"It's Okay."
So the request for this was lost when I had accidentally posted the unfinished post so to the person who wanted more Charles Davis, here you go! I hope this meets your vision! Oh and wanted to try writing like a short fic with this request so hope you don't mind
Disclaimer: This contains yandere themes, obsessive behavior, mentions of a suicide attempt by the reader, a non accurate depiction of depression, pretty tame since I focused way more on comfort and good vibes instead of yandere but it's still there
It has been exactly a month since your... attempt, as you both call it, and to say your life had been flipped on its head would be an understatement
Charles had changed drastically in that time, you could almost wonder if he was the same mas you had married but he is. He had gone from that distant man that never noticed you suffering alone in your marriage to a doting husband who constantly worries and fusses over you
He seems to always know what you're feeling nowadays, sometimes before you realize it yourself and is somehow always ready with whatever you need on hand, hell he even initiates affection and not just a quick kiss at the door too! Even suprising you with flowers and gifts just because "you looked sad today"
It almost reminds you of the honeymoon phase of your relationship, when he would earnestly try to understand your feelings and "fix" things, when he would take you to that little restaurant so often because you liked it so much and you two could forget about the rest of the world for a night
It's... nice, really, you're genuinely happy that he's doing all of this but..
He tries to hide it, he really tries, but you've known him for over a decade. You can see how he can't seem to bare looking away from you for even a few seconds as if you might vanish, or the way he treats you like glass that might shatter if he handles you even slightly wrong
It makes you feel guilty but also cherished at the same time, and while you do appreciate the effort he's putting in you also can't help but worry about him
Today was one of those days where you felt like you were regressing, that familiar feeling of exhaustion and numbness creeping up on you, and it made you feel awful since you had been doing so well recently and he has been nothing but perfect to you
But your husband had taken in stride like he had with your previous bad days, taking the day off of work to be able to fully focus on you for the day and insisting you rest while he takes care of the house, and reassuring you when you had weakly protested that you should be the one to it since you're his wife
"It's alright, darling, I don't mind. Please just rest, let me handle everything for today."
"Your only job is getting better, so please don't push yourself if you aren't feeling well."
He said it all with such a gentle tone that you couldn't help but comply, and you could see the relief in his eyes when you do.
And that's how you found yourself curled up on the couch with a magazine you hadn't picked up in a long time open in your lap while as you watch your husband doing chores around the house
True to his word he had handled everything, from the vacuuming and dusting to the cooking and organizing, you had never thought you'd see your husband performing your duties as a housewife but he seems... relaxed in a way, content almost
He checks on you frequently throughout the day, perhaps too much, asking if you're comfortable and if there is anything you want him to do constantly, and even if you insist your fine he always knows
Often he would stop by to refill your tea and bring you snacks he made himself before you ask, even draping a blanket over your shoulders when he noticed the weather growing colder
He enjoys taking care of you, that much is obvious and you know that very well, but as you watch him you can't help but notice just how much he worries, no, perhaps that's not the right word for it, it's more akin to fear, not of you but for you
You see the way he tries to make the house perfect, predictable, safe. Double checking everything in your immediate vicinity under the guise of cleaning, appliances, locks, rugs, as if believing that if the house is safe then you will be safe
And the hovering, he thinks you don't notice but you do, he's never far from you for long if at all, your house isn't that big but the amount of times he passed by you is ridiculous, and you could always feel his eyes on you even if you pretend otherwise
Maybe it's overbearing, maybe you should feel annoyed or something, but you don't, because whenever you meet his eyes you could see the utter desperate terror in them, you feel it every time he touches you like he's reaffirming you're actually there
And you see just how fragile his supposed steadiness is, he never panics outwardly, that's not who he is, but you can read him well enough to know that it's always present just under his skin, driving his every action while he desperately hides it to not worry you
It only calms in your presence, only when he sees you comfortable, safe, breathing can he let himself relax just for a moment, smiling whenever he notices you looking at him
It's... Sad? Concerning? Sweet? you aren't sure how to describe it, but it makes your heart both flutter and ache at the same time, and as you watch him adjust the curtains so the light from the low sun won't bother you, you decide to finally do something
"Charlie?" You called softly as you put aside the magazine that you have not read a word of since sitting down
He perked up almost instantaneously, his head immediately snapping in your direction like a dog responding to a whistle. His smile is automatic as his whole body fully turned to you, "Yes, darling? Is there anything you need?"
"Come here."
And he does without another moment, at your side within seconds while his eyes scan you and your surroundings, glancing at your empty teacup and snack plate then at the blanket you had pulled close because of the air growing colder as the day nears it's end, but those aren't what you want from him
"Sit with me? Just for a while?" You pat the couch cushion beside you, looking up at him with a soft but expectant gaze
His face immediately softens more than it already has, his smile tender and his eyes crinkled just slightly at the corners, "Of course."
He sat down next to you, much closer than necessary but you don't complain
Instead you lean against him, resting your head against his shoulder and feeling him go completely still for a moment before immediately wrapping an arm around you the next moment, like he always does now
You feel his body slowly relaxing as he gently shifted his position to make you more comfortable, finding yourself closed in the warmth of his embrace
Yet you could feel some of the tension still lingering in the way he holds you so, so carefully like he's afraid he might break you but also like the world would snatch you away at any moment if he lets his guard down
Slowly, you shift in his arms, closing whatever space there still was between you and wrapping your arms around his torso as you rest your head on his chest
"Just relax, Charlie." You murmured, feeling the thumps of his heart speeding up just a bit as he pulls you tighter against him, "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, I'm staying right here with you."
"Do... Do you really mean that?" His voice was so quiet you wouldn't have heard it if you weren't so close, his normally steady tone faltering just slightly
You only squeezed him tighter, "Yes, I do. I know everything's... Hard right now for both of us, but you don't have to watch me all the time, I'll be okay, I promise."
He goes quiet for a moment, completely still in your embrace as you just continue to hold him tightly but his grip remains firm even if you could feel his hands trembling slightly
Then, in one sudden, desperate second, he pulled you flush against him and buried his face in your hair. He breathed in your scent almost desperately as he held you in a viselike grip, pressing you against him tightly like you might disappear any moment
You could feel his body shake as he buried his face deeper into your hair, trying to drown himself in the smell of your perfume, in the warmth of your body against his, in the steady rhythm of your still beating heart, reassuring himself that you're still here and breathing
Despite your initial surprise, you recovered quickly, squeezing him as tightly as you can and gently rubbing circles on his back, "Hey, it's alright, everything is okay."
"No, it's not okay," he murmured into your hair, his grip tightening yet still somehow staying gentle, "I can't stop thinking about that day and... And how... Easily I could've lost you, how if I had just been a second too late you would've... Would've..."
He inhales sharply, trying to keep his composure intact in front of you, "I should've noticed sooner, I should've been there instead of leaving you alone like that for such a long time. I was a horrible husband and I caused you to almost-"
"Charles."
The firmness in your voice and the feeling of your warm hands on his face snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts, almost automatically he nuzzled into your soft palms before looking down at you, having pushed yourself slightly back from where you were pressed against his chest but making no attempt of getting out of his arms
"You were not a horrible husband" You said sternly, holding his face and forcing him to look you in the eye, to see your sincerity, "Yes, you had deeply hurt me but you didn't intend to. I forgive you, Charlie, I truly do."
He doesn't respond for a while, only staring at you with a mix of emotions you can't read storming in his eyes, "... You shouldn't, I haven't earned that yet."
"Yes, you have, you've been earning it every single day. Don't think I don't see how hard you're trying, how you learned to cook just to make me my favorite foods, how you secretly clean up after me when I'm tired, you even turned down that promotion you had wanted for me."
"I..." He doesn't know what to say, not in the face of your certainty, not while seeing that pure love in your eyes, "I still should've seen you suffering alone..."
"Maybe," you admitted, gently caressing his face with your thumb, "But what matters is now and I think you're being the best husband I could ask ever for so far."
He doesn't say anything, only looking down at you with such tenderness in his soft eyes while he slightly tilted his head into your palms before he closed his eyes like he's savoring the moment, a shaky breath escaping him as he places a hand on top of yours
"It's okay, Charlie," you murmur, feeling the lightest you have ever felt in weeks, the persistent weight of the exhaustion and hopelessness easing, not completely but ever so slowly getting there, "We're going to be okay."
You both stay like that for a long time, intertwined on the couch as the sun begins to set through the window and dusk starts to cover the sky, but neither of you notice, forgetting about the rest of the world as both of you just silently take in each other's warmth and love
When he opens his eyes again the steady softness is back but now there's resolve in there as well, an unshakable promise to you and to himself, "I don't deserve you, I never have, but I won't make the same mistake again."
"I'll never let you slip away like that ever again, I'll take care of you this time," his tone is soft as ever but there was an intensity underneath, a dark certainty edging into the sweet words
But you aren't given time to dwell on it before he leaned down and placed a quick, chaste kiss on your lips, somehow feeling almost desperate and gentle at the same time "I love you, my darling."
"I love you too, Charlie," you said softly as your cheeks reddened just a bit, thinking that maybe it was simply your tired mind playing tricks on you again but was it?
You shook that thought away, no, just your imagination, before you finally realize how late it had gotten, the sun having already set completely and night settling on to the quiet suburbia
"Oh dear, I better start on supper before it gets too late," he said as he moved to get up but stopping when you do as well, "Ah, darling, please sit down, I'll handle it."
You only smile at him, taking the blanket off your shoulders and neatly folding it on the couch before straightening your dress, "nonsense, It'll be quicker if it's the two of us after all."
"But-"
"No, buts!" You dramatically shush him before gently pulling him to his feet from the couch, "Come on, I know how much you like it when we cook together, and my legs were cramping from sitting down the whole day."
He huffed as a fond smile formed on his face, letting you pull him up and lead him to the kitchen, your fingers intertwining automatically, "Alright, alright, whatever my darling wants."
And as you smile so brightly for the first time in weeks, you don't notice the way his expression morphs into something almost completely lovesick as he stared at you in near disbelief, engraving that beautiful smile into his mind
He'll take care of you, and he'll make sure you never slip through his grasp ever again, never let that smile fade again. He doesn't deserve you but you chose him and he will make sure you never regret it, no matter what















