Promises and Glances

The morning light spilled gently through the blinds, painting the room in soft gold. Liam lay on his side, phone in hand, scrolling through comments from last night’s concert, clips of the kiss cam, tweets, and posts. His fingers hovered over the screen, occasionally tapping a heart or a reply, but his attention kept drifting.

Every few seconds, he glanced at Sophie, still curled up beside him, her breath slow and even in sleep. The quiet rise and fall of her chest was grounding, almost unbelievable. After everything—the chaos, the heartbreak, the tour—she was here, really here, next to him.

He swallowed, caught between disbelief and wonder. His thumb hovered over a clip of them on stage, the crowd roaring behind them, and he shook his head with a soft laugh. “How did I get so lucky?” he murmured under his breath.

Sophie stirred slightly, turning toward him without opening her eyes, and he felt a warmth settle over him, something more powerful than any cheer or spotlight from the night before. It was real. It was hers.

For a long moment, he just watched her, memorizing the soft lines of her face, the way the sunlight touched her hair. He still couldn’t quite believe it—didn’t think he’d ever see this calm, this peace, this happiness. But there she was, and somehow, against all odds, it felt right.

Liam set his phone down quietly, careful not to disturb her. He shifted slightly, careful not to wake her fully, and reached for her hand. Her fingers twined with his almost instinctively, and he smiled, a little in awe of how natural it felt.

“Morning,” he whispered softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Sophie stirred, blinking sleepily, a small smile forming as recognition and warmth spread across her features. “Morning,” she murmured back, voice still thick with sleep.

Liam chuckled quietly, resting his forehead against hers for a brief moment. “You know,” he said, voice low, “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a morning to last forever… until now.”

She snuggled closer, letting the sun warm them both, and for a few minutes, the world outside didn’t exist. No concert chaos, no paparazzi, no expectations. Just the quiet hum of the morning, the comfort of being side by side, and the unspoken promise that they were finally exactly where they were meant to be.

Finally, she opened her eyes fully, catching his gaze. “We survived everything,” she said softly. “And we’re here.”

“Yeah,” he agreed, a quiet laugh escaping him. “And I’m not letting go.”

She pressed her forehead against his shoulder, content, letting the warmth of the moment wrap around them. Outside, the city moved on, but in that room, it was their world—slow, calm, real.

They sat across from each other in Liam’s kitchen, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the room. Sophie stirred her coffee, still waking up, while Liam flipped through some notes for an upcoming set.

“So…” Liam started, trying to sound casual, though his fingers drummed lightly on the table, “this… us… it’s perfect right now. But you know, you’ve got films, I’ve got tours. We’re not going to be in the same city a lot.”

Sophie smiled faintly, taking a sip. “I know. But… it’s not like I haven’t done long-distance before. And neither have you.”

He leaned back, frowning thoughtfully. “Yeah, but it’s different this time. I can’t just call Max and change a gig. And you… you’re under constant scrutiny on set. I don’t want to be the guy who distracts you—or worse, mess up your career.”

She reached across, touching his hand. “Liam… we’ll figure it out. We can make it work. Like we do with music and scripts and chaos. Trust me.”

He chuckled, relieved but still cautious. “So… we’ll text during breaks? Call when we can? And… make the moments we do have count?”

Sophie nodded, grinning. “Exactly. And when we’re together, no phones, no schedules, no paparazzi. Just… us. That’s our contract.”

Liam laughed, finally relaxing. “Deal. Though, knowing us, we’ll probably still end up in some ridiculous situation.”

Sophie smirked. “And that’s exactly why I love it.”

The morning stretched on, warm and golden, and after breakfast, Liam suggested a walk. “Coffee’s great, but the city’s calling,” he said, tugging gently at Sophie’s hand.

She laughed, shrugging into the oversized hoodie Liam had lent her—it hung loosely around her shoulders, sleeves swallowing her hands. She didn’t mind; in fact, she rather liked the comfort and the way Liam looked at her in it.

They stepped out into the quiet streets, the soft hum of the city just waking up around them. Liam’s sunglasses reflected the morning light, though the faint outline of his eyes could still be seen, warm and attentive.

It didn’t take long before Sophie's phone buzzed. She pulled it out, seeing Viktor’s name flash on the screen. She glanced at Liam, then answered with a small, nervous smile. “Hi, Dad.”

“Sophie,” Viktor’s voice was calm, but carried that unmistakable note of authority. “I’d like to talk to you… and Liam. Maybe over coffee?”

Sophie’s eyes flicked down at her leggins and oversized hoodie—the one she’d borrowed from Liam. She let out a soft laugh. “Uh… Dad, okay. We have time.”

Liam’s hand found hers again, giving it a gentle squeeze. She felt the warmth of his presence steady her.

Viktor continued, voice softening, almost touched. “I saw you at Liam’s concert… the way you looked at each other.”

Sophie chuckled, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Just looked?”

“I don’t want to go into the details,” Viktor said quietly.

Sophie’s smile grew, a little relieved, a little amused. “Okay.”

“And coffee, in twenty minutes,” Viktor added, voice firm again but kind, “so we can talk properly. Consider it an introduction… between me and Liam.”

Sophie exhaled softly, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. She looked at Liam, who gave her a small, reassuring nod. “Well,” she murmured, brushing at her oversized hoodie again, “ok.”

Liam laughed quietly, tucking his sunglasses back just enough to let her see the faint outline of his eyes. “This will be fun.”

Sophie let out a soft laugh, squeezing his hand. “We’ll see.”

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at a cozy street-side café. Liam and Sophie chose a quiet corner table, Viktor sliding into the seat across from them.

Outside, a few fans of Grey Meadow noticed the paparazzi lingering. Curiosity brought them inside. One approached Liam, a little breathless. “Can I have your autograph?”

Another nudged her friend, pointing at Sophie. “Wait… aren’t you the horse girl from that movie with Liam?”

Sophie’s cheeks warmed, and her father and Liam barely contained their laughter.

“Um… hi,” Sophie murmured, half embarrassed, half amused, leaning back in her chair.

The third fan gushed, “And that kiss on stage last night? Totally epic!”

Sophie looked at her father, slightly flustered. Viktor’s smile was gentle, amused, and full of warmth. Liam simply grinned, taking the attention in stride. Sophie relaxed, letting the fans enjoy the moment, feeling secure with Liam and her father right there.

Once the fans moved along, Viktor leaned back. “Sophie… you look… happy. Considering that Liam practically declared his love for you at the world premiere—reckless, yes, but also brave—it seems like you’ve found something real.”

Sophie smiled softly, reaching under the table to squeeze Liam’s hand. “I have,” she said quietly. “I really have.”

She hesitated, then looked at her father. “And… Aleksander? Is he… safe?”

Viktor’s eyes softened. “I made sure of it. He’s not a threat. You don’t have to fear anything—your happiness comes first now.”

Liam, looking Viktor squarely in the eye, added with quiet determination, “I promise you, I’ll make sure Sophie is happy. Always.”

Viktor’s gaze sharpened slightly, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “I’m holding you to that. Because if not…”

Sophie’s eyes widened slightly, and she glanced between the two men, a flicker of amusement and tension crossing her face.

Liam simply smiled, calm and steady. “I understand,” he said softly, the quiet conviction in his voice leaving no room for doubt.

Viktor’s stern expression softened just a fraction. Sophie exhaled, relief washing over her, her gaze lingering on her father. There was a silent understanding between them: the past was behind, and the present—this life, this moment, this happiness—was theirs to claim.