Ethan Parker and Maddie Marsh Residence
 

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Ethan didn't condone his fans' hateful behaviour towards anyone, especially his girlfriend. But unfortunately, after all these years, she still got bullied by the ones who claimed to love him the most. It might not have been such a shit show if they knew the whole story. Maddie previously dated his best mate, Noah Pierce, a fellow musician, and they weren't serious. Maddie and Ethan stayed friends, and before asking Maddie out on a date, Ethan asked Noan if he'd mind. He didn't, so Ethan went ahead and took a chance, and Maddie reciprocated his feelings. However, Ethan didn't believe they owed anyone an explanation after everything. Maddie was going through her own things. The last thing she needed was to have the internet turned on her. It didn't help that Noah's fans also threw their two cents in sometimes.

Ethan knew how much Maddie wanted to come home to him, so he prioritised staying awake. After she went in, he smoked a blunt and took a five-hour nap. He wanted to be ready for when she walked through their apartment door. Ethan never loved anyone enough to go out of his way the way he did for Maddie. They'd been together for almost four years, not counting the three-month hiccup she made him endure. That wasn't fun and nearly broke his heart. He understood why she did what she did now, but it didn't make it hurt any less. It's why he tried so hard. He wanted to protect her as much as possible and shield her from all the hate. She didn't deserve any of it. He wanted to marry her, but with everything going on with the upcoming tour and her wanting to get back in the studio to record, asking Maddie to marry him right now didn't seem like a good time.

He was standing on the balcony, smoking a cigarette with the sliding door open so he could hear Maddie when she finally came home. Ethan had been to several of her burlesque performances over the years, and he enjoyed them. His girlfriend was a naturally gifted musician and could easily captivate audiences. So there were nights dedicated to her performances. However, Ethan knew that was not what she wanted out of life. He wanted her to get everything she's ever wanted. Her time was coming. He could feel it.

It was faint, but Ethan could hear as Maddie fiddled with the locks to their apartment. He flicked his cigarette over the balcony and headed inside, beelining it to the door, approaching it just as she pushed it open. "Here, let me take your bag," he said, kissing her on the cheek before stepping back and moving out of her way. "How was your night, love?" Ethan asked, looking over his shoulder as he sat her bag down against the wall before returning to her. Maddie was a few inches taller than him, and as much as it bugged him initially, Ethan liked it now. Even much more so when she wore heels. Maddie's long legs drove him crazy. Unfortunately, she knew it and used it to her advantage sometimes. He placed one hand on her hip, using the other to brush some of her blonde hair out of her face. "Hi, darling," Ethan said sweetly before kissing her, ensuring he greeted her properly. She had waited all night to come home to him.

Maddie had grown to love working at the Club, probably mostly because she got to work with Daphne but still it got her up on the stage. Granted, most of the audience was mainly there because they liked looking at the scantily clad ladies more so than to listen to her sing, but at least they weren't buying entrance just to heckle her. Plus, Daphne and the other girls had taught her a few moves that had only helped improved her stage presence.

Tonight was different though. After one of her sets, she'd gone to the backroom to change into the outfit she wore when she mingled on the floor with the guests when Daphne came to tell her that one of the guests was specifically requesting her at his table. He was with a new, small record label and didn't really buy into what the local gossip blogs had to say about her. Nor had Leo managed to spread his lies to him either. He'd heard about her, come to see her himself, and wanted to talk more with her so she discreetly took his business card so Don couldn't see, and she finished the last of her shift.

Maddie hadn't even bothered taking off her makeup before leaving the club, she was too excited to get home and tell Ethan the amazing news. She'd told Daphne when she'd asked what he exactly he had wanted but other than that she didn't want to tell anyone else until she talked to Ethan. It seemed too good to be true but after doing some research on her phone, it was feeling pretty real. She'd already healed from what Leo had done to her but it didn't mean she was ready to completely trust this guy yet. That being said, his vibe was vastly different from those she'd worked with before and their interaction had been pleasant enough for her to feel like things could possibly work out.

"Hey!" she smiled as she closed the door and happily handed her bag over to him before walking further into their home. Using the wall to keep her balance as she slipped out of her shoes and answered his question. "It was amazing, babe!" Before she had a chance to share more, she found herself wrapped up in the sweet moment with her lover. "I missed you," she whispered before giving him a couple more kisses. Everything felt right when she was with him, and she was so glad he'd taken her back after her turning down his proposal; she loved him and absolutely wanted to marry him but, in the moment, she'd panicked and freaked out.

"So... I have some potentially great news, and I don't know if I can keep it in any longer. This guy came into the club tonight and, well, he's from this smaller label, but he wants me to call and set up a meeting. I already looked him up and everything, he looks legit." She knew he'd be excited, but she also knew that he'd have similar concerns. "And... I think I'm gonna do it. It's just a meeting but if they're still willing to take a chance on me despite knowing what went down with the asshole, figured the least I can do is return the favor."

Ethan moved his other arm around Maddie, pulling her closer when she initiated more kisses. "I missed you too," Ethan said before embracing each other momentarily, burying his face in her neck. He then lifted his head and kissed her forehead before stepping back fully. "I'm glad you're home."

He raised an eyebrow and immediately became concerned when Maddie started to talk about the record producer who came by the club. He didn't want to interrupt her, but he couldn't help himself. "I'm sorry? What? Who?" He trusted his girlfriend to make her own decisions, and if she wanted to go ahead and set up a meeting, he'd be behind her all the way, but she wasn't going alone. "Okay." What else could he say? Maddie seemed to have already had her mind made up.

He backed away from her, "I'm with you, I am," Ethan headed toward the kitchen. It was an open floor plan and an island separating the kitchen from the living room. He grabbed a beer from the fridge, popped it open, and took a drink. Ethan wanted to choose his words wisely. He supported Maddie wholeheartedly but also wanted to ensure she was safe. "You need to get a lawyer, or I can call mine and have them review the paperwork." Ethan wasn't trying to be controlling. That wasn't his nature. Instead, he was protective, especially after she got burned last time.

Maddie seemed a bit disappointed that he wasn't jumping for joy. She didn't have to say anything because it was visible. He sighed, sat his beer bottle on the counter, and walked around the island back to her. "I always said your time was coming," he took her hands in his, guiding Maddie towards the sofa and sitting them down. "And I meant it. I'm your biggest fan, and I believe in you. I don't want to see you get let down again," he frowned. "And it'd make me feel a lot better to be able to sit in on the meeting with you to make sure it's not some kind of ruse,” Ethan tried to explain. “I am happy for you, so fucking happy,” he gushed.

Maddie watched as he left her and headed toward the kitchen to grab a beer, her lips curving downward into a frown as he did so. She knew he would be worried, but she had hoped for more excitement from him about the whole situation. This was her chance to redeem herself. To put all those songs she'd continued writing over the years to good use. To get back to doing what she loved. Instead, all she got was an 'okay' and mentioning of lawyers. "Yeah, a lawyer. That's a good idea." Maddie agreed with a nod before dropping her head to stare at her nails as she fidgeted with them. Maybe she was too busy with her head in the clouds, but she didn't want to worry about the logical side of things; she wanted to celebrate the good news.

Keeping her head down as he led her over to the couch, she attempted to focus on everything he was saying rather than listening to the insecurities in her head. Finally looking up to meet his gaze once he reassured her that he was happy for her, she smiled again. "Thank you. And you're right. I need to be smart about this. At the same time... I like to think I'm not the same little naive girl I was back then. I'm not going to rush into it without some precautions... and if I... no, if we even get the slightest bad vibe, we're out. So yes, I would love it if you came with me," Maddie responded confidently. She wasn't a girl anymore, nor was she alone; they were a team, and there was no way she could go through with it without them both being on board with it.

Maddie exhaled a sigh of relief and felt the tension leave her body before flashing another smile at him. "Let me get your beer and one for me, and then we'll celebrate and discuss all the little details." Maddie gave him a quick peck before heading to the kitchen to retrieve their drinks. Returning to his side and handing his over to him, she took a sip of hers real quick before speaking again. "His name is Avan Khan, and he's pretty easy to find if you look him up." She wanted to reassure him that she wasn't blindly diving into this. She'd been so excited to tell him the news that she probably left a few crucial details out of the story. "He didn't say who, but someone told him about me, so he came in to see if I was everything they had said I was, which, of course, I was." Maddie playfully flipped her hair before letting out a soft chuckle. She knew she was good at what she did, but she wasn't vain enough to brag about herself in that manner. "Seriously, babe. This feels very real. My gut is telling me that I need to go for it."

Ethan wanted Maddie to know he was proud of her and thought highly of her and her abilities, but at the same time, Maddie was the love of his life and he wanted to protect her. Unfortunately, he couldn't always shield her from the negativity of his fans, but this was something he could control if he had to.

"You're far from being naive, baby. But there's nothing wrong with being prepared for something this significant." He smiled when she agreed to let him attend the meeting with her. "This is all you, though. I don't want to overstep," Ethan told her, brushing strands of her bangs out of her eyes. "I only want to make sure someone is there who has your best interest at heart and who isn't only seeing dollar signs." Ethan knew how badly Maddie wanted this, and he didn't want her to overlook the red flags because of her excitement.

"Thank you." He took his beer from Maddie when she returned. Ethan's eyes followed her as she sat back down next to him. He chuckled, watching her in amazement. She told him about Avan, the mysterious bloke who heard about Maddie and knew where to find her. He wanted to believe this was real, for her sake. His girlfriend was so fucking talented, and Ethan wanted the world to experience her. "I'm not going to doubt your female intuition because it's usually right," he agreed.

Ethan moved a coaster towards him and sat his beer on the coffee table before shifting in his seat and pulling out his phone. "He's British," he mumbled after a quick Google search. His thumb swiped upward on his phone screen as he continued reading the article he found. As much as Ethan hated to admit it, Avan Kahn seemed legit. "He owns his record label. Thrash Vibe Records," Ethan looked up, slightly impressed and dropped his phone in his lap. He leaned towards her and said, "Looks like someone is going to be getting a record deal, aye?" He kissed her forehead and pulled back. Ethan was giving in to her excitement. He wouldn't question anything else until they sat down, and he could get a feel for this Avan Kahn.

Being away from Maddie for such a long period had always been hard for him. However, this time was different. Ethan felt he was missing out on significant moments in her life, and he didn’t like that. As much as he hated it, Maddie had agreed to work with Avan Kahn. During the meeting, Avan seemed authentic and genuine that Ethan didn’t want to be the one to shit on this opportunity. It was a big deal for Maddie. He was always going to be her biggest fan, and she deserved this. Wholeheartedly Ethan believed that.

Due to the venue’s mishap, one of Noah’s shows had to be cancelled and rescheduled. It gave Ethan an extra day off before they headed to Sacramento. Instead of hanging around with Luna and Noah like a third wheel, Ethan took this opportunity to fly home and see his favourite girl. He didn’t even care that he wouldn’t get a full day with her. Ethan just wanted to see her blue eyes staring back into his. He got the first available flight from Los Angeles to Chicago, and with the delay, he got back to their apartment much later than he had expected. If Maddie hadn’t visited Daphne after her shift at the club like she had been since he had been gone, she should be home by now.

The apartment was dark and so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Once inside, Ethan dropped his duffle bag by the door, quietly shutting the door behind him. He didn’t want to startle Maddie if she was already sleeping. Ethan quickly found the switch for the lights hanging over the island and turned them on before heading towards their bedroom. Ethan peaked inside, grinning, when he saw Maddie sleeping peacefully in their bed. Ethan quietly made his way towards their bed, slipping off his shoes and pulling off his shirt. He dropped it on the floor with his shoes before getting into bed with her.

Once getting underneath the covers, Ethan closed the gap between them. He entangled his legs with hers and rested his hand on her hip, shaking her gently. “Baby,” Ethan whispered and placed kisses on her cheek. After a few more shakes, Maddie tiredly opened her eyes. The moonlight lit up their room enough for Ethan to see her expression when she realised it was him. “Hi, beautiful,” Ethan said, moving his hand from her waist to the side of her face and touching it softly. “I missed you,” his voice stayed low, moving a few strands of her blonde hair behind her ear.

Working with Avan had been keeping Maddie busy and distracted from the fact that she was missing Ethan, but she still missed him like crazy. Every night, when it was possible with their schedules, Maddie made sure to FaceTime him so they could share in each other's excitement over their days. As much as she hated the treatment she received from his "fans", she usually tried to make it to as many shows as possible, but she had yet to make it to a single one. She wanted to support him and his career as much as he did hers. It was killing them both to be apart for so long, but they kept reminding each other that it was only temporary.

Tonight was one of those nights when they hadn't had a chance to call each other. She hadn't even had time to stalk socials to see how the show went. It had been a long albeit exciting day with Avan and his crew, so once she was finished at the studio, she came home and went straight to bed. She was in the middle of a pleasant dream of Ethan and her living in the English countryside when she found herself being transported back to reality in Chicago. Letting out a groan-y whine as she slowly opened her eyes, it took her a moment to adjust before realizing that it wasn't only in her dreams that she was cuddling Ethan. "Babe?" She questioned whether or not she'd woken up in another dream, but when she moved in to kiss him, it felt too real to be a dream. "I've missed you too, but what are you doing here?"

Maddie scooted closer as she listened to him explain how everything had led to him crawling into their bed tonight. "Were you able to get any sleep on the flight? Do you need more? If we only have a little time together, I want us to make the most of it, but I also need to make certain that you are taken care of."

Ethan scooped Maddie up in his arms as she scooted closer, pressing a kiss against her forehead. "There was a mixup at the venue. I would've been here sooner, but my flight got delayed," Ethan explained. He gently twirled her hair around his index finger as he stared at the ceiling, enjoying the moment. Ethan missed Maddie more than he could put into words sometimes. Ethan knew she loved him, but sometimes he didn't feel worthy of her love. She'd never once made him feel that way. It was his insecurities getting the best of him. He was the lucky one. Maddie was beyond amazing, gorgeous and talented. He couldn't help but think about what would happen if another bloke better than him showed up and swept her away.

Upon hearing Maddie's voice, he turned his head to face her. "No, my darling, I slept on the plane," he reassured her. "We have about twelve hours before I gotta return to the airport. I have plenty of time to nap, and even if I don't, I can sleep on the plane," he turned and faced her, his arm still under her, "I wanna spend as much time with you as I can. I was feeling homesick." That used to mean he missed Doncaster, but now, his home was wherever Maddie was, and she was in Chicago. "I hate being away from you, especially now. You're doing such great things, and I feel like I'm missing out on celebrating this wonderful time with you," he added.

They were silent for some time before Ethan finally spoke up. "You know? I am hungry and could go for one of your grilled cheeses about now," Ethan said cheekily. Maddie wasn't much of a cook, and he never expected her to be, but she did make some killer grilled cheese. Her dishes were often simple ones but with her twist. She was creative in everything she did, not just music and dancing. Ethan chuckled when Maddie groaned and then held onto him tighter. "Fine, we can cuddle some more." Not at all upset, however, just after he said that, his stomach grumbled loud enough for the both of them to hear.

Maddie quickly switched into girlfriend mode and pulled herself and him out of bed despite not wanting to. "Twelve hours," he reminded, stumbling over his feet slightly before gaining balance and following her out of their room.

"Good thing we have today to celebrate my accomplishments and yours," she reminded him. Ethan might have had an easier time than her in this industry, but that's not to say that he didn't still work his ass off for everything he had achieved. "Twelve hours. Maddie made a mental note as she happily led the way to the kitchen. "I'm thinking we'll get you some food in your belly, then more snuggling in bed while we figure out how to make the most of our day. Although, I already have some ideas swirling around. All of them involving us staying home." With him on tour and most of her days spent running around, they both needed some time in.

While she started the butter in the pan, he went to work on preparing the bread- the always sweet and helpful man that he was. "Hey, mister! I thought I was making you the sandwich. Now, you go sit your cute butt down," Maddie teased playfully as she ushered him over to one of the island stools and went back to work on his sandwich. He told her about the crazy lady in front of him in the TSA line while she finished making her signature grilled cheese and heated some tomato soup. Maddie felt lucky knowing she would spend forever having moments like this with Ethan; even the most mundane moments felt special when they were together.

Once everything was ready, she happily dished everything up and cut the sandwich diagonally before setting it down in front of him. "Eat up, my love," she cooed like the happy, domestic girlfriend she was before sitting down next to him. "Oh!" she exclaimed when she suddenly remembered something. "Avan came up with this idea earlier, and I liked it. He thought we could have you be the intro on London Boy, like an old voicemail or something. Or you could record something new. So... what do you think?"