Morning came quietly.
Soft grey light slipped through the curtains.
Rain tapped gently against the windows.
The room was warm.
Still.
Peaceful.
Lillian woke slowly.
At first she didn't move.
Didn't even open her eyes fully.
Just listened.
Soft breathing.
Warmth against her chest.
Then slowly—
she looked down.
Sebastian was still asleep against her.
One arm wrapped around her waist tightly even in sleep.
His face buried against her chest.
Dark hair slightly messy.
Breathing slow.
Deep.
Peaceful.
Lillian's expression softened immediately.
Because Sebastian never slept like this.
Never deeply.
Never fully relaxed.
Most nights:
he barely slept
woke constantly
worked until sunrise
or laid awake staring at the ceiling
But now—
he looked completely exhausted.
Like his body had finally given up fighting sleep.
Very carefully, Lillian brushed her fingers through his hair.
Sebastian shifted slightly closer unconsciously.
A faint sleepy nuzzle against her chest following a second later.
Lillian smiled softly.
"You're clingy when you're sick," she whispered quietly.
Sebastian didn't wake.
Just held onto her a little tighter.
Her chest ached warmly at that.
Because this wasn't really intentional.
It was instinct.
Like some exhausted part of him had decided: this is safe.
Lillian carefully looked over him again.
The fever was mostly gone now.
His skin no longer burned beneath her touch.
But now that he was healthier—
other things stood out more.
The fading bruise on his cheek.
Smaller bruises near his arms.
Marks left behind by days trapped on the floor.
And beneath the collar of his sleep shirt—
faint older scars.
Not recent.
Not from Washington.
Lillian's expression slowly fell.
Because she understood immediately.
This didn't start now.
The estate hadn't suddenly become cruel.
It had always been cruel.
Sebastian stirred softly then.
Brows tightening slightly.
His grip on her waist tightened instinctively.
A small uneasy breath leaving him.
Like something in his sleep frightened him.
Lillian immediately rested her hand against the back of his head.
"I'm here."
The tension eased slowly.
Then finally—
Sebastian's eyes opened.
For a few seconds, he looked confused.
Disoriented.
His breathing shifted suddenly.
Like panic almost returned.
Then his gaze found her.
And instantly—
he calmed.
The fear faded from his face so quickly it hurt to see.
"…Lillian."
His voice was rough from sleep.
Lillian smiled softly down at him.
"Morning."
Sebastian blinked slowly.
Still half asleep.
But instead of moving away—
he stayed exactly where he was.
Resting against her.
Eyes slowly closing again for a second.
Lillian gently brushed her fingers through his hair.
"How are you feeling?"
Sebastian thought about it quietly.
"…Tired."
Lillian laughed softly under her breath.
"I figured."
A small cough interrupted him.
Still rough.
Still lingering.
Lillian's hand immediately moved lightly to his chest.
"Easy."
Sebastian leaned slightly into her touch without thinking.
Then slowly opened his eyes again.
He looked calmer today.
Not fully himself yet.
But closer.
More present.
Lillian carefully touched his forehead.
No fever.
Finally.
Relief loosened something in her chest.
"You're cooler."
Sebastian hummed quietly.
Still clearly exhausted.
After a moment Lillian carefully shifted slightly.
"We should probably get you cleaned up."
Sebastian frowned faintly.
"…Now?"
"You've been sick for days."
A pause.
Then quietly:
"…Too tired."
Lillian's expression softened instantly.
"I know."
Sebastian looked at her for another second.
Then eventually gave a small nod.
Trusting her completely now.
Steam filled the bathroom slowly.
Warm water running softly.
Lillian stayed close beside him the entire time.
Not because she thought he'd fall—
though honestly he still looked weak enough to—
but because Sebastian unconsciously stayed near her now.
Like distance made him uneasy.
Sebastian sat quietly on the closed toilet seat while Lillian wet a cloth gently with warm water.
His eyes stayed half closed from exhaustion.
Still waking up properly.
Lillian knelt slightly in front of him.
"Head up a little."
Sebastian obeyed immediately.
She carefully wiped his face first.
Gentle movements.
Sebastian stayed completely still.
Not tense.
Not guarded.
Just tired.
The steam seemed to help his chest slightly too.
His breathing sounded easier.
After a while Lillian quietly reached for the hem of his sleep shirt.
"I'm going to change this, okay?"
Sebastian nodded faintly.
No resistance.
Lillian carefully pulled the shirt over his head.
Then froze slightly.
More bruises.
Faint yellowing marks along his ribs.
Older than the storage room.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Sebastian noticed her expression immediately.
And instinctively looked away.
Like he already knew what she was seeing.
Silence filled the bathroom quietly.
Then finally—
Lillian spoke softly.
"…Did she do this often?"
Sebastian went still.
Completely still.
Water continued dripping softly into the sink.
Rain tapping faintly outside.
But Sebastian didn't answer immediately.
His eyes stayed lowered.
Then finally—
very quietly—
"…Until I left for New York."
Lillian felt sick.
Actually sick.
Her grip tightened slightly around the cloth in her hand.
"…She stopped after that?"
Sebastian gave a faint shrug.
"…She couldn't anymore."
Like that explained everything.
Like distance had been the only thing that saved him.
Lillian stared at him.
At how calm he sounded saying it.
And somehow that made it worse.
"…Sebastian…"
He avoided her eyes.
"…You learn what makes them angry eventually."
The words were quiet.
Matter-of-fact.
Normal.
Like he was talking about weather.
Lillian felt her heart break a little.
Because no one should talk about abuse that casually.
No one should have had to survive like that.
Sebastian finally looked back at her then.
And immediately noticed the anger in her expression.
Not at him.
At them.
Charlotte.
The estate.
Everything.
Something uncertain flickered briefly across his face.
Like he didn't know what to do with someone being angry for him.
Lillian carefully lifted her hand.
This time Sebastian didn't flinch at all.
She gently cupped his cheek.
"I'm glad you left."
Sebastian stared at her quietly.
Something fragile moving behind his eyes.
Then slowly—
he leaned into her hand.
Just slightly.
And closed his eyes.
Later, Sebastian laid back in bed again.
Fresh clothes.
Clean.
Exhaustion pulling at him heavily once more.
Lillian sat beside him brushing her fingers through his damp hair slowly.
Sebastian's eyes stayed half closed.
Relaxed.
Sleepy.
Safe.
For once truly safe.
After a while his hand found hers again beneath the blankets automatically.
Holding lightly onto her fingers.
Like he needed the contact without realising it.
Lillian smiled softly at that.
Then suddenly—
very quietly—
Sebastian spoke.
"…You're not leaving, right?"
The question was so soft it almost didn't sound real.
But Lillian heard it clearly.
And immediately understood.
Not just now.
Not just tonight.
The fear underneath it ran much deeper than that.
Lillian squeezed his hand gently.
"No."
No hesitation.
No uncertainty.
Sebastian's breathing eased almost instantly.
His eyes finally closing fully again.
And a few minutes later—
still holding her hand—
he fell asleep beside her peacefully.