I'm being utterly blessed with beautiful winter-themed pictures of my babies at the moment! This amazing commission is by my dear friend @potatoaiisle and is an illustration of my story Winter Star Angel.
The colours in this are just glorious and the amount of detail! OMG! I just can't believe it! I love each and every thing in it! The decorations, the tree, the flowers, the snow on the window, and how cute are the two kitties curled up together? That ball of yarn and the little mouse are just killing me!
And my Seb & Lily... oh...
They are so sweet together... this is so perfect... I love this moment... captured so perfectly.
I am so in love with this picture. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Such a silly little piece of fluff but I couldn't help myself, I just wanted to write something sweet for Christmas! I know life is hard for many of us these days but I hope that everyone can find some peace and contentment these holidays, even if only for a moment. If you can, please cherish it, because those moments are so very precious.
Winter Star Angel
Sebastian stopped reading and let the book he was holding fall on the bedspread. He looked down at his wife and smiled to see her sleeping peacefully on his shoulder, her hands curled sweetly against him. Next to them Nyx lay curled protectively around a fluffy white kitten, the newest addition to their family, and his smile widened as his mind drifted back to the start of the day and the moment he had given Lily the first of her many Winter Star presents.
Sebastian grinned as he stepped through the farm door and carefully laid a beribboned box on the table. He couldn't wait to see the look on Lily's face when she saw what was inside.
Before he had time to imagine further a consternation-fuelled streak in the shape of his wife came flying through the kitchen towards him and flung itself into his arms.
"Oh Sebby! Where have you been? I was so worried when I woke up and you were gone!"
He laughed and wrapped his arms around her. So typical of his Lily, he had woken as early and quietly as possible to pick up this gift from his parents, had been as fast as he possibly could, and she had still noticed his absence!
"I'm sorry, baby," he kissed the top of her head and stroked her back through the soft material of her dressing gown. "But it was for a good cause, I had to go fetch your present from my mom's."
She ceased her burrowing into his chest to look up at him with a quizzical little frown on her face. "From your mom's? But why wasn't it already here under the tree with all the others?"
"Well," he said with a smile, "this one is a bit special." Her puzzled expression increased as she looked at the box and he couldn't help but laugh again. Ah Yoba, she was so cute!
"I had to get my mom to take care of it for the night. Why don't we take a look? Follow me!" He lifted the box off the table and, nodding his head towards the living room, carried it through and set it down in front of the fire, sitting down cross-legged in front of it and holding out a hand for Lily to join him.
Confusion still firmly in place, a wide-eyed Lily took his hand and sank to the ground next to him.
"Go ahead... open it."
He fixed his gaze to her face, not wanting to miss a moment as she tentatively pulled at the ribbon that bound the box then lifted the lid.
A gasp left her lips as a tiny ball of white fluff with bright blue eyes, dark ears and a triangular shaped wedge of grey fur painting the front of its face carefully poked up its head and stared at its new owners.
"Seb… oh… it's adorable… I love it!" She let out a little sob as the kitten hopped out of its box and immediately made its way into her lap, purring and rubbing its head against her hand. "I never thought I'd have one of my own, they're so rare…" the sweetest smile lit her face as she looked up at him, eyes brimming with tears. "I can't believe you remembered…"
"Of course I remembered," he said softly, heart melting as he reached out to cradle her cheek, loving her reaction, loving her.
It was one of the few happy memories Lily had told him from her past. Of the gentle Birman cat her grandmother had owned and how she had cuddled it endlessly as a child.
"I remember everything you've ever said. I put my name on the waiting list for one as soon as you told me. I know you never had a happy Winter Star thanks to your dad, Lily, but that all changes right now. This is just the start, I'm going to make this day so perfect for you!"
Tears ran down her cheeks as she gazed at him, stars in her eyes. "Oh Sebby…" she touched his face in return, "you're so sweet, you do know it's not your job to make up for every bad thing that ever happened to me, don't you?"
He smiled, took her in his arms and kissed her. "You're wrong, baby… that's exactly what my job is!"
Sebastian kissed his sleeping wife on the forehead, remembering the sound of her laughter, the taste of her happy tears, the feel of her in his embrace. The only gifts he had wanted that day. He laid his cheek on the top of her head and sighed, stroking her hair fondly, his smile full of peace and contentment as he held her close.
Yes, that was his job. To make up for every bad thing that had ever been done to her. Even if it took him his whole life.
"You're my angel, Lily," he said softly as the decorations twisted and twinkled gently above their heads. "My Winter Star Angel."
The most beautiful, breathtaking illustration of my story A Night in the Garden by the utterly amazing @potatoaiisle
I have so many things I want to say about this that I decided to put them below the cut as I know most people will just want to see the picture! But for you, my dear friend Aya, please read on because my heartfelt thanks await you below...
I feel like I have to explain/excuse myself before I even start on this picture. I know I can come across as way too intense sometimes because, well, when you're autistic you feel everything so strongly it's almost painful. A song's lyrics can have you sobbing like your heart's about to break and a beautiful sight can fill you so full of joy you feel like you just want to pour yourself into the thing that has gripped you so much and never leave it.
For example, I remember when I was a kid I used to sit under my grandparent's fruit trees, so entranced by the pretty blossoms that I'd just giggle with delight and play with the petals for hours.
This is how your art makes me feel and I just need to tell you. I need you to know that the things you create lift my little autistic soul up so high I feel like I'm lost in the blossoms again :)
Your drawings are so unique, so magical, they have a depth, life and richness unlike any other artist I've ever seen. It's like their works are two dimensional and yours are three. It's the only way I can describe it. And this picture… this picture… oh my god. It's the most magical thing I've ever seen. When I wrote this scene I never dreamed it could look this beautiful. I literally do not have any words that can fully express my gratitude for the way you've captured this.
But more than that, the way you've drawn Seb this time… you've broken me, you've literally broken me. I've seen people draw him cute, pretty, hot, even beautiful, but this, this is beyond all that… he's perfect, his face, his hair, his body, every single line makes me want him so bad… oh, Aya, you just made me fall for him all over again.
I'm crying right now because I'm so happy, so utterly in love with this picture, with Seb and with you for creating this for me.
Okay, I just received THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PICTURE EVER from my favourite artist @potatoaiisle.
I swear this is the most amazing thing I've ever seen, I'm not even sure I can heap enough praise on it! Where do I begin? How perfect is the mood, the rain, the ripples on the water, the haze around my babies? The colours are so rich, the composition so good, they look so sweet together, the way he's holding her... that kiss... my god, this is glorious!!!!
I am beside myself. Thank you so much for capturing my stories so well. It's like you read my heart to perfection. I love this and I love you! <3
A little present for @potatoaiisle featuring their farmer Aya and an older but just as handsome Sebby. Happy birthday my friend! I hope this story makes you smile!
A Little Spirit's Eve Magic
The autumn night was cool and crisp, the slightest hint of smoke in the air as Aya knelt on the porch and adjusted the final jack o'lantern until it was angled just right. Finally satisfied she sat back to admire her work. She and Sebastian had spent all day yesterday carving these and looking at them now brought a little flush to her face as her childhood memories of him returned as they so often did.
She lifted her hand to touch the obsidian heart that hung around her neck, a gift from her husband for their first wedding anniversary, to match the depth of her eyes that he adored so much. Her flush deepened as her flashback grew stronger and there she was, little Aya, just twelve years old but already deeply in love with the handsome older man who visited her grandpa's farm so often.
Aya leapt to her feet and charged down the farm path towards the tall, dark haired man approaching with a box of pumpkins and a sweet smile on his face. He always seemed to save that smile just for her and she loved it so much she couldn't help but launch herself at him, flinging her arms around his waist and almost knocking him clean off his feet in her excitement.
"Steady on, girl!" he cried, juggling the box expertly before the contents went flying everywhere. "You're a bit too big for that kind of thing now!"
Aya laughed delightedly and looked up into his face. "But I'm never too big for pumpkins! I knew you'd bring me some, thank you, Sebby!"
He laughed and freed an arm from his box to snake around her and hug her tight. She felt so warm inside she could have melted. He was always so kind to her and their tradition of pumpkin carving was just one of many they indulged in every year. Him taking her to swim every summer at the beach, annual jaunts to the night market, comedy santa outfits every wintersday, special meals whenever she visited him at the old carpenter's shop he ran in memory of his mother. She loved every single moment she spent with him, all her time in between visits taken up with anticipating the next one.
"Just you wait, kiddo, this year I'm gonna teach you some advanced carving methods and then we're gonna cook a whole bathful of soup with the remains."
Aya giggled at the ridiculousness of the notion and grabbed his hand, still looking up into his face adoringly. She had been in love with Sebastian for as long as she could remember. Ever since she was the tiniest girl she had drawn pictures of him as her handsome knight, she as a beautiful princess, endless scenes of them getting married and living happily ever after in a fairytale castle. Silly little girlhood notions of course, but her feelings hadn't changed, in fact they had grown stronger every year, making her look forward desperately to every birthday so he would finally see her as something other than a child.
He sat down on her grandpa's porch and started unpacking the box's contents, his every movement mesmerising her. He was so tall and strong, with such gentle, sensitive hands. She had always liked watching his hands, one of her favourite things to do was sit by him while he played the piano in the farm's big old dining room. She loved how lost he got in his music, the expression on his face as he played. She couldn't take her gaze off that face now as he started slicing into the first pumpkin, staring up at those calm grey eyes, that jet black hair streaked with a little white at the temples, the fines lines that so perfectly emphasized his handsome features, the man she was so determined to marry just as soon as she was old enough…
"Now that's quite the expression on my wife's face," Sebastian laughed softly as he came out onto the porch. He sat down beside her and she turned her head to look at him, immediately lost in those eyes, just as entrancing now as they'd been a decade ago.
"What's got you looking so dreamy, my Ayaya?" he asked softly, cupping her chin and gently running his thumb over her lower lip.
She shivered at his touch, a touch that always set her alight, those same hands she had so adored watching move over the piano so long ago, the same hands that had shown her so much love since they finally admitted their feelings for each other and, despite their age difference, had wed with so much joy and exuberance that Mayor Lewis had declared their marriage day a village holiday ever since.
"Oh, nothing..." she looked down, feeling flustered to be caught in such silly daydreams.
"Nothing, eh?" he laughed again and kissed her, letting his hands run into her hair. "Well, that nothing has got you looking even more beautiful than usual, so it must be a very nice nothing."
Aya giggled. "Is that your vampiric way of trying to win me over with flattery?"
"What? These things?" Sebastian grinned and stroked the fangs that were part of his costume. He climbed to his feet and smoothed the wrinkles out of his suit, flinging his scarlet cape dramatically over his shoulder, the thick white streaks in his hair making him the picture perfect vampire count.
"What do you think? Menacing enough? Mwhahahahahahahaaa!" He lifted both arms in a terrible mime that completely ruined the image.
Aya laughed and shook her head. "All I can say is it's a good thing I'm already your willing victim!"
"I am deeply offended by this insinuation," he growled, lifted her to her feet and with one smooth motion had her pinned against the wall.
"How about now…?" he said huskily, lips fastening on her throat.
"Better…" she murmured before accepting a kiss that sent thrills shooting through her and put back their arrival at the Spirit's Eve festivities by quite some time.
"Are you okay there, hun?" Sebastian looked away from the skeletons in the cage and watched as his wife rearranged her outfit for what seemed like the fiftieth time. Granted, he had disarrayed her quite a bit with their impromptu lovemaking before they got here. He smiled as he looked at her. Damn, she was so beautiful. Even after a full year of marriage, he still couldn't believe she was his. Wondered if he would ever believe it. Truth be told, he'd been in love with her for years before they finally got together. He'd always thought he was far too old for her, that she saw him only as the ageing friend of her old grandpa, never in a million years had he thought that the sweet, cheeky girl he had watched grow into a cheeky, beautiful woman, would ever have feelings for him.
"I'm okay," she winked at him as she rearranged her petticoats and he felt heat rising to his cheeks at the thought of what he'd just spent the last hour doing to this particular vulnerable wench. "Although you were pretty energetic," she laughed naughtily. "I didn't wear you out too much, did I? We still gotta figure out a way to beat Magnus this year. I'm gonna get to the end of that maze if it kills me!"
He chuckled as he watched her glare at the maze entrance like it had just personally insulted her. "Don't you worry about me. I've got enough energy to carry you through that maze on my back if I need to!"
"Sebby," she flung her arms around him and leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him. "You're so sweet, but I would never ask you to do that. I don't wanna make your leg hurt any more."
"Ah, it's not too bad," he said with a grin. "You look after me so well I feel no pain these days."
His smile grew wider as he remembered the day it had happened, when he had injured his leg in the mines and a sweet eighteen year old Aya had taken care of him. It was probably right about then that he finally fallen for her completely.
Sebastian groaned as he dragged himself out of the mines. Maybe it was finally time to admit he was too old for this kind of thing. He lifted the leg of his pants and groaned again when he saw the deep laceration all along his calf muscle. A couple of decades ago and that shadow beast would never have caught him, but now… ah, dammit, he hated getting old, in his mind he still felt so young, but his body, unfortunately, begged to differ quite often these days.
He had a moment to wonder just how the hell he was going to make it back to his house when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps and saw a lantern bobbing in the rapidly darkening night.
"Seb? Is that you?"
He let out a sigh of relief at the familiar voice. Aya. It was Aya! Then his heart sank at the thought of her seeing him in such a state. For some reason, he didn't want her to see him like this, so weak and pathetic. He felt embarrassed, wondered when an old man like him had become so concerned with what a young, beautiful woman would think of him.
And oh Yoba, she was beautiful. When she stepped closer and he could finally see her in her entirety he sucked in his breath at the sight of her. Small, slender and delicate, her long platinum hair streamed in the breeze, her dark eyes so large, so deep, lashes so long and soft, that sweet little mouth that always smiled so brightly whenever she saw him now turned down in a frown as she knelt at his side, concern coloring her pretty face at the sight of him.
"Oh Sebby, you're hurt! What happened?"
There was no pity on her face, just so much worry he felt his heart begin to thump faster in his chest. Her hands rested on his wounded leg and despite his pain he felt heat flare through him from her touch. She lifted her gaze and looked into his eyes and he felt something inside him click into place. The reason why he put so much effort into his appearance every time she came round, the reason he had spent so much time choosing the present for her last birthday, the reason why he so enjoyed those evenings when they just talked and laughed together.
She had grown into a woman whose presence comforted him like no one else's, a woman he wanted so badly the realisation of it hurt more then his leg ever could.
"Don't worry, Seb, I'll get you out of here." She put her arm around him, helped him to his feet with more strength than he would have thought possible for her tiny little body. He turned his head to look at her and again those beautiful eyes met his.
How could he tell her? After all these years? Could she possible see him the same way?
His heart ached as he searched those eyes, the moment hanging sweet and still around them. Why hadn't he realised before now? Just how much he'd come to love her…
He shook his head and looked down into his wife's quizzical gaze.
She giggled and stroked his cheek gently. "Now it's my turn to ask," she said. "What's got you so dreamy?"
"Just remembering things," he said, running fond fingers through her hair. Yoba, he loved how silky it was.
"What things?" she asked, nuzzling closer into him.
"Ah, just that time at the mines…"
"Your leg?" she looked up at him, eyes soft. "I remember…"
He smiled down at her. "You know that was the first time I realised I was in love with you…"
Aya let out a little sigh, caught his face in her hands and tugged him down into kiss that almost brought tears to his eyes.
"I'd always loved you, Sebby," she looked up at him so sweetly that tears did come to his eyes and he probably would have started crying right there and then if it weren't for Magnus tapping him on the shoulder to let him know the maze was finally open for business.
"You two are always my most determined opponents," the wizard said with a superior grin as Sebastian turned to face him, surreptitiously wiping his tears away as he did so. "So I thought you'd like to be the first to try," he coughed behind his hand, "and fail, at this year's version."
Sebastian looked down at his wife, who was still gazing up at him adoringly.
"What do you say, Ayaya?" he smiled at her. "Wanna give it a go? I have a good feeling about this year!"
Aya looked at the smug wizard and her eyes flashed. She had never forgiven him for making her drink that terrible concoction when she first arrived in town. Sebastian felt a sudden, unstoppable surge of love for his feisty little wife as she squared up to her nemesis, who was a good foot and a half taller than her, and wagged her finger determinedly under his nose.
"You bet!" she declared. "We're gonna get that golden pumpkin this year and I'm gonna carve your face right into it, Razzberry!"
The wizard rocked non-plussedly on his heels as Aya grabbed Sebastian's hand and pulled him full pelt into the maze before he even had a chance to blink.
"Okay, I have to admit, we might actually be totally lost this time." Aya pouted and folded her arms. "I thought we were onto something when we found Abigail shivering by the spiders. I mean, what better place to hide the true path than behind those horrible things?" She flung her arms wide and grinned. "Luckily I'm not such a scaredy cat as her so they didn't stop me!"
Sebastian smiled indulgently at his little wife as she started pushing at the hedges all around her. "Well, they were just rubber ones, hun."
"Yeah, well, I didn't know that at the time," she pouted again. "I thought I was being immensely brave, don't ruin things for me!"
Sebastian laughed. "Sorry. So, what's my immensely brave wife doing?"
She turned and gave him a look that made him laugh again.
"Sorry, sorry! But seriously, what are you up to?"
"Well," Aya continued her shoving. "Harvey said something to me before he ran screaming from those bats. He said something about fake walls and I'm sure I saw Alex up ahead of us, but there's no way he could have got where he was unless he could literally walk through walls. So, I'm thinking…"
"Our doctor was onto something," Sebastian finished for her.
She nodded and frowned as she struggled with the hedge in front of her, rattling it so hard that little leaves flew off and spiralled to the ground. "This one feels kinda clunky. Sebby, could you give me a hand with it?"
"Sure thing," he stepped forward and added his strength to hers. All of a sudden part of the hedge gave way beneath them and they both let out a cry as they fell face-first into darkness.
"What the hell?" Sebastian sat up, immediately looking around for his wife. "Aya, Aya, are you okay?"
"I'm okay," a little voice in the darkness.
"Where are you?"
"Here." He felt a tiny hand slip into his and clutched it tightly in relief.
"What just happened?"
"I don't know," he looked around, it was so dark barely anything could be seen. "I think we're in some kind of passage but I can't really tell for sure. If only we had some light."
He heard some shuffling from Aya's direction and then a soft orange light appeared and he could see her pretty little face looking up at him, bashful smile already in place.
"Did you buy those silly little snake glowsticks?" he chuckled fondly.
"Well, they were sooo cute," she batted her eyelashes at him. "Hey, you know I was gonna get them eventually and I bet you're glad of them now, right?"
"Where on earth did you hide them?" he asked, honestly curious.
"These petticoats hide many things," she said mysteriously.
He laughed again and, unable to resist, grabbed her and pulled her close, lifting said petticoats to see just what else she might be hiding under there.
Aya giggled beneath his ministrations. "Oh Seb, do you think this is really the place?"
"It's always the place with you," he caught her lips with his own, always amazed by the effect she had on him despite his sixty years.
"Come on, Sebby," she wriggled out of his grasp. "As soon as we find that pumpkin I'll let you have all the rewards you want."
She tugged at his hand and he took a deep breath and allowed himself to be led farther along the passage they had tumbled into.
"There only seems to be one way to go," Aya said, walking faster now that they could see the way. "Ha! I bet that stupid wizard thought no one would get this far. We've got him now!"
Just as she said that she felt the floor give way beneath her and let out a gasp as she started to fall.
"Aya!"
Seb's hand wrapped around her arm before she even had time to finish her cry. She looked up into his eyes and almost sobbed aloud when she saw the terrified expression in his eyes.
"Oh Yoba, Aya, I thought I'd lost you!" He hauled her up and pulled her into his arms, holding her so close she could hardly breathe but she found she didn't mind, she was shaking so hard she needed his support right now.
She buried her face in his chest and sniffled forlornly. So many times in the past he'd held her like this. His arms tightened around her and she sighed. He always managed to stop her tears eventually.
"Seb…"
"What, hun?"
"I lost the glowstick."
"That doesn't matter, you silly thing." He climbed to his feet, gently lifting her up with him and then looked down into the hole she'd almost fallen into.
"Oh, that asshole!"
"What is it?"
"Look…" he nodded his head into the hole. Aya's glowstick rested in a sea of pumpkin cushions that covered the ground below, more than enough to soften what he could now see was a very short drop.
"I'm gonna kill that wizard!" Aya squealed. "That scared the crap out of me!" She paused and then bit her lip. "I mean, no it didn't, because I'm immensely brave after all…"
"I don't think you'll need to kill him," Seb whispered, turning her to face what she could now see was a distant ray of light. "Because I think we might actually have made it this time."
"Oh my Yoba!" Aya exclaimed, clapping her hands together in excitement. Finally, after so many years of trying! She charged off, forgetting her moment of panic, heart pounding with the joy of her discovery as she came out into a tiny room lit by the glow of bat shaped lanterns hanging on the walls, a small, intricately carved chest sitting on a high plinth at the centre.
"Seb! Look!" she turned to face him as he entered the room behind her. "Let's open it together!"
He nodded and moved to her side. They looked at each other, smiled, and then reached out as one and lifted the lid of the chest.
Nestled inside, glowing with a soft, twinkling light, was a perfect golden pumpkin… all ready to have Razzberry's face carved right into it!
Aya let out a laugh of pure delight. She couldn't believe it. They'd finally done it.
She looked up at Seb. "Oh Seb, it's so magical, so amazing."
His eyes were an ocean as they looked at her and all of a sudden, despite all her desperation to get here, to find that pumpkin, to finally defeat the wizard, all of it meant nothing in comparison to the magic of those eyes, to the love that swirled within them.
"Seb…" she reached out to him, completely lost in him, in the sweet ache in her heart for this beautiful man. Her husband. The man she had wanted her entire life. She ran her fingers into his hair, separating the rich white streaks from the black.
"You're amazing," he said softly and then he pulled her close, stroked her face, his lips fastening on hers, seeking the rewards she had promised him earlier. "I love you, my Ayaya."
"I love you too, Sebby," she sighed and immersed herself in the real magic of Spirit's Eve.
I am so grateful to the lovely @potatoaiisle for yet another beautiful commission of Seb & Lily. I've had a difficult few weeks, writing some very painful stories while all my mental health issues ganged up on me and to receive this picture was such a blessing.
I love it so very much, both myself and my poor Lily need the comfort right now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart <3
Thank you so much to @potatoaiisle for this beautiful commission of Seb & Lily. I absolutely adore this, all the little details make it so perfect - the sparkle on the mermaid pendant, the rays of light through the window, the sweet expressions on their faces. This picture makes me so happy... eeeee :)
Please check out her commission info on her blog. She really is an amazing artist and a totally lovely person. Without her constant encouragement I would not only never have posted any of my stories, I would probably also have deleted my entire account many times over. So thanks for that too!
I wrote a ficlet to go with this picture, which you can read under the cut. It's just a short scenario from when they are married in the future. There is some implied sexual content but nothing graphic, still, please only read on if you're okay with that.
Sebastian sighed as he checked his work for the second time. This was always the worst part about coding, going through all the lines afterwards. To be honest, it was amazing he didn't get more headaches than he did, he was sure he was going to end up needing glasses before he was thirty at this rate.
He heard the bathroom door swing open behind him as he carefully scanned his work.
'That must be Lily,' he thought to himself. 'I should probably call this a day soon and… oh shit, that is a big error right there!'
Muttering under his breath he started to rewrite the offending string only to find himself forced to pause when a cloud of gentle perfume enveloped him as Lily's hip brushed against him, knocking his hand away from his mouse.
"Oh…" her voice was light and airy, suspiciously so. "I'm sorry, Sebby, I wasn't watching where I was going."
A little pause.
He looked up to see her dressed in nothing but a little white shirt, hair tumbling loose down her back just the way he liked it, finger held to her full lips as though deep in thought.
"I think I'm gonna head off to the kitchen and plan out our dinner, okay?"
She sashayed off through the door and Sebastian smiled indulgently after her, quickly saved his work and climbed to his feet.
He knew his wife well enough by now to know when she wanted attention.
Sebastian walked into the kitchen to find Lily kneeling on the ground in front of the big picture window filling Nyx's food bowl and petting the effusively grateful feline as she did so. He padded softly behind her as she rose upright and slipped his arms around her waist.
"You look gorgeous in nothing but that shirt, baby," he whispered into her ear.
He lifted her hair and started to lay soft kisses along her neck, felt her shiver in his grasp, his own body quickly responding to her.
"Sebby…" she murmured his name and he allowed himself a few more moments to slowly undo all her buttons before spinning her around, wrapping his arms back around her waist and pulling her firmly against him.
"Did you wear this just to get my attention?" he purred, letting his mouth hover close to hers, teasing her with the lightest touch of his lips.
She let out a quavering sigh, sliding her hands up his chest, tugging at the neck of his shirt with her fingers.
"Maybe..."
Her lips sought his and he finally took pity on her and kissed her deep and long, letting his tongue slide gently inside her mouth, pulling her even closer against him, loving the little moan she made when she felt him hard against her.
"Well, it worked," he moved his head back and grinned mischievously. "Now, the question is... are you prepared to face the consequences?"
"What…?" she gazed up at him, eyes glazed with desire and puzzlement then let out a little shriek as he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
"Time to take my wife to bed," he laughed. "I can't be neglecting my husbandly duties, now can I?"
Lily giggled and clutched at him as he carried her into their bedroom where he spent the next few hours performing his duties in a more than admirable fashion.
Chapter Eight of my Stardew Valley fan fiction. Trigger warning for sexual content. I like to think it's smut with feelings but it's still definitely not for minors, so please dni if you're under 18. Shout out to SolarianComic for their awesome mod The Only One for Me which gave me the lovely idea for Seb & Lily's dance.
Flower Dance
Lily made a final twirl in front of the mirror. The dress Emily had made for her was even more beautiful than she'd imagined, she just hoped Sebastian would think so too. She chewed her bottom lip nervously. Today was the day they'd decided to make their status as a couple public. It had been almost a month since their first blissful kiss by the sea and Lily had never been happier in her entire life. To finally be able to call Seb her own, to have his arms around her, to be able to touch and kiss him, it was like a dream come true. Yoba alone knew why she was so worried at the thought of everyone finding out.
Nyx chose that moment to wind around her ankles, seeming to know that Lily was anxious and she gratefully knelt down to pet her gently behind the ears.
"I'm being silly, aren't I?" she said to the little black cat, who meowed meaningfully in response. "I mean, it's not like we're doing anything wrong…"
Nyx purred and butted Lily's hand with the top of her head. Lily laughed and then jumped slightly at the sound of a knock at her kitchen door.
"That must be Emily!" She climbed to her feet and ran to let her in.
"Lily!" Emily cried as soon as the door opened. "Oh my, that dress looks so good on you! I knew it would!"
Lily blushed a little at Emily's effusive praise. "You look beautiful, too, Em," she said.
The two had slowly but surely become firm friends since she moved to the valley. It was always hard for her to let anyone in, but Emily's kindness, positivity and happy nature had finally assuaged her fears and had been a great boon to the naturally timid Lily, smoothing out introductions and helping her mix with the people of the town when her normal tendencies were to shy away from everyone. Well, apart from Seb, she had always felt comfortable with him.
"Oh, but you look like a little angel, and you're going to have so many requests from the men," Emily laughed. "Especially when I've finished with your hair. Come here, sit down."
She swirled Lily into a seat next to the mirror and started rummaging in her bag.
"What on earth are you planning?" Lily said with a little giggle as Emily emerged with an armful of various clips and tools.
"You have to have your hair done today," Emily said and started to unpick the messy bun that Lily had put her hair up in. "You can't wear it like you're about to do farm work on flower dance day!"
"Oh Em," Lily said deprecatingly. "It doesn't matter, just the dress is enough."
"Now shush," Emily said with an admonishing tap to the top of Lily's head. "This is a day for all the women of the town to look their best and I'm going to make you look so beautiful you'll be sure to win the heart of your beau!"
"My beau?!" Lily exclaimed. "Oh, Emily, you say the funniest things!"
Emily laughed as she busied herself applying tongs to Lily's hair. "You're not telling me you don't have your eye on a certain someone…"
Despite herself, Lily froze a little in her chair. Emily felt her sudden stiffness and for a moment put down the tongs and gently stroked the lock of hair she'd just curled. Lily looked up into the mirror, seeing her friend's sweet, smiling face.
"Lily," Emily said softly. "Don't think I haven't noticed. I know there's something between you and Seb and I think it's wonderful. He has such a unique energy and every time you think of him you light up inside."
Lily blushed and looked down. So Emily knew? How many other people knew…?
"Oh look at you," Emily trilled delightedly and hugged her friend's shoulders. "Even now you're glowing just at the thought of him! Don't worry, I only noticed because I know you so well. That's why I want to make sure you look your best. It's not every day you announce your love to the world!"
Lily turned and looked at Emily, her mouth hanging open.
Emily's face was one huge grin. "What can I say?" she said. "It's a gift!"
Lily laughed, she couldn't help it, in just a few short moments her friend had drained all the tension out of her and left her with nothing but delightful anticipation.
"It's all going to be just fine," Emily said. She lifted more waves of Lily's hair. "Sebastian is going to be even more in love with you by the time I'm finished!"
"So, you planning on dancing with anyone today?" Sam was poking around the laden table as he made the seemingly offhand remark to Seb. "You know Abigail's had her eye on you for a while… ugh, why do they never have pizza at these things?"
Sebastian loosened his tie as Sam filled his plate. Dammit, this flower dance suit was always so uncomfortable, he hated wearing it.
"So…?" Sam nudged him meaningfully, nodding over at the goth girl in her statement black and purple dress. "You gonna make her day?"
"I don't think so," Seb stared his friend down. "Especially not with the way she's been acting lately!"
Sam grinned and held up a placating hand while using the other to sample the substantial fare on his plate. "I was just messing with you, bro, chill out. I just wondered why you were here, that's all. Normally you avoid these things like the plague. You got a reason this time?"
Seb looked at the ground. Yes, he had a reason this time, a sweet, beautiful reason and a plan he still couldn't believe he was going to put into action.
"Dude?" Sam waved a hand beneath Seb's face. "You awake?"
Seb shook himself and looked up. Just at that moment his mother and Demetrius came over and Sam rolled his eyes as the inevitable started.
"Sebastian, you should put your jacket back on," Demetrius began. "And for goodness' sake, what have you done with your tie? Honestly, I don't know why you bother coming to these things if you're not going to make the effort."
"It's like a billion degrees out here," Sebastian said. "I'd rather not roast in my suit…"
"Oh Sebby, you really should…" his mom reached out to fasten up his tie again and he carefully stopped her hand with his own.
"Mom…"
She sighed and lowered her hand. "Okay Sebby, I'm glad you're here. It's nice to see you out and about with all the townsfolk."
She took her husband's hand and purposefully led him away. Demetrius' voice could still be heard clearly complaining. "You're too soft on that boy, Robin. He needs to learn…"
Sam lifted his eyebrows. "Condolences, man. I don't know how you put up with that 24/7."
Seb grimaced. "Why do you think I stay in my room all the time?"
"Because you're an anti social vampire?"
"Nice."
"Seriously, like I said. Why are you here? I mean, I come for the food mainly, but it's nice to check out the talent even though I nearly always end up dancing with Penny."
Sebastian didn't answer, couldn't answer, couldn't in fact say or do anything right at that moment, because his reason for being there had just walked into view and all he could do was stare helplessly at the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.
The dress Lily wore was light and floaty, cut a little higher at the front than the back, showing off her long, slender legs to perfection. The delicate green material wrapped softly around her slim waist and breasts, colorful spring flowers adorned the hems and her hair curled loosely across her shoulders and down her back, sweet little yellow blossoms scattered amongst the dark auburn waves. The sunlight seemed to radiate from her skin, her smile, her eyes. Her blue haired friend Emily was standing next to her, but paled in comparison. Lily outshone her, outshone everyone, she was the most stunning woman there by far. Sebastian felt his entire body begin to shake and only realised someone else was there when Sam punched him hard on the shoulder.
"You dog," Sam guffawed. "Now I see why you're here. Put your tongue in, you're positively salivating at the sight of her!"
"Sam…" Sebastian glowered at his friend, annoyed with him for ruining the moment. Sam laughed some more and then turned to look at the two women who had just arrived. Both of them were making small talk with various townsfolk but it was obvious that they were trying to make their way over to the two young men.
"Lily certainly is pretty," Sam mused. "So… how long have you two been together?" He said it so casually that Seb hardly noticed the insinuation at first, then he turned and looked at Sam like he'd just emerged from an alien spaceship.
Sam grinned at his non-plussed expression. "We've been friends for how long now?" He slapped Sebastian playfully on the back. "You thought I didn't know? Sam's intuition never lets him down. Go get her, dude. I've got to go ask Penny for the dance anyway."
Sebastian's expression changed to one of gratitude. He should have known Sam would have figured it out. Despite his bluff ways he was pretty perceptive at times. Sam winked at him and then turned and waved at red-haired Penny standing bashfully next to her already tipsy mother.
He took a deep breath. Was he ready for this? What he was about to do was pretty far out of his comfort zone but he had planned this for the whole of last week, wanting to do something special for Lily, something she would remember forever.
Well, it was now or never. He had signed up for a lot of community work to pay the mayor back for this, but it would be worth it.
He nodded to Lewis who smiled and nodded back, then made his way over to the woman who had quickly become the centre of his world.
Lily smiled and nodded at Jodi and Caroline, she did like them, but goodness, they were both such terrible gossips, sometimes it was hard to get away from them. She looked desperately at Emily but her friend just rolled her eyes helplessly. It was a shame these two were the first people they'd run into, anyone else would have let them be on their way by now.
"Shall we go see what's on offer at the buffet?" Emily suggested with a sudden stroke of inspiration, knowing that both the older woman loved their food.
"Oh, that's a wonderful idea," Jodi exclaimed. "Gus always puts on such a good spread at these things"
"He does indeed." Caroline put on a mock complaining tone. "Although it's still not enough to drag Pierre away from his stall." The women laughed, Emily and Lily more out of politeness, and the two older women started to move towards the bustling table. "Are you coming, dears?" Caroline called over her shoulder.
"Just a moment," Emily called lightly. She turned back to her friend.
"Thanks, Em," Lily said with heartfelt relief.
"You're more than welcome, hun," Emily said. "Now buck up, because the love of your life is on his way over!"
Lily looked in the direction Emily indicated and her heart bumped against her ribs at the sight of the familiar figure making its way towards her. "Good luck…" Emily said softly and patted her friend on the arm before taking her leave.
Lily's gaze was fixed on Seb now and she hardly noticed her friend walk away. He was so handsome. Always so handsome. Tall, lean and long limbed, he looked amazing in his suit, his tie pulled a little loose, his black hair touching the open collar of his shirt, a silver cross and black hoops dangling from his ears, beautiful dark grey eyes hypnotic as he gazed at her from under his tousled fringe. Was he really hers? She still couldn't believe it. Her heart pounded faster as he came to a halt in front of her, his face breaking into that little smile that made her melt inside every time she saw it. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to fling herself into his arms right then and there… and that would certainly announce their status to the world, wouldn't it? she thought wryly.
He forestalled her by taking her hand, bending over it and kissing it softly. She giggled quietly, caught by the archaic sweetness and then mesmerized by the intensity in his eyes as he looked up at her.
"I have three things I need to say to you, Lily," he said, his already low voice unusually husky even for him. "One, you're the most beautiful woman here by a million miles, two, I love you with all my heart, and three, will you dance with me, right here, right now?"
"Oh Seb…" her voice broke, no one had ever looked at her the way he was looking at her right now. So much tenderness in his eyes she felt like she might drown in it. "Of course I will."
He smiled again, straightened up and, pulling gently on her hand, led her out into the middle of the flower-strewn field. For a moment she felt bewildered, weren't they supposed to wait until everyone was ready? Then the music started up… Was that their song? The one that always made her cry? She looked up at him, his gaze was strong and steady, his hand reached out to stroke her cheek.
"I love you, Lily," he said, his heart in his voice. "Dance with me, baby, this is all for you."
Lily sobbed, she couldn't help it, she flung her arms around his neck, let his arms go around her, fingers pressing tenderly into the small of her back as he led her around to the beautiful strains of the song, softly singing the words to her, moving her with him in such perfect unison that she felt like she was a part of him, he a part of her, the feeling in her chest a warmth that would never go away.
"Sebby…" she whispered. "I don't ever want to be parted from you."
"You won't be, Lily," his lips brushed her ear. "I'm yours forever."
"Kiss her!" Someone from the audience yelled. Sam by the sounds of it. Suddenly she realised that people were watching, laughing, crying out, but she didn't mind, didn't care, all that mattered was her and Seb…
"What do you think?" he said softly, looking down at her with that same sweet smile.
"We can't disappoint our audience."
His smile grew wider and she smiled back then gasped as his mouth came down on hers and he kissed her with a depth and passion she'd never known. Until now. Until him. He lifted her up, off her feet, moving his lips so sweetly on hers, holding her so tightly, she whimpered and moaned, wrapping her arms around him and he groaned and deepened the kiss still further, she could hear the cheering as they embraced and it went on and on as she lost herself in it, in him, in the sweet perfect moment.
"I will admit," Sebastian said wryly as they shut the farmhouse door behind them, "I probably didn't plan the second half of that quite as well as the first…" He deftly prized off his dress shoes by the heels and gratefully kicked them into a corner, sending a pair of itchy socks flying quickly after them. "Damn," he muttered to himself, "those things are uncomfortable, feels so good to get them off."
"I know," Lily was already barefooted and padding around the kitchen with two glasses of iced water in her hands. She came to a halt before him and handed one to him with a little smile. He took it from her and drank it all down in one gulp, sighing with relief before setting the empty glass down on the table.
"Thanks, baby." He brushed a stray strand of hair out of her face and kissed her on the forehead. She sighed and leaned into him and he responded by wrapping his arms around her and pulling her close. He could feel her trembling and knew that she was suffering the same burnout that he was.
After their dance they had, of course, been inundated with attention and endless questions, surrounded by people all talking at once. He had tried his best to fend them off, not wanting Lily to be overwhelmed, but, being that they were both uncomfortable around people, they had quickly folded under the relentless barrage. It was only when his proudly crying mother had finally come to their rescue, telling people to "give the two lovebirds some space!" that they had managed to find a quiet corner to recuperate and, come the evening, finally make their way home.
"It's okay now," he said, softly stroking her back, loving the feeling of her body relaxing against his.
"Sebby…" she whispered his name, laid her cheek against his chest and slid her arms around him. For a long moment they were quiet and still, each taking comfort in the other, then the gentle tapping of rain beginning to hit the sills broke the silence.
"Uh-oh," Seb turned a little to peek out the windows, which were rapidly becoming covered with long streaks of water. "Ah shit, I was hoping this was going to hold off for a bit longer. It's meant to rain all night too. Guess I'm gonna get wet on the way home…"
"Do you want to stay tonight?"
The question hit him like a bolt out of the blue. He looked down at her. There was an entire world in her eyes, a whole gamut of meanings in those few words and his heart was suddenly thundering in his ears.
In the month they'd been dating they'd been physically intimate but they hadn't slept together yet. He knew that Lily's last relationship had been bad. Just how bad, he didn't know for sure, she never told him the details and he didn't want to pry, but he knew that despite their intense attraction to each other she was still afraid and so he had been careful to put no pressure on her.
But now…
"Are you sure?" He touched her cheek lightly, afraid she might flee like a frightened deer.
He so badly wanted to take her fear away.
"I'm sure," she said softly.
He didn't need any more encouragement. He'd been waiting to make love to her from the very first moment he'd set eyes on her.
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom.
Sebastian laid her carefully on the bed then stepped back and began to unbutton his shirt, his eyes intense and locked on hers as he disrobed. The air felt thick, crackling with heat and tension as he reached the last button and quickly peeled it off, throwing it into a corner, his slacks and boxers soon following after until he finally stood before her, completely naked for the first time.
Lily's heart pounded as she looked at him, drinking him in like he was the sweetest nectar. She felt light-headed and giddy, couldn't get enough of the sight of him, gorged her eyes on the form of the man she loved so much. His hair was tousled and dark, eyes a stormy sky, cheeks flushed with emotion, his torso a perfect tapered V, smoothly defined chest and arm muscles, flat sculpted stomach, flawless skin, slim hips, strong, lean legs, his already erect member jutting forth, making her long to run her fingers down him, all of him, just to feel him…
She shivered, caught between old fears and her aching need for this beautiful man. He knelt on the bed next to her, unhurried despite his obvious arousal and reached for the ties that held her dress fastened at the front, slowly pulling them free and letting the gauzy material fall aside. His touch was gentle, almost reverential, as he eased the cloth out from under her, throwing her dress onto the pile of his own clothes and then moving to slide her panties down her legs until she, too, was naked before him. And then he just sat back and looked at her for an endless moment, his gaze unwavering, filled with so much love, tenderness and yearning it made her feel like crying. She wanted his touch so badly and yet being looked at like that was… sublime… it rendered her motionless, breathless, staring back up at him, utterly ensnared by the intensity of his emotions…
Sebastian sat back and just looked at her. He felt like he had forgotten how to breathe, how to speak. She was every bit as glorious as he knew she would be.
Her hair lay spread softly on the pillow around her face, a rich halo of dark auburn waves, her eyes were a deep smoky green, the golden starburst around her pupils expanding as she gazed up at him. A blush of colour tinted her cheeks and her soft pink lips were slightly parted. Her neck was long and elegant, her breasts small but perfectly formed, her stomach was smooth and flat, her slender waist flaring perfectly out into the gentle curve of her hips, a soft triangle of hair on her pubic mound leading down into long, slim, shapely legs. Her skin was smooth and radiant, he longed to touch it, to touch all of her. To show her so much love she would never be afraid again.
"Lily," he said softly. "You're beautiful."
"Seb…" it was almost a sob, her hand reached up and out to him and he took it in his own, turning his head to kiss the palm, then each finger, before laying it against his cheek and looking her deep in the eyes as she caressed his skin and toyed with his hair.
He touched her gently, letting his fingers glide over her cheek, along her jaw, down her neck, across the sweet curve of her shoulder. She quivered and sighed, eyes never leaving his, chest heaving as she breathed deeply. He smiled at her and let his hands continue their travels, tracing a line between her breasts then around each one, cupping and caressing them before trailing down over her stomach, drawing feather light circles ever lower on her skin, finally moving down and sliding a finger along her folds, eliciting a whimpering gasp from her.
Yoba, she was so wet, he couldn't resist any more, he lowered himself down on top of her, opening her mouth with his tongue, letting his hands continue their work. She moaned sweetly into his mouth, undulating against him and he groaned and kissed her more deeply, pressing harder against her, loving the sounds she was making, the way she reacted to him, the waves of desire that were sweeping through him with every move they made. He wanted to be inside her so badly he could hardly stand it and he gripped her hips more firmly, pulling her into him, completely unable to stop himself when she wrapped her fingers around his cock and aligned him with her entrance.
"Aaah, Lily… oh baby," he threw back his head and let himself slip inside.
Lily cried out in utter ecstasy as he entered her, his entire length sinking easily inside her in one long, smooth thrust. She was so ready for him and he felt so warm and hard inside her, so perfect, every inch of him pressing against every part of her walls, sending pleasure searing through her. She shivered beneath him, knowing, just knowing, that if he moved again she would come straight away, it was so intense. Judging by the long, shuddering moan he let out as he slid inside her she knew he must be feeling the same way and she looked up at him wonderingly as his eyes came back down to meet hers.
"Lily," he whispered her name and gently stroked her face, then bent his head to kiss her, long and slow, his cock twitching deep inside her as he did so, even that tiniest of movements inciting more waves of pleasure. She whimpered, unable to believe she was feeling so much from so little, her heart blazing in her chest at the feel of his lips and tongue on hers. She lifted up her hands, tangling her fingers in his silky black hair, touching his skin, letting then run everywhere, desperate for him, for all of him.
Sebastian shivered into their kiss, echoing her whimpers with his own, let his hands run all over her, felt his whole shaft aching inside of her. He was so sensitive, he couldn't believe how she made him feel, how quickly she had brought him near his peak, he knew that if he moved now he was undone, and he wanted to make it last, dammit, he wanted to make it last. He took a deep breath and concentrated on the feel of her skin, the softness of her lips against his, on how badly he wanted to show her how good it could be, until he finally felt able to move without immediately losing control. He kept his stroke as slow as he possibly could, looking deep into her eyes as he did so, absolutely loving how dilated her pupils were, how much she trembled as he slid back into her, how beautiful her cries were.
"Seb…"
Ah Yoba, the way she said his name, the feel of her hands in his hair, running down his back, he groaned and kissed her again, carefully rolling his hips with every downstroke, stopping every time he felt his pleasure building too high, cradling her in his arms, pressing his mouth against hers, letting his soft pants and moans meld into hers between kisses, fixing his eyes on hers, heart aching with love for her, completely lost in a sea of bliss deeper than any he'd ever experienced.
Lily whimpered and moaned as he thrust gently into her, the feel of him sliding so smoothly in and out, the way he ground so perfectly against her, the way he held her, the way he looked at her, the beautiful sounds he made, his lips moving so sweetly on hers, she had never felt anything like this, she was drunk on him, lost in wave after wave of utter bliss, every movement lifting her so close to the crest she could barely stand it anymore.
If he increased his pace now…
Her fingers clutched more tightly into his hair and he stopped his movements again, his dark grey eyes gazing adoringly into hers… she looked up at him, lost as always in those smoky depths, loving him, wanting him, needing him…
"Oh Seb… please…" she couldn't help it, she was so close, she moaned and pushed herself up against him, wanting him deeper inside her and he let out an agonised cry of his own, gripped her tightly and thrust into her with a speed that made her throw back her head and scream as the longest, strongest, deepest orgasm she had ever known raged through her.
Sebastian groaned, the feel of her fingers pulling at his hair, the need in her eyes and her voice, the way she pushed up against him, it was more than he could stand, he thrust deep into her, completely unable to control his speed anymore, unable to control anything, he buried his face in her neck, clutching her tight, feeling his orgasm rising within him, turning his core molten and then exploding in a searing wave of such ecstasy that he couldn't believe it, his cock throbbing and pulsing endlessly as he cried out again…
"Ah… Ah… fuck… Oh Lily!"
He shivered and shook, filling her with everything he had. He had never felt anything like this before, never for so long, so powerful, so intimate, so full of complete and utter love.
"Seb… " Lily gasped as they trembled in the aftermath. "Oh Seb… Seb… Seb…"
"Lily…" he lifted his head and kissed her passionately, holding her so tight she could barely breathe. "My Lily…"
"Seb!"
Tears erupted out of her. She wrapped her arms as far around him as she could, sobbing like her heart was breaking, clinging desperately to him.
"Oh Lily… hey, hey, it's okay, baby, it's okay. Come here…" he rolled over and pulled her against his chest, stroking her hair, whispering soothing words, holding her as she shivered and shook against him.
"I'm not sad, Seb," she tried to scrub the tears away but more kept coming. She looked up at him through overflowing eyes. "I'm not, I'm not, I'm happy… so happy. I love you… I love you so much… no one's ever made love to me like that before…"
She wailed into his chest again and he pulled her even closer, rocking her gently. "That's because no one's ever loved you before, baby," he crooned. "Not like I do, not like I do."
"Sebby," she sobbed and buried herself in his chest, holding onto him for all she was worth, feeling like she could never be close enough to him, never have enough of him, her heart so full of love and tears she was sure it would burst.
"I love you so much, Lily," his voice was so soft, so tender, it made her cry even harder. "So much, more than you'll ever know. You're everything to me."
He wrapped her up in his arms, kissing and stroking her until their movements became less about comfort and more about something else, then he sighed and slipped inside her again, taking his time with her, learning everything there was to know about her, about her body, about how she liked to be touched and kissed, about how he could love her in the best possible way.
About how he could take this night and every other to show her just how much she meant to him.
Chapter Seven of my Stardew Valley fan fiction. No trigger warnings for this that I'm aware of, although if anyone notices anything I've missed please do let me know!
Taking Our Time
Lily knocked at the door to the carpenter's house. Her heart was thundering in her ears, her whole body was shaking and her breathing was so fast she felt like she was about to pass out. She hadn't felt this anxious in a long time. She and Sebastian had been dating in secret for a little more than two weeks now and Robin had just invited her over for a family meal. In all the time she had known Seb this was the first time anything so official had happened, normally they were pretty much left to their own devices in his basement. She wondered if it meant anything, if she were going to be interrogated at the family table, if they were going to somehow disapprove of her. Oh Yoba, she had always hated things like this. She forced down the urge to run, smoothing out the clothes she was wearing for probably the hundredth time, wondering if they were right for the occasion. She was wearing jeans and a simple, black zip up top, but they were a little tight, what if Robin thought…?
The sound of the door opening interrupted her racing thoughts and she took a deep breath, trying desperately to calm her nerves and let out an audible sigh of relief when she saw her Sebby standing in the doorway rather than the enraged carpenter she was expecting.
He looked amazing, as always, broad shoulders and lean form shown off to perfection in a close fitting black turtleneck and jeans, onyx hoop in one ear, dark grey eyes mesmerizing under his glossy hair, flawless skin glowing in the warm light of the house interior.
"Hey," he smiled at her, his eyes softening when he saw her visibly shaking. He looked over his shoulder then stepped forwards, slid his hand into her hair and kissed her before whispering into her ear. "Don't worry, it's going to be okay. You look beautiful."
She gazed up into his eyes as his fingers caressed her cheek, feeling all her worries flow away as her heart melted with love for him. How did he do this every time? He could so easily defuse her anxiety with just a few gentle words and his tender touch.
"Is that Lily?" Robin's voice drifted through from the kitchen. "Bring her in, Sebby, don't keep her standing at the door!"
His smile grew more wry and he let his hand drop. "You ready for this?" he asked quietly.
"Mmhmm," Lily took another deep breath. "We're just friends, just friends…"
They walked into the kitchen and Lily blinked in the brighter lighting, feeling her heart starting to work overtime again. She wrapped her fingers around the tub of food she had brought with her, seeking reassurance in its hard edges.
Maru and Demetrius were sitting at the table talking to each other about scientific-sounding things while Robin stood at the counter, filling serving bowls with a wide variety of steaming vegetables. She turned around as they entered and smiled broadly.
"Lily, it's so good to have you here. I swear this is the first meal Sebby's attended in months, and it's all because I invited you!"
"Mom…" Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Don't exaggerate. I turn up for breakfast."
"Hah, traipsing into the kitchen at ten o'clock in the morning for coffee and disappearing five minutes later does not count as turning up for breakfast!" Maru said with a loud laugh. She turned in her chair and grinned widely in Lily's direction. "Seriously, Lily, well done on getting my brother to spend some time with us. I swear I'd almost forgotten what he looks like!"
"Now Maru," Robin tapped her spoon loudly against the side of the bowl she was filling, frowning as the last of the carrots refused to budge. "Don't tease your brother so much, we don't want him running back to his basement before I've even finished serving dinner."
"Maru does have a point," Demetrius said. "Meals are an important time for familial interactions."
"And they wonder why I spend all my time alone," Seb groaned and reluctantly took his seat at the table.
Lily felt herself becoming a little wild-eyed.
"Ah, don't worry, Lily," Robin grinned, noticing her expression. "This is normal for our household. What's that you have there?" She looked at the tub Lily was so feverishly clutching.
"Oh," Lily jumped nervously and then proffered the item. "I… I thought it would be nice to bring some food to share. My Gran always said it was good manners when you're invited to a meal."
"Well, that was a lovely idea of your Gran's." Robin lifted the lid and laughed. "Sashimi. And you even included little tubs of all the sauces he likes. You know my son very well, Lily. I know what he'll be having tonight now."
Sebastian smiled appreciatively at her as his mom slid the sashimi she had prepared out onto a plate. She smiled back, the warm look in his eyes making her feel weak at the knees. She did know him well. She adored him. She had gone out of her way to make that meal as perfect for him as she could.
"Take a seat, Lily," Robin said, beginning to lay more plates on the table. "I set you a place next to Sebby. You can tell us how you're getting on at the farm while I serve. I hear my son actually left his basement to help you a few weeks ago."
Lily flushed furiously as she sat down and all eyes turned on her. She didn't really know Demetrius and Maru all that well and to have all of their attention on her now felt more than a little too much. She heard Sebastian shift slightly in his seat and then felt the warmth of his knee touching hers in support. She felt instantly grateful, desperately wanted to reach for his hand and feel his fingers tight around hers. Yoba, this pretending to be only friends in public was hard. She would be so happy when it was just the two of them again.
"Oh yes, how did that go?" Maru asked brightly. "He was so full of enthusiasm to help you." She laughed. "I just can't imagine Seb on a farm, heck, when we left our houseplants in his care last holidays we came back to find he'd completely forgotten to water them all week!"
"Hey, I had a big job on that week," Sebastian protested. "I was busy!"
"Tell that to the poor plants! I hope he didn't lay waste to too much of your farm, Lily!"
"No, he didn't," Lily said, instinctively leaping to his defense. "He helped me so much, I couldn't have managed without him. He learnt everything so quickly, I actually think he's a better farmer than me."
"Oh wow," Maru grinned good naturedly. "Well, I'm sorry, Seb. I take it all back!"
"A pity he didn't apply himself to university so assiduously," Demetrius interjected.
"Oh Demetrius," Robin tutted at him as she continued to fill the table with a seemingly endless array of food. "You know I always told both of them that a university education isn't important."
"Yeah, dad," Maru chirped. "They'd never let me do half of my experiments at uni, you know that."
"True, but Sebastian could do with some structure…"
Lily looked at Seb, sympathy in her eyes and he looked back at her with an 'I'm used to this' expression on his face. All of a sudden she was gaining a whole new understanding of the reason he spent so much of his time in his basement.
"Demetrius, we have company," Robin looked at her husband sharply and the man at least had the decency to look somewhat shamefaced.
"Of course. Lily, you were telling us about your farm. Please continue. I would love to have some soil samples from your land when you have the time."
Lily smiled weakly and forced herself to talk, grateful beyond all measure when the interrogation she had feared never materialised and the conversation eventually drifted away from her and onto one of Maru's projects. She gave a little sigh of relief and exchanged a quiet glance with Seb, who smiled at her reassuringly as he ate the sashimi she'd made for him.
"Is it good?" she whispered, feeling some small measure of pleasure at seeing him apparently enjoying it so much.
"It's amazing," he looked up from his plate. "Didn't you sample it when you made it?"
She shook her head.
"Oh, you've gotta try some. Here…" he dipped a piece in some sauce and held it out to her. "Go ahead, you need to see what a great chef you are!"
She blushed and let him feed her, feeling a rush of heat flare through her at the intimacy of it all.
"Oops," she felt a little bit of the sauce start to roll towards her chin and before she could react he lifted his thumb and gently stroked her lips, smoothing it away, that one simple touch sending thrills racing through her. She met his gaze breathlessly, heart pounding at the intensity in his eyes as he moved closer to her…
"Uh… Seb… what are you doing?"
They both jumped guiltily as Maru's voice cut through their moment.
"Oh… um… Lily had some sauce on her lips."
They looked frantically at each another. They were meant to be just friends. What had they done?
"We've got napkins for that."
"Actually, I think I forgot to put one out for Lily," Robin surprisingly came to their rescue. She stood up and brought one round to her. "There you go," she said, smiling pointedly at both of them. "Now my son won't have to embarrass himself again."
They both flushed and spent the rest of the meal trying very hard not to look at each other. By the time it was finally over they welcomed the opportunity to escape to the basement.
"Do you think they know?" Lily asked in a small, worried voice as they made their way down the stairs.
Seb grimaced and then laughed. "After that? And the way my mom looked at us? Yeah, I think they do. Well, my mom and Maru at least. Demetrius doesn't notice anything that he can't stick in a petri dish."
Lily rubbed her eyes and sank down onto his bed with a weary sigh. She held out a hand to him and he went to her immediately, lying down beside her and pulling her into his chest with a sigh of his own.
Yeah, it was pretty likely that both his mom and his sister knew he and Lily were an item. Hell, they'd have to be blind not to notice. Sebastian Barnes, hitherto not even remotely known for any public displays of affection, almost kissing his supposed friend at the dinner table? To be honest, he was sure his mom had figured out his feelings for Lily before he'd even had the courage to admit them himself, and Maru had probably had him sussed from the moment he carried her back from the mines.
"You don't think they'll say anything, do you?"
"Hmm?" he looked down at her, stroking her hair gently, then realised what she'd said. "No. No, baby, don't worry. Neither of them are gossips, they won't say anything, not until I do anyway, then they'll neither of them shut up about it!"
He stared up at the ceiling and smiled to himself. "We are gonna have to tell everyone soon though. I don't see the way I feel about you changing at all."
Lily looked up at him and, feeling her gaze on him, he looked back down at her. "Me either," she said, then her eyes widened. "But Sebby, I still feel so nervous about everyone finding out. It's such a small town and I don't want to be the centre of everyone's attention."
"I know, baby," he kissed her on the forehead. "But it might not be as bad as you think and at least then we wouldn't have to hide it anymore."
She murmured non-committally and snuggled into him.
"You know, it's the flower dance soon. We could maybe tell everyone then. I'll definitely be dancing with you, so they might piece it together themselves anyway!"
"I guess we could," she sounded vaguely hopeful and he smiled again, knowing her well enough by now to understand that despite her reticence he had just won her over.
"I still can't believe I get to do this with you," he said wonderingly as he let his hands run slowly down her back. She giggled and burrowed more deeply into him. He laughed lightly then lifted her head, forcing his little mole woman to look at him. He kissed her softly, feeling his entire body melt as their lips touched. Yoba, he loved her. He'd wanted this, wanted her, for so long.
He gazed into her eyes as they broke their kiss, adoring their dark green depths, the golden halo around her dilated pupils. He stroked the soft skin of her cheek, brushed some strands of hair from her face, traced the outline of her lips. She was beautiful. So beautiful.
"Seb," she whispered his name and he just had to kiss her again. She kissed him back, deepening it until they were both whimpering softly, their hands exploring as their bodies pressed closer together.
"Lily," he let his fingers slide under the hem of her top, revelling in the silky warmth of her skin, loving the surprised little moan that emanated from her as he slowly stroked the curve of her waist. Ah, she felt so good, he kissed her more, hands still moving, pressed himself against her, heart pounding, aware that his jeans were rapidly becoming uncomfortably tight, almost losing it completely when she rubbed against him as she moved in his arms.
They both groaned and then he felt her start to shake. Concern instantly flared through him.
"What's wrong, baby?" he moved his head back so that he could see her face, gently cupping her chin in his hand. "You're trembling."
"Oh Seb," she choked back a sob. "I… I still feel frightened… because… because of my ex. I can't believe this is happening, I really thought I would be okay. I want you so much, I really do, I have for ages, but every time we actually get close to… to… I freeze… I just can't stop feeling this way… it's so frustrating, I hate it!" She let out a little wail at the last part and buried her face in his chest, shivering and shaking, crying helplessly.
Her ex. Ever since they had become physically closer she had started opening up a little more about other parts of her past. It seemed that her father wasn't the only source of trauma in her life. She had also dated a man who had hurt her badly. Sebastian didn't know exactly what had happened, she always shied away from talking about it in any great detail, but he did know that this man had not been kind to Lily.
"Hey," he said softly, lifting her face back up and kissing her tears away. "Remember what I said before. It's okay."
She looked up at him with wide, brimming eyes, reaching out and twining his hair around her fingers like she always did when she was upset. "Really?"
"Really," he stroked her cheek like she was the most precious thing in the world, feeling like his soul was crying for her, wanting with all his heart to take her fear away. "We can take our time. Nothing will happen until you're ready for it, okay?"
"Oh Sebby," her bottom lip trembled as she tried to stop her tears. "I want to be ready, I really do."
"I know you do, baby." He cradled her face in both hands and looked her deep in the eyes. "I know you do. And when the time is right, we'll know." He kissed her, sweet, slow and tender, then pulled her close against his chest and wrapped his arms around her with a sigh.
"I will never hurt you, you know that, don't you? I love you more than anything, Lily."
"I know. I love you too, Sebby."
Every time she said that it made his heart glow. He would never tire of hearing it. He smiled as she burrowed into him again, her little hands still tangled in his hair. He would give her all the time she needed. She was worth waiting for.
Chapter Two of my Stardew Valley fan fiction. Trigger warnings include mentions of alcoholism, physical/domestic violence, childhood abuse, general feelings of worthlessness. Nothing graphic but please don't read if any of these things would upset you!
Lily's Sadness
It was late evening and dusk had just fallen, the sky was that beautiful twilight blue she loved so much and little squeaking bats were flittering between the tree branches as she made her way down towards the lake. Lily sighed. It was just the kind of night she normally enjoyed and she should have been happy but the events of her day weighed heavily on her mind and her lack of rest only compounded matters. She had been pretty much terminally sleep deprived ever since she met Sebastian, her constant desire to spend time with him leading to her staying up till well past midnight every night and then rising at 6am to get on with her seemingly never-ending farmwork. She knew she was probably crazy to keep up this schedule but she didn't care, she loved being with him and, truth be told, the thought of going a day without seeing him made her anxiety rise to even worse levels than it usually did.
Or maybe it was that phone call that was making her feel so anxious tonight…
She sighed again and increased her pace. Seeing Seb would make her feel better. It always did.
She knew just where he would be, she had learned a lot about him in the weeks she had known him, as hungry for knowledge of him as she was for his presence. Just like her he always gravitated towards the quietest places and when she reached the edge of the lake and walked alongside the dark, glassy water there was Sebastian, dressed all in black as usual, standing beneath the spreading branches of an old tree, his tall frame slightly hunched over, the soft glow of his cigarette casting a warm light on his face.
He looked up at the sound of her approach and she felt a little flutter run through her at the smile that crossed his face when he saw her. For some reason it made her want to cry and she bit her lip to stop any treacherous tears that might be thinking of falling.
"Hey Lily!" he threw his cigarette to the ground and crushed it beneath his heel as she walked up to him. "Is something wrong?" His face instantly creased with concern when he met her gaze and she caught her breath at how handsome he was, his eyes always so intense on hers. She wondered if he could hear how loudly her heart was beating for him.
'Oh Sebby', she thought to herself. 'Why do I feel this way about you?' He was the one and only person she had ever felt so intensely drawn to and so inherently safe with all at the same time.
"How do you know something's wrong?" she asked shyly, looking down at the ground to hide her confusion. After all, they were only friends, she wasn't supposed to be feeling this way about him.
"I notice things," he shrugged, eyes still not leaving her face. "Well… if I care about them."
Her gaze shot up, she couldn't help it. He cared about her? She could feel her face burning and… oh Yoba, his eyes were so beautiful…
"Why don't you tell me what's wrong?" he said. "After all, you're always listening to me rant about my dad and Demetrius being assholes, the least I can do is return the favour."
Lily let her gaze drop again, embarrassed both by his kindness and her reaction to him.
"Come on," he coaxed. "Sit by the lake with me and let's talk, okay?"
"Okay," she felt so relieved to finally be with him after her stressful day that she felt all the strength drain out of her legs and sank to the ground with a little sigh.
"You've been working too hard, haven't you?" he said with a frown. "Is that what's bothering you? I knew that farm was too much for one person. I could come over and help if you like."
"That's really nice of you, Seb, but it's not that. Well…" she looked down at the ever present dirt she still hadn't managed to completely scrub from her nails. "Maybe it is a little…" she shook her head, angry with herself. That wasn't why she was so sick to her stomach right now. "No… it's…"
He was still looking at her with that same concerned expression and again she felt the urge to cry.
"I… I had a phone call today, one I wasn't expecting. It was from my mom."
"Your mom? Isn't that a good thing?"
Lily laughed humourlessly. "You'd think so, wouldn't you? In any normal family it would be." She hung her head. "But my family's not normal. It never has been." She really did feel like she was going to cry now. What would he think of her when she told him this? She took a deep breath.
"Sebby, I never told you the real reason I came to Pelican Town."
"Wasn't it to take over your grandfather's farm?"
"It wasn't just that. I had other reasons too. One reason… well… I won't tell you about that… but the other reason was that my dad wanted to just sell the whole place up and I didn't want to let that happen. I know what he would do with the money, he'd just… ugh…" she did let out a little sob then and, cursing herself internally, she lifted a hand to scrub at her eyes only to find Sebastian already holding a tissue out to her, his gaze soft as she looked at him in gratitude.
"Take your time," he said.
"Thanks," she took a moment to bury her face in the tissue, amazed to be so overcome and even more amazed that she was telling her story to anyone. She always kept everything to herself. Always. Never trusted anyone.
She peered timidly up at him. His face was so serene in the moonlight as he gazed patiently at her, his black hair waving gently across his forehead in the breeze. Her sweet emo boy. She trusted him. So much. Her words started to pour out of her.
"My dad's a drunk," she said. "He always has been, ever since I was a little girl, all I remember is him drinking, losing his temper, throwing things around, breaking things, hitting things, me and my mom mostly, and spending all our money. Occasionally he'd get so much money he'd be gone for days on a binge and we'd get some relief. We used to hope he'd never come back but he always did. I… I kind of wondered why my mom never left, why she never just left and took me with her, but I guess she was scared of being alone, or maybe that he'd come after us, I don't know… so… things just kind of carried on until I finally left home. I tried to convince my mom to leave too, but she wouldn't, I felt bad for leaving her but…"
She sniffled into the tissue again, unable to look at him for fear of what she might see.
"I spent some time after that working at Joja and… living with someone else… and then I got a letter from Lewis, about my Grandpa and the farm, he wanted to leave it to me and that made me so happy because the times I spent on the farm as a little girl were the only happy memories I had from my childhood. I thought if I came here, maybe I could relive some of them, get away from… things… from my past. It was so hard to come here, to finally get away from everything. My dad got in touch with me, tried to convince me to sell up, that the farm and the money from it should be his, that it was his dad's after all and so it should all go to him. I just… I felt so confused and scared but I told him no, that gramps had left it to me and I was going to make a go of it… he went quiet after that and I didn't hear from him again. I thought maybe he'd come to terms with it, but today… well, today my mom called and said he's been talking about it again and would I reconsider selling just to help them out? My own mom, Sebby… she sided with him, after… after everything that happened… she… oh…"
She stopped talking and swallowed hard, desperately not wanting to break down in front of him. She looked at her tissue, she'd completely shredded it while talking and the little pieces lay scattered on the ground all around her.
"Can… can I have another tissue?" she asked, still afraid to look up at him.
"Of course you can, here…"
His voice was so gentle, she lifted her gaze, immediately lost in his deep, dark eyes.
"You know you've been really brave to come here despite all that, right? To make a new start. I don't think I could have done the same in your shoes."
She stared at him in disbelief. She had spent so much of her life thinking everything was her fault. That she was a bad, weak person.
He handed her the tissue and smiled at her. "Why don't you dry your eyes and then we'll go back inside and raid Demetrius' part of the fridge. He has some of the best stuff and I feel like making today national 'fuck bad dads day'!"
Lily took the tissue and blew her nose. 'Oh Sebby, thank you,' she thought, wondering how she could ever have doubted his reaction. 'I knew you'd make everything alright again.'
She lifted her head higher and forced out a grin, determined to pull herself together. "Sounds good, but let's leave him his bean hotpot, huh?"
"No problem," Sebastian returned her grin with a mischievous one of his own. "He can keep that, but his ice cream is fair game!"
They climbed to their feet and, laughing together, made their way back through the dark towards the house.
It was nearly 11pm the day after their talk at the lake and Lily hadn't visited him. Sebastian lit another cigarette and poked at his phone, bringing the screen flashing into life for about the fiftieth time that night. She hadn't answered any of his messages or picked up his calls either. They'd seen each other every evening since they first met and to say he was distraught would have been the understatement of the century. He felt like someone had reached into his chest and ripped his heart straight out. His ash tray was overflowing. His mind was a mire of fears. Did he say something wrong last night? Did she not like him anymore? Had something happened to her? Was he never going to see her again? The one person he was comfortable with, the one person who actually understood him?
He couldn't bear the thought of that.
He dialled her number. She was number one on his speed dial so it didn't take long. Again, no answer. He felt cold inside. He climbed to his feet. 'I'll go to her house,' he thought, then promptly sat back down again. Would that make him look crazy? He felt a little crazy. He didn't give a fuck about seeing anyone else, so why was he so bent out of shape over this?
He ground his latest cigarette into the tray and then almost jumped clear out of his skin when there was a knock at the front door of the house, so loud it reached him even in the basement.
Heart pounding he leapt to his feet, anxiety sky high. What the hell?
Then he heard her voice.
"Somebody… please… let me in."
He flew up the stairs, his family was visiting with Demetrius' parents for the weekend so he was the only one available to answer. The hammering on the door resumed and he yanked it open to find Lily sitting huddled on the steps, cheeks stained with tears, fists raised to beat on the door again. She stopped when it opened and looked up at him, her eyes huge, red-rimmed and miserable. He gawked back at her, hardly daring to believe that she was actually here after all his worrying.
"Lily!" he dropped to his haunches at her side, wanting to reach out to her but afraid to do so. "You came all the way here in the dark? What happened?"
"My dad," she choked the words out and his heart fell. His worst fears had been realised. He knew he should have gone over there.
"He came on the evening bus, just when I was getting ready to come see you." She coughed and then started talking more, her voice high and trembling, her sentences broken by little hitching sobs. "It was just like being a kid again… he… he'd been drinking of course, he didn't even ask for any money… just started shouting, trashed some crops, smashed most of the stuff in the house… that's why I couldn't call you, he broke my phone too… he even tried to kick Nyx. I… I thought he was going to hit me as well…" she shuddered and looked down. "I did my best to stay away from him but…"
Her sobs started to grow louder. "Why did he come, Seb? Just to do all that? Why would you come all that way just to do that? Why not just leave me alone?"
Sebastian didn't know. He didn't know what to say. He just wished he'd been there to stop it.
"Lily," he said softly. "Come into my room, okay? You can stay as long as you like."
She looked up at him through bleary eyes, biting her lip and he could see how hard she was trying to fight down her tears. He stood and offered her his hand, she took it and he pulled her to her feet and led her carefully through his mom's office and down the basement stairs, afraid she might trip she was so shaky.
She sank onto his couch with a little sniffle. She was shivering badly and he dragged the cover from his bed, sat down next to her and laid it around her shoulders.
"Thanks," she said in a tiny voice, pulling it tighter around herself. "I'm sorry… I shouldn't be bothering you with all this… I tried to cope on my own… I really did, I was trying to put things back together but I didn't know what I was doing, I couldn't think straight and then I got more and more scared and it all got too much and I… I don't know how much time passed after that but I just wanted to see you…"
It hurt him to see her like this, he wanted to hold her so bad, wanted to wrap her in his arms and take all her pain away. How long had she spent alone and afraid tonight? The thought horrified him. He lifted a hand before he even knew what he was doing and then dropped it, feeling like he was strangling his heart in his chest as he did so.
"I'm sorry," she sniffled again, then started to rock a little.
"Lily, you don't have to be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong."
She shivered and whimpered like a wounded animal.
"Hey," he spoke firmly but gently. "Look at me."
She looked up at him with wide eyes and he met that sweet frightened gaze unwaveringly.
"It's okay. You're safe now. You're with me."
She seemed to relax as her eyes met his, he could almost see the tension leaving her body.
"Sebby," she looked at him wonderingly and it was all he could do to not reach out and touch her pretty little face right then and there.
He forced himself to smile. "Wanna chill and watch some anime with me?"
She nodded, wiped her tears away and smiled in return. His heart melted. He reached for the remote, he didn't know what he'd left on the drive, but right now it didn't matter, he'd watch anything as long as it was with her. He pressed play and sat back on the couch as his TV screen flickered into life then almost had a heart attack when she snuggled up beside him, laying her head on his shoulder with a little sigh.
Sebastian had never felt so many conflicting emotions in his entire life as he did then. Warmth flooded through him, his heart pounded, he wanted to turn to her, stroke her hair, lift her face up to his and kiss her oh so gently, wanted to put his arms around her, pull her close, never let her go. But they were just friends. He couldn't do any of that. He shouldn't be thinking these things. Shouldn't be wanting her so much.
He let out a quavering sigh and looked down at her. She was so beautiful. Did someone like him deserve someone like her? All his life he had felt like he was flawed in some way. Unworthy. Unlovable. Why else would his father have abandoned him? Why else would his stepdad be happier if he weren't even around? Ugh. Here was Lily suffering so much with her dad and he was worrying about himself. He sighed again and rested his cheek on the top of her head.
'Just try to stop thinking for now,' he told himself. 'Just watch the show and forget about everything else.'
Some time later, he didn't know how long, he twitched and woke up from the sleep he must have fallen into. The TV screen was black, the anime finished some time ago. He twisted in his seat to look at the clock. One in the morning. He looked down at Lily who had slid further into him, her hand resting on his chest, her breathing soft and slow. He gulped, reached out and took hold of her hand, he couldn't stop himself. It felt so good in his, he looked down at her, adoring everything he saw, then she started to murmur and shift a little and he guiltily let go.
"Seb…?" she sat up, lifting the same hand he'd just held to rub at her eyes. "Did I fall asleep again?"
"We both did," he said with a wry smile. "It's one in the morning now."
"Oh…" she looked at him, eyes half lidded and weary. "Sebby…" she paused, he saw a little flash of worry crease her brow. "Can… can I stay here tonight? I don't wanna be alone right now."
He felt like crying. Yes, she could stay here. She could stay here forever. He never wanted her to leave.
"Of course you can," he said softly. "You can take my bed, I'll sleep on the couch, okay?"
She smiled at him, eyes bright and liquid. "Thank you." A little tear dropped out of the corner of her eye. "Oh…" she looked to the side, seeming surprised, rubbed it away.
"Come on," he got up and gently helped her to her feet. "Let's get you settled before it gets any later."
She nodded and let him lead her over to his bed. He turned down the sheets for her and then covered her once she'd gotten in. "Will you be okay on the couch?" she asked, her face creased with concern.
"I'll be fine," he fiddled with the comforter to stop himself from wanting to kiss her goodnight. "Don't worry about me, just try to get some sleep."
"Okay," she wriggled down into the bed and he gave her a reassuring smile before switching off the light and moving over to the couch with a spare blanket and pillow.
Fifteen minutes passed in silence and then he could hear the sounds of muffled little sobs coming from the direction of his bed.
He lifted his head, instantly alert to her distress. "Lily? Are you okay?"
"Oh Sebby," she said in a broken voice. "I feel so scared. I can't get back to sleep. Will you play something for me?"
He pushed aside his blanket and padded through the darkness to his keyboard.
Yes. He would play for her. If he couldn't hold her he could at least play for her.
His fingers found their way over the keys, moving from memory, and he started to sing softly, he didn't know how long he played but when he stopped and looked over at the bed he could tell she was quiet now. He stood up and walked over to where she lay. The soft light of his computer's screensaver cast a sheen over her and he could see that she was asleep, tears still rolling slowly down her face.
She looked so right in his bed, hair spread softly over his pillow, one hand under her cheek.
He wanted her there every night of his life. Didn't want to spend a single day without her.
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