perfect all the time, who can’t just let things be.”

“I have to have things perfect because you won’t lift a finger unless I ask you to!” Alicent snapped, her voice trembling. “I have to manage everything because if I don’t, nothing gets done.”

“That’s bullshit!” Rhaenyra shouted. “I’ve been doing everything I can to keep us afloat, but it’s never enough for you. You’re never satisfied!”

Alicent let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Oh, I’m sorry, Rhaenyra. Am I not grateful enough for you doing the bare fucking minimum?”

“Bare minimum?” Rhaenyra repeated incredulously, stepping closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous tone. “We’ve been together for almost 11 years, Alicent. Eleven fucking years. Do you have any idea what that means? We’ve never been apart. Not once.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Alicent said quietly, her voice trembling but laced with disbelief. She blinked rapidly, willing the tears away as her chest tightened.

“Maybe it is,” Rhaenyra said, the words slipping out before she could stop them. The silence that followed was deafening.

Alicent’s head snapped back slightly, like she’d been physically struck. Her lips parted, but no words came out, and for a moment, she just stared at Rhaenyra, her heart shattering in slow motion. Finally, she turned her head away, pressing the back of her hand to her face to wipe away the tears before Rhaenyra could see them.

When she spoke again, her voice was quiet but firm, like the last breath of a storm. “Rhaenyra, I’m done.”

Rhaenyra froze, her face falling as her voice softened, panicked. “What?”

“I’m done,” Alicent repeated, turning to face her, her arms dropping limply to her sides. Her shoulders slumped, the weight of her words visibly crushing her. “We need to break up.”

“Alicent,” Rhaenyra said quickly, stepping closer, her hands outstretched. “No, you don’t mean that. Please, don’t say that.”

“I do,” Alicent said, her voice breaking as her tears spilled freely now. “Rhaenyra, my panic attacks are back. They haven’t been this bad since I was 19 years old. I feel like I can’t breathe anymore, like I’m drowning every single day. We fight constantly. I’ve never been this stressed in my life.”

Rhaenyra’s hands dropped to her sides, her expression crumbling. “Ali, we can fix it. We can figure it out.”

“I thought it was worth it,” Alicent continued, shaking her head as she looked down at her feet. “I thought every fight, every moment of stress was worth it because I was fighting for us. For what we had. But it doesn’t feel like you even think we’re worth it anymore.”

“That’s so unfair,” Rhaenyra said desperately, her voice cracking. “I love you, Alicent. I’ve always loved you.”

Alicent finally looked up, her red-rimmed eyes meeting Rhaenyra’s. “I love you too,” she said softly. “But it’s not enough anymore.”

Rhaenyra took a step back, her hands trembling as she tried to process what was happening. “You’re really doing this?” she whispered, her voice hollow. “After everything, you’re just… giving up?”

“I’m not giving up,” Alicent said, her voice firm now. “I’m choosing myself. For once in my life, I’m choosing what’s best for me.”

The silence that followed was unbearable, and neither of them knew how to fill it. Alicent didn’t wait for Rhaenyra to respond. She turned and walked toward the bedroom, leaving Rhaenyra standing alone in the middle of the living room, the weight of her own words crashing down around her.

///

Two months after the breakup, Rhaenyra Targaryen was a complete and utter disaster. It wasn’t just a bad few weeks—it was the worst spiral of her life. Everything about her felt broken, like the thread holding her together had finally snapped.

After Alicent left, the silence in their shared apartment became unbearable. Rhaenyra couldn’t sit in the living room without remembering the way Alicent would sit at the table grading papers, her lip caught between her teeth in concentration. She couldn’t sleep in their bed without feeling the ghost of Alicent’s warmth beside her. Every corner of her life felt hollow, a constant reminder of the love she’d lost—and the mess she’d made of it.

At first, she threw herself into distractions, mostly drinking. She started going out every night, dragging Laena or Daemon or whoever was willing into her chaos. What started as casual nights at the bar quickly devolved into full-on benders. There were nights Laena had to physically pick her up off the floor of a dingy pub, practically carrying her to the car. She’d drag Rhaenyra back to her place, tuck her into bed, and listen as her cousin drunkenly sobbed about how much she missed Alicent.

The drinking wasn’t the only issue. Rhaenyra began missing work, her once impressive streak as a top salesperson faltering. At first, her boss gave her the benefit of the doubt, citing her previous record. But as the absences piled up, the warnings became official. By the time she was put on disciplinary review, Rhaenyra was too lost in her own misery to care.

Her father, Viserys, had to step in. When Rhaenyra ignored his calls, he flew back from Europe, where he’d been overseeing a new expansion of the family company. The confrontation had been brutal. He found Rhaenyra in her apartment, hungover and sprawled on the couch surrounded by takeout containers and empty beer bottles. He didn’t yell—Viserys was never the yelling type—but his disappointment hit her harder than any raised voice ever could.

“You’ve got to stop,” Viserys said, his tone firm but pained. “This isn’t you, Rhaenyra. You’re throwing away everything you’ve worked for. Your job, your life… Alicent wouldn’t want this for you.”

Hearing Alicent’s name made Rhaenyra shut down completely. She didn’t respond, didn’t argue, just stared blankly at the coffee table as her father continued. By the end of the conversation, he had booked her a week-long retreat at a wellness center in Vermont. “You’re going,” he’d said, his voice leaving no room for debate.

The retreat had helped, if only marginally. Rhaenyra sobered up during that week, spending her days hiking and journaling and attending mandatory therapy sessions. But the moment she returned, the weight of the breakup hit her all over again.

Now, two more months following this, she was still a wreck, albeit a slightly more functional one. She’d cut back on the drinking—no more nightly benders—but she wasn’t anywhere close to okay. Her job was still hanging by a thread, her friendships strained from her emotional volatility, and her apartment still felt like a mausoleum of her relationship with Alicent.

Since the breakup, Rhaenyra and Alicent had only seen each other a handful of times, and even those brief interactions had been fraught with tension. The first time was at a large birthday party for Joffrey at a crowded bar, a week after their split. Rhaenyra had avoided Alicent like the plague, staying on the opposite side of the room and keeping her eyes glued to her drink, even as she caught glimpses of her ex smiling softly at Laena’s jokes.

It was a pattern that repeated two more times—large gatherings where they could easily avoid one another. The group was careful to keep them separated, each friend subtly aware of how delicate the situation still was. Laena, especially, had taken great care to never let the two linger in the same conversation for too long. For the most part, they barely exchanged words, a quiet nod here, an awkward smile there, but nothing more.

Despite these occasional run-ins, Rhaenyra had made one thing explicitly clear to their friends: they were never, under any circumstances, to tell Alicent about how badly she’d fallen apart in the first two months after the breakup. She didn’t want Alicent to know about the nights Laena had dragged her drunk and sobbing out of bars or the disciplinary notice at work, or the fact that her father had flown across the ocean to stage an intervention.

“She’d come running back if she knew,” Rhaenyra had admitted to Laena one night, her voice hoarse and her eyes bloodshot from crying. “And I can’t… I can’t let her do that. She deserves better than to be my fucking crutch.”

Laena had promised, as had the rest of the group, though it pained her to keep it from Alicent, especially when Alicent asked casually how Rhaenyra was doing. “She’s hanging in there,” Laena would say vaguely, changing the subject before Alicent could press further.

For her part, Alicent was grateful for the distance. The breakup had gutted her, but she wasn’t falling apart the way Rhaenyra had. Instead, she buried herself in her work, staying late at school, volunteering for extra duties, and spending time with her friends to keep herself distracted. She saw Laena often, meeting up for coffee or lunch, but she had avoided smaller gatherings where Rhaenyra would undoubtedly be present. The thought of being in such close proximity to her, where there was no room to blend into the crowd, felt unbearable.

When Laena had invited her to this birthday dinner, Alicent had hesitated before finally declining. “I’ll celebrate with you another day,” she’d said softly, offering a small smile. Laena had understood, of course, but it didn’t make it any easier.

Now, as Rhaenyra stood at the bar during Laena’s birthday, she couldn’t help but think of Alicent. She knew her absence was deliberate, and the knowledge stung more than she wanted to admit. The thought that Alicent didn’t even want to risk seeing her in such a small setting cut deeper than she expected.

The drinks didn’t help. Rhaenyra was already three whiskeys in, and her tongue had loosened, her words spilling out to Margaery as they stood at the bar. “She’s avoiding me, you know,” Rhaenyra muttered, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. “Can’t even stand to be in the same room as me.”

“Maybe she’s just giving you space,” Margaery suggested carefully, sipping her wine.

Rhaenyra laughed bitterly, shaking her head as she stared into her glass. “Space? We’ve had space. Months of it. And all it’s done is make me feel like I’m dying a little more every day.” She paused, glancing at Margaery, her eyes glassy with the weight of her emotions.

Margaery studied her for a moment, her expression softening but not pitying. “Alright,” she said finally, setting her wine glass down firmly on the bar. “No more pity party, Rhaenyra. Tonight’s not about that. It’s Laena’s birthday, and you could use a little fun. Let’s try to brighten your spirits, okay?”

Her tone was light, but the sincerity was there. She placed a comforting hand on Rhaenyra’s arm—a brief, harmless gesture—and offered her a small, encouraging smile.

Rhaenyra blinked, startled out of her spiral. She nodded slowly, her lips twitching into the faintest of smiles. “Okay,” she murmured, her voice hoarse but less weighed down. “Brighten my spirits, huh? What do you suggest?”

Margaery grinned and flagged down the bartender. “Two shots of tequila. None of that top-shelf nonsense—just the good old-fashioned stuff.”

Rhaenyra chuckled despite herself, her shoulders relaxing as the bartender placed two shot glasses in front of them. Margaery handed her one and raised her own. “To better nights,” she said simply.

Rhaenyra clinked her glass against Margaery’s, her voice steady as she repeated, “To better nights.”

///

Rhaenyra barely registered how she ended up here, her back slamming into the wall of Laena’s bedroom with a dull thud. Her breath hitched as Margaery’s lips crashed against hers, hot and unrelenting. Her hands tangled in Margaery’s hair, and the faint, distant noise of the party outside the door was drowned out by the pounding of her heart and the blood rushing in her ears.

It had all happened so fast. One moment, she was standing at the bar, laughing too hard at one of Margaery’s sharp-witted quips as the tequila burned warm in her veins. The next, Laena’s dance crew had burst through the doors, turning the intimate gathering into a full-on rager. The music had gotten louder, the shots kept flowing, and somewhere in the chaos, Rhaenyra had lost track of everything else—except for Margaery.

Now, Margaery’s hands gripped her hips firmly, their bodies pressing together as Rhaenyra deepened the kiss, her head tilting to let their mouths meet with even more intensity. Her fingers found the fabric of Margaery’s blouse, clutching at it as if it was the only thing grounding her. Every kiss, every touch, felt like a spark igniting something she couldn’t quite name—something dangerous, electric, and entirely impulsive.

Margaery pulled back slightly, her breath warm against Rhaenyra’s cheek as her fingers slid along the waistband of her jeans. “You good?” she murmured, her voice low and husky.

Rhaenyra nodded quickly, her lips chasing Margaery’s again before she could think too hard about the answer. “Yeah,” she breathed, her voice barely audible. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Rhaenyra didn’t waste any time. Her hands gripped Margaery’s thighs with a force that made the other woman gasp, and with a swift motion, she hoisted her up and practically threw her onto the bed. The springs creaked loudly as Margaery landed, and Rhaenyra was on her immediately, straddling her and pressing her back into the mattress.

Margaery started to say something—some flirty quip, no doubt—but Rhaenyra cut her off, her voice low and rough. “Is it okay if we don’t talk?”

Margaery blinked, surprised, but quickly nodded. “Sure,” she murmured, her breath hitching as Rhaenyra’s hands trailed up her sides.

That was all the permission Rhaenyra needed. Her fingers found the zipper of Margaery’s dress, yanking it down with no patience or finesse. The fabric pooled around Margaery’s waist, leaving her in nothing but her bra and panties, her skin flushed and warm under Rhaenyra’s touch. Rhaenyra didn’t pause to admire her; instead, she pressed her lips to Margaery’s collarbone, her kisses rough and insistent as her hands roamed over every inch of exposed skin.

The room was filled with the sounds of heavy breathing and the rustling of fabric as Rhaenyra pushed the dress fully off Margaery’s body. Her own arousal was a sharp, almost unbearable ache, heightened by the fact that it had been so long since she’d done this. Her last rut, just a week ago, had been pure agony—her first without Alicent in years. The memory of it made her move faster, more desperate, as if trying to drown out the thought.

Margaery let out a soft moan as Rhaenyra’s lips moved lower, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly. Rhaenyra didn’t stop, didn’t slow down, even as her own mind started to wander. Alicent’s name echoed in the back of her head, uninvited and unwelcome, and she clenched her jaw against the wave of sadness that threatened to surface.

But then Margaery’s hands found the button of Rhaenyra’s jeans, fumbling briefly before slipping them open. Rhaenyra’s breath caught as Margaery’s hand slid inside, her touch sending a jolt of pleasure through her body. The sadness receded, replaced by a raw, primal need that made her hips buck against Margaery’s hand.

Margaery smirked, her fingers moving with practiced confidence as she tilted her head up to kiss Rhaenyra’s neck. The sound Rhaenyra made was almost guttural, a deep, unrestrained noise that seemed to surprise even herself. She braced one hand on the headboard, the other gripping Margaery’s hip as her body moved on instinct, chasing the release she so desperately needed.

The bed creaked beneath them, the room filled with the sounds of their bodies moving together, of Rhaenyra’s ragged breathing and the quiet, wet noises of Margaery’s hand working her over. It was intense, almost overwhelming, and for a moment, Rhaenyra let herself get lost in it, in the heat and the friction and the fleeting escape it provided.

Rhaenyra kicked off her jeans in one swift motion, the fabric landing in a heap on the floor. She paused just long enough to grab Margaery’s wrist, her grip firm but not rough. Her voice was low and commanding, filled with a mix of urgency and arousal. “Take the rest off.”

Margaery didn’t hesitate. She reached behind her to unclip her bra, letting it fall away before sliding her panties down her legs and kicking them aside. The sight of her fully naked beneath her sent a rush of heat through Rhaenyra’s body, and she wasted no time climbing back onto the bed, her hands gripping Margaery’s thighs to pull her closer.

The mattress shifted under their weight as Rhaenyra settled between Margaery’s legs, her body pressing down against hers with unrelenting intensity. Their lips met again in a heated kiss, all teeth and tongues, as Rhaenyra’s hand slid between them, finding her mark with practiced precision.

Margaery let out a soft gasp, her fingers gripping Rhaenyra’s shoulders tightly. “Let me help,” she murmured, her voice breathless but steady. She reached down, her hand wrapping around Rhaenyra to guide her inside.

Rhaenyra’s breath caught as she slid in, the sensation hot and tight and overwhelming. For a moment, she froze, her forehead pressing against Margaery’s as she steadied herself. The rush of pleasure was almost too much, her body hypersensitive after weeks of tension and frustration.

Margaery shifted beneath her, her hands smoothing over Rhaenyra’s back in a way that was both grounding and encouraging. “Go ahead,” she whispered, her tone soft but insistent.

That was all Rhaenyra needed. She moved, her hips snapping forward with a force that made Margaery cry out. The sounds filled the room—moans, the creak of the bed, the wet slap of their bodies meeting again and again. It was fast and rough and messy, no buildup or finesse, just raw need driving them both.

Rhaenyra’s hands gripped Margaery’s hips tightly, her movements relentless as she chased the high she’d been denying herself for too long. 

Rhaenyra’s rhythm faltered for a split second, her breath catching as the name nearly slipped from her lips. Alicent. The syllables hung in her throat, choking her as her body tensed. She bit down on her lower lip hard enough to sting, her hands tightening on Margaery’s hips as if holding on tighter would keep her from falling apart.

She didn’t say it. She wouldn’t. Instead, she leaned forward, burying her face against Margaery’s neck as a sharp growl escaped her. Her hips moved faster, harder, the desperation in every thrust palpable. The sound of their bodies meeting filled the room, loud and relentless, but in her mind, all she could hear was Alicent’s laugh, see Alicent’s face, feel Alicent’s touch.

It was unbearable. The heat in her body was electric, overwhelming, but every flash of pleasure was tinged with something bitter—something she couldn’t name but felt deep in her chest. She rutted harder, her movements almost punishing as if she could drive the memories out of her head through sheer force.

Margaery let out a loud, breathless moan beneath her, her nails digging into Rhaenyra’s shoulders. “Gods, Rhaenyra,” she gasped, her voice trembling with pleasure. But it wasn’t enough to drown out the chaos in Rhaenyra’s head.

The ache in her chest grew sharper, twisting with every thrust. It wasn’t just arousal; it was rage—rage at herself, at Alicent, at the years they’d spent together only to fall apart. Rage at the fact that even now, in this moment, with someone else beneath her, it was still Alicent consuming her thoughts.

Her jaw clenched, her body tightening as the pressure built to an unbearable peak. She focused on the sensations, the heat, the friction, the moans filling the air. She couldn’t think about Alicent anymore. She wouldn’t let herself.

Rhaenyra’s chest heaved as she tried to steady herself, her hands still gripping Margaery’s hips tightly. The woman beneath her kept moving, her breath hot against Rhaenyra’s neck as she whispered, “Gods, you feel so good, so fucking perfect.”

The words were meant to spur her on, to heighten the moment, but for Rhaenyra, they only twisted the knife already lodged deep in her chest. Every syllable brought her back to Alicent—her voice, her touch, her laugh. The weight of it was suffocating.

Margaery’s lips brushed against her ear, her voice low and sultry. “You’re amazing, Rhaenyra. So good—”

“Let’s switch,” Rhaenyra interrupted abruptly, her voice strained.

Margaery paused, confused. “Switch?”

“Yeah,” Rhaenyra said quickly, pulling back just enough to meet Margaery’s gaze. “You on top. Let’s switch positions.”

Margaery hesitated for a moment, but then nodded, her lips curling into a playful smirk. “Alright,” she said softly, shifting beneath Rhaenyra to roll them over.

Rhaenyra sank back onto the mattress, exhaling deeply as Margaery straddled her. Her hands found Margaery’s hips again, holding her steady as the other woman started to move. She closed her eyes, her head tilting back as she tried to focus on the physical sensations instead of the chaos in her mind.

Without Margaery whispering in her ear, it was easier to detach, to let the rhythmic motion and the heat between their bodies take over. But no matter how hard she tried to lose herself in the moment, the ghost of Alicent lingered—her voice, her scent, her touch.

Rhaenyra clenched her jaw, her hands tightening on Margaery’s hips as her frustration grew. This wasn’t working. It wasn’t enough. No matter how hard she tried to escape, Alicent was always there, just out of reach, a constant reminder of what she’d lost.

Margaery leaned down, her hands braced on either side of Rhaenyra’s head as she picked up the pace, her movements deliberate and controlled. Rhaenyra kept her eyes closed, biting her lip to stifle the sound threatening to escape. She needed to finish. She needed this to be over.

But even as her body responded, her mind was elsewhere, tangled in memories and emotions she couldn’t shake. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t pretend that it wasn’t Alicent she truly wanted.

She avoided looking at Margaery’s face for too long, instead lowering her eyes to where their bodies connected. The steady movement, the slick slide of skin against skin—it was something tangible, something real. She zeroed in on it, letting the rhythm drown out the noise in her head.

Margaery moaned softly above her, her hands pressing against Rhaenyra’s stomach for balance as she moved faster. 

Rhaenyra’s eyes shifted, dragging her focus higher. Her gaze landed on Margaery’s breasts bouncing up and down, the soft rise and fall with each breath, the way her skin flushed pink from the exertion. The motion was mesmerizing, almost hypnotic, and it gave her something to latch onto.

She followed the curve of Margaery’s body with her eyes, letting them drift lower, down her stomach, until they reached where their bodies met. That was where she stayed—fixated on the slick, rhythmic connection between them.

The sight alone sent a wave of heat through her, grounding her in the present. It was something tangible, something raw and physical that kept her from slipping too far into her own thoughts. Her hands gripped Margaery’s hips tighter, guiding her, her breathing growing heavier as she focused on the steady, grinding motion.

The tension in her body coiled tighter, sharper, each movement driving her closer to the edge. She bit her lip, her eyes glued to the point where they moved together, her mind emptying of everything else but the growing need to finish.

Rhaenyra’s eyes stayed fixed on the motion, her jaw clenched as she pushed herself over the edge.Her climax hit suddenly, a sharp, overwhelming release that left her trembling. Her head tilted back against the pillow, her eyes shutting tight as she let the sensation wash over her. It  was relief, fleeting but undeniable, and for a moment, the chaos in her mind quieted.

Margaery slowed her movements, her breathing just as ragged as Rhaenyra’s. She leaned forward slightly, brushing her fingers along Rhaenyra’s arm, but Rhaenyra barely noticed. Her eyes remained closed, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady herself.

Margaery slid off Rhaenyra, her movements slow and hesitant as she reached for her discarded dress on the floor. She sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the fabric over her shoulders, her expression a mix of regret and disbelief. After a moment, she ran a hand through her hair and muttered, almost to herself, “Gods, I don’t know why we just did that.”

Rhaenyra lay on her back, her arm draped over her forehead as she let out a long, exhausted sigh. “Fuck,” she murmured, her voice heavy with her own regret.

The room was unbearably quiet, save for their ragged breathing and the faint thrum of music from the party outside. Rhaenyra turned her head slightly, glancing at Margaery, who was now fully dressed but looked as shaken as she felt.

“It was a mistake,” Margaery said softly, her voice barely audible.

Rhaenyra let out a bitter laugh, covering her eyes with her hand. “No shit,” she muttered. “A big fucking mistake.”

Margaery shifted uncomfortably, her hands smoothing down her dress as she avoided Rhaenyra’s gaze. “I don’t… I don’t even know what to say,” she admitted quietly. “Alicent is my friend… a good friend at that. And I mean, you’re my friend too, Rhaenyra, but I—”

“Margaery, I know,” Rhaenyra cut in, her voice strained but firm. She sat up straighter, running a hand through her disheveled hair as she looked at Margaery for the first time since she’d spoken. “Okay? I know. This was really messed up of us. We both know that. We don’t have to talk about it again.”

Margaery hesitated, her expression torn as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “I just…”

“Margaery,” Rhaenyra interrupted again, her tone softening slightly. “Please. Just… go back to the party, okay? Let’s pretend this didn’t happen.”

Margaery stared at her for a moment longer, uncertainty etched into her features. But eventually, she nodded, turning toward the door with a quiet, “Okay.”

Rhaenyra watched her leave, the door clicking shut behind her, and let out a shaky breath. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees as she buried her face in her hands. The weight of what had just happened settled heavily in her chest, suffocating and inescapable.

“Fuck,” she muttered to herself again, the word barely audible in the empty room.

///

Rhaenyra was buckling her belt when the door swung open, revealing Laena standing in the doorway. The look on her face was calm, but her eyes burned with quiet fury.

“Rhaenyra?” Laena’s voice was sharp, demanding an explanation before she even asked a question.

Rhaenyra froze, her hands stilling at her belt as she looked up at her cousin with guilty eyes. She didn’t need to ask what Laena knew—her expression said it all.

Laena stepped into the room, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. “When Margaery just walked out of my apartment looking like she’d had sex and reeked of you, I told myself it couldn’t be true,” she said evenly, though her voice trembled with restrained anger. “Because my cousin wouldn’t have done that. My cousin, who—”

“Laena,” Rhaenyra interrupted, her voice strained. “Don’t give me shit right now, okay? I know. I know it was messed up.”

“No, Rhaenyra, I don’t think you do,” Laena snapped, taking a step closer. “You and Alicent are clearly heading back toward each other, and this? This shit? It’s the exact kind of thing that will ruin everything.”

Rhaenyra scoffed, her frustration bubbling to the surface. “Come on, Laena. She left me. What was I supposed to do?”

“She left you?!” Laena echoed incredulously. “No. You both left each other—emotionally, physically, mentally—a year ago. And, for what it’s worth, that breakup was overdue. You both needed to grow up, Rhaenyra. Take the time to figure out who you are without each other so you could find your way back stronger. Not… grow down into whatever the hell this is!”

Rhaenyra glared at her, the words striking a nerve. “That was never established,” she muttered defensively.

“It didn’t need to be,” Laena shot back, her tone sharper now. “I know you, Rhaenyra. And I know Alicent. This thing between you two? It’s not over. It’s never been over. But this?” She gestured toward the room with a wide sweep of her arm. “Whatever the hell you just pulled with Margaery—who, by the way, is Alicent’s friend —this is going to make everything crash and burn.” 

Rhaenyra’s jaw clenched, her eyes darting to the floor as she tried to find the words. But there were none. Laena let out an exasperated sigh and turned on her heel, her voice cutting through the room like a blade as she left.

“Fix it, Rhaenyra. Before it’s too late.”

///

Three weeks later, Alicent swirled her cocktail idly, the ice clinking against the glass as she forced a smile at Laena across the table. “Thanks for dragging me out,” she said, her voice light but lacking its usual warmth. “I needed this.”

Laena leaned back in her seat, studying Alicent closely. The faint bags under her eyes and the tension in her posture didn’t escape her notice. “You sure you’re doing okay?” Laena asked, her tone soft but probing.

“I’m good,” Alicent said quickly, taking a sip of her drink as if to punctuate her words. “Really. I’m fine.”

“Bullshit,” Laena replied flatly, folding her arms as she leaned forward. “You’re doing just as bad as my pain-in-the-ass, idiot cousin.”

Alicent blinked, startled by the bluntness, and then raised an eyebrow. “Whoa,” she said, setting her glass down. “Did Rhaenyra piss in your cereal this morning or something?”

Laena let out a short laugh, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “She’s been pissing me off a lot lately,” she muttered, her jaw tightening. “But you already know that better than anyone.”

Alicent’s brow furrowed, and she opened her mouth to press for more, but Laena quickly shifted gears, plastering on a brighter smile as she grabbed her drink. “Anyway,” she said, cutting Alicent off before she could speak. “Let’s not talk about her. This is your night, and you deserve to actually enjoy it. So, tell me—what’s next for you at work? Any promising students in your class this semester?”

Alicent hesitated, her gut telling her there was something Laena wasn’t saying. But she didn’t push. Instead, she sighed and gave a small, strained smile. “There are a few,” she said, letting the conversation shift, even if the tension between them lingered in the air.

Two hours later, Alicent found herself half-carrying a very drunk Laena up the stairs to her apartment. Laena was practically draped over her, her head lolling as she muttered incoherently.

“Gods, Laena, you’re so drunk,” Alicent said, a mix of amusement and exasperation in her tone as she adjusted her grip under Laena’s arm. “Let’s just get you home before you fall over.”

Laena hiccupped loudly, letting out a dramatic groan. “You’re such a good friend, Ali,” she slurred, her voice uneven and too loud for the quiet hallway. “Like… like the best friend. And I’m… I’m the worst friend ever.”

Alicent chuckled softly, shaking her head as they reached Laena’s door. “I mean you did throw up on my shoes in the uber but..hey we all get really drunk like this at least once in our lives. Doesn’t make you the worst. You’re just really drunk.”

“No, no, no,” Laena insisted, leaning heavily against Alicent as they stumbled toward the couch. “I’m awful. Well… maybe not as awful as Margaery.”

That made Alicent laugh, her lips curling into a small smile as she helped Laena toward the couch. “First Rhaenyra is on your shit list and now Margaery? What is going on?” she teased lightheartedly, guiding Laena to sit down.

Laena let out a dramatic sigh, flopping onto the couch as if the weight of her words had physically exhausted her. “Stop,” she mumbled, her face half-buried in a cushion. “Because I might actually vomit again if I hear their names in a sentence together.”

Alicent balked, letting out a soft, disbelieving laugh. “Wait, what? ” she asked, her voice rising slightly in confusion. “Laen, what are you talking about?”

Laena groaned loudly, throwing an arm over her face as if shielding herself from her own thoughts. “I mean, gods, talk about a rebound—” She stopped abruptly, her eyes widening as she realized what she was about to say. “Oh fuck..”

Alicent froze, her laugh faltering as Laena’s words sank in. “Wait, what?” she said, her tone caught between disbelief and confusion. She let out another soft, nervous laugh, her brows furrowing as she tried to process it.

Laena’s drunk haze seemed to evaporate instantly, her expression shifting from sheepish to horrified in the blink of an eye. “Alicent,” she stammered, sitting up straighter. “I’m so sorry.”

The apology hit Alicent like a slap, her stomach lurching as she stared at Laena, completely still. Her lips parted as if to say something, but no words came. Instead, she bit her lip hard, shaking her head slowly, her eyes shutting tightly.

“No,” Alicent said, barely above a whisper. She took a step back, her breath catching as her mind raced.

Laena stayed frozen, watching Alicent with wide, guilty eyes. “Alicent,” she tried again, her voice desperate, “I swear to gods, I didn’t mean to—”

Alicent cut her off sharply, her voice trembling but controlled. “That doesn’t make sense,” she said firmly, her hands clenched at her sides. “You’re not making sense.”

Laena winced, guilt written all over her face. “Ali, I—”

“No!” Alicent snapped suddenly, her voice louder as she took a shaky step forward. Her chest rose and fell unevenly as she started pacing, her hands running through her hair. “No, no, no. Because if that’s real, that means… that means—” She stopped herself, her voice cracking as she tried to piece it together. “Rhaenyra doesn’t even… she doesn’t even find Margaery hot. She’s said that before. We’ve talked about it before. This doesn’t make any sense.”

Laena opened her mouth to respond but quickly closed it, unsure of what to say. She just watched helplessly as Alicent spiraled, her pacing growing more erratic.

Alicent stood frozen, her hands trembling at her sides. “She wouldn’t,” she whispered, her voice so quiet it was barely audible. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, and she shook her head, as if trying to will away what Laena had said. “She wouldn’t…”

Her lips parted, but the words caught in her throat. She swallowed hard, her gaze darting to the floor, then back to Laena, searching her face for anything—any sign this wasn’t real. “Why?” she asked softly, her voice breaking. “Why would she do that?” Alicent let out a short, shaky breath, her hands rising to grip her arms as if to hold herself together. “I mean, gods, I know why she would do that…but with… with Margaery ?” She blinked rapidly, her vision blurring as she looked away. “She wouldn’t be needlessly cruel like that.”

Her knees threatened to give out, and she sank slowly onto the edge of the couch, her movements mechanical. Her lips quivered as she opened her mouth again, only for silence to fall between them.

Laena bit her lip, guilt washing over her as she leaned closer, her voice dropping to a low, firm tone. “Ali, listen to me. I’m going to be honest, okay? Rhaenyra’s been a complete mess since you left. This wasn’t about desire or want, not really. She’s… she’s been falling apart.”

Alicent froze, her breath catching as she processed Laena’s words. “I… what?” she stammered, her voice trembling. “You said she was hanging in there every time I asked.”

Laena sighed, her gaze dropping to her lap. “I’m not going to go there, Ali,” she said softly, shaking her head. “Because she’s my cousin, and I love her, and you’re my best friend, and I love you. But no. No, Alicent. I’ve never been more concerned about her in my life.”

She hesitated for a moment before continuing, her voice quieter now. “And this? This with Margaery? It’s just one of the many mistakes she’s been making lately. She’s been completely out of control.”

Alicent’s head shot up, her eyes wide with panic as her voice cracked. “You’re telling me… this isn’t the first person she’s been with since we broke up?”

Laena’s eyes widened in alarm, and she immediately shook her head, her hands raised as if to stop Alicent’s spiraling. “No! Gods, no. It was only Margaery.”

Alicent raised her head slightly, her face pale, her eyes glassy as she stared blankly at the coffee table. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. The weight of Laena’s words settled over her, heavy and suffocating, leaving her feeling hollow.

She shook her head slowly, her hands trembling as she gripped the edge of the couch. “Laena,” she started, her voice cracking. “I don’t… I don’t feel good. I think I need to go home.”

Laena immediately sat up straighter, her drunken haze fading slightly as concern filled her eyes. “Alicent, wait,” she said quickly, reaching out. “You don’t have to—”

“No,” Alicent interrupted, her voice firm but trembling. She stood abruptly, brushing her hands against her sides as if to steady herself. “No, um, it’s okay. I just… I need to go now.” She paused, glancing at Laena with forced composure. “But you’re okay, right? You don’t need anything?”

“Alicent—” Laena started, guilt flashing across her face.

“You’re okay, right?” Alicent repeated, her voice quick and clipped. Without waiting for an answer, she gave a strained nod. “And um…please don’t tell Rhaenyra I know. I can’t get into this with her yet. I need some time. Okay alright um…I’ll see you soon.”

Before Laena could say another word, Alicent turned on her heel and hurried toward the door, her movements stiff and mechanical. She didn’t look back.

///

A week later, Alicent sat at the far end of the bar, nursing a drink she’d barely touched. The lights were dim, the music loud, and the room was filled with the familiar faces of their friend group, all laughing and chatting in celebration. Harwin’s yearly St. Patrick’s Day tradition had always been a highlight of their circle, but this year, everything felt different.

She was numb—so numb it was like her body was moving on autopilot. She’d taken three days off work last week, claiming she wasn’t feeling well, and spent the time in bed, ignoring messages and calls, especially from Laena. Even showing up tonight felt like a monumental task, but she’d forced herself to come. She couldn’t spend the rest of her life hiding.

But then she saw her.

Rhaenyra was across the room, standing near Criston and Laenor, a beer in her hand as she laughed at something Criston said. Alicent’s breath hitched, her chest tightening painfully. It was the first time she’d seen her since Laena’s drunken confession, and the sight of her was like a punch to the gut.

Her hands gripped the edge of the bar tightly, her knuckles turning white. Her mind raced, flashes of images she didn’t want invading her thoughts. She imagined Rhaenyra with Margaery—how it happened, where it happened, the positions they’d been in. Her stomach churned as she pictured Rhaenyra’s face, the way it would twist in pleasure, the little gasps she made when she was close. Alicent was the only one who knew all of Rhaenyra intimately like that, or so she thought.

But now, Margaery knew too.

The realization was suffocating. Her head spun as she stared into her drink, her grip tightening. Margaery had seen Rhaenyra the way only she was supposed to. Margaery had touched her, heard her, made her feel what only Alicent had before. It was a violation of everything she thought was sacred between them, and it was driving her mad. Her skin felt too tight, her heart racing in her chest as her thoughts spiraled.

She could hear Rhaenyra’s laugh from across the room, and it felt like nails scraping against her brain. A small, bitter laugh escaped her lips, barely audible over the noise of the bar. Of course Margaery wasn’t here. How convenient. On vacation for a week and a half. Alicent didn’t know what she would do if she saw her. She might punch her, or worse. The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine.

Alicent’s gaze drifted toward Rhaenyra again, unable to stop herself. She watched as Rhaenyra tipped her head back to laugh, her silver hair catching the dim light, her smile so effortlessly beautiful it made Alicent’s heart ache. She’d seen that smile a thousand times. Loved it. Trusted it.

Now it felt like a knife twisting in her chest.

Her breathing hitched as another flash overtook her mind—Rhaenyra’s hands gripping Margaery’s hips, her lips trailing down her neck. Alicent squeezed her eyes shut, willing the images away, but they wouldn’t stop. They were relentless, each one more vivid than the last. Her head felt like it was splitting in two, her thoughts too loud, too sharp, too unbearable.

The world around her tilted dangerously as she reached for her drink and downed it in one go, the alcohol burning her throat. It didn’t help; the spinning only got worse. She grabbed another shot from the bar, barely registering whose it was, and threw it back like it was water.

Her head swam as she stared into the empty glass, her knuckles white from how tightly she was gripping it. The sounds of the bar blurred into a dull hum, and she felt like she was floating—disconnected, untethered, completely adrift.

A hand touched her shoulder, firm but not rough, and she jolted, her eyes snapping open to find Daemon standing beside her. He looked down at her with a mixture of amusement and concern, his brow arching slightly as he took in her flushed face and unsteady posture.

“Ali, you look like shit,” Daemon said bluntly, his voice cutting through the haze like a knife.

Alicent let out a dry laugh, her lips quirking into something that wasn’t quite a smile. “Yeah, I feel like it too,” she muttered, her gaze drifting across the room to land on Rhaenyra. 

Daemon sighed, a rare moment of genuine concern softening his usually sharp demeanor. “Really, though,” he said, his tone quieter. “Are you good?”

Alicent turned to him, her eyes red-rimmed and glassy, but there was a strange clarity in her expression. “No, Daemon,” she said simply, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not.”

He stared at her for a long moment, his usual smirk replaced with something uncharacteristically thoughtful. He glanced over at Rhaenyra, then back at Alicent, and sighed again. “You look like you need a breather,” he said, his voice still unusually soft. “Do you want to head upstairs for a few?”

Alicent hesitated, the offer catching her off guard. She looked back at him, something unreadable flickering in her eyes, and then nodded slowly. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “Yeah, sure.”

And that was the moment everything truly fell apart.