Together

Name Change

Well, this one's a bit of a filler chapter, but I think that you'll all appreciate it after yesterday's hehe. Sorry about that (but not really). There's more sadness coming up soon so enjoy this filler while it lasts. Comment/vote x
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December 24, 2025

Patrick

I wake up the next morning before Harper does. I don't want to wake her; she has two shows today and needs some rest. Instead, I slip out of bed slowly, wrap my dressing gown around myself, and walk out of the bedroom and into the living room.

I flick on my phone and open up Instagram. Picking a picture from yesterday, which Harper and I snapped before things took a turn for the worst, I upload it into the app and type up a caption.

@patrickalwyn: I married this cutie yesterday. It was the best thing that's ever happened to me. I love you, @harper.elise13 and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you, hand in hand as we drag each other through this crazy adventure.

Instantly, likes and comments start to roll in. Most of the comments are positive, but there are enough that aren't that I decide to turn off the commenting feature on this post, just to be safe.

Maybe seeing the post will make her smile, even if it is just a little bit.

I stand up from the sofa after a few minutes of scrolling through my social media, and move to the kitchen, where I decide to make some eggs and toast for breakfast. Just as I'm finishing them up, I hear footsteps behind me, and I know that it's Harper.

"Good morning, love," I tell her. "How did you sleep?"

"Nicely," she replies. "I didn't realize how tired I was."

"Yesterday was quite the big day, hm?"

"Yeah," she giggles, looking down at the new ring on her finger.

"Well, are you all rested up for your shows today?"

"Mhm."

"That's the important part," I tell her. "Is everything that's printed as 'Harper Alwyn' making its debut today?"

"As far as I'm aware, yeah."

"That's so fun," I smile. "Hey, since I'm not working today, maybe I'll come in to grab a ticket for one of your shows."

"I'd love that," she exclaims, with a big smile growing on her face.

"Then that's what I'll do," I nod. My clinic is closed all week, on a bit of a Christmas break. It's really convenient for me, as that way, I can stay home and be with my wife.

As we are eating our breakfast, I notice Harper going on her phone and smiling with a little giggle. "Cute post."

"Thanks," I wink at her. After a few moments, I feel my own phone vibrate with a notification.

@harper.elise13: I love @patrickalwyn very much and I'm very excited to finally be his wife. P.S. to anybody coming to the show- beginning today, everything at Anastasia will say 'Harper Alwyn' on it. I'm so excited to start this new era in my life xxx

I smile as I read her words.

"Are you feeling alright to do your shows today?" I ask her. "Please answer me honestly."

"Of course," she states. "Patrick, the shows are always an escape for me. You know that. I get to become an entirely new person for three hours. Not that I would trade my life, but... well... you know... after yesterday evening..."

"I understand," I nod. I really do understand, too. She's been through so many emotions in the past 24 hours. How could I ever blame her for wanting to step away from this world for a little bit?

Though Anya's world may be no less complicated, it has an entirely different set of issues. Issues which Harper is probably never going to deal with, unless we find out that she's somehow some long-lost granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth... which I have a feeling we would know about by now.

As we chat for the morning, I avoid the taboo topic of Harper's father. She doesn't open up on it, either. I really am worried about her. I don't want her to box all of her emotions away. Right now, though, I just try to convince myself that she really is coping with everything in a healthy manner, and just doesn't need me.

I know that I'm lying to myself in forcing myself to believe that.

The day passes with still no mention of the subject, and before I know it, I'm dropping Harper off at her matinee.

"Alright, Harper Alwyn," I tell her, giving a little wink, "I'm going to head up to the box office and see what sort of a seat they could squeeze me into. I'll meet you at the stage door after the performance, alright?"

"Okay," she smiles, kissing my lips quickly before running off into the theatre. I can tell that she's thrilled to be back and performing again, even if it was just one day.

With still an hour and a half until the performance starts, I decide to take a little walk around the West End, and end up stopping in a Pret, where I buy a coffee and a little fruit and yoghurt parfait, then walk at a leisurely pace back towards the Piccadilly Theatre.

Once I'm there, there is only about half an hour until curtain, so I walk into the box office, where the lady working already knows me, so she smiles and greets me.

"I was hoping to catch Harper's performance today... do you happen to have any comp tickets?"

"Let me check," she replies, turning to her computer. "We have twenty seats open in the theatre. I'll give you one of the single seat tickets."

"You're the best. Thank you so much."

"No problem," she replies. "The seats were going to be empty anyway."

"True," I acknowledge, taking the ticket which she hands me and walking into the foryer of the theatre.

Even though I'm on a comp ticket, I feel obligated to spend at least a little bit of money. I figure that I should pick up a programme now. Of course, I have one from when she was 'Harper Kennedy,' but I want one with my wife listed in there as 'Harper Alwyn.'

I buy it from a man selling ice cream and programmes near my seat. On a whim, I decide to get some ice cream as well.

Ever since knowing Harper, I've really grown quite fond of being in the theatre. There's something special about the energy in the air. All of the people in one room, about to share a common experience, and united by the art.

That's just really cool to me.