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Early mornings were crisp, a refreshing breath of air—like iced water on a particularly warm day. Sylus always liked the early hours of the morning because it settled his mind and truly gave him a break away from work. The mornings were a calm solitude that he enjoyed by himself. It was a time during his routine that he needed to start off his day. He was a busy man, of course. He owned a business and had a family to provide for. His cherished family.. a soft smile adorned his handsome features. Unlike the usual cold arrogance he would face his work with—his family were the only ones that got to see him for who he truly was. Soft and loveable.
Sylus had never viewed himself as loveable.
It was such an odd term, really.
But you had come along, trudging into his life as if you knew it better than the back of your hand, all sunshine and bubbling, tooth rotting smiles. A radiance so bright he was immediately drawn to you like a moth to flame. He had lurked on the outskirts of your joy for a time, slowly becoming accustomed to the blinding light that bounced off you when he dared to venture closer. He wanted to experience your brilliance in person and not just from the sidelines. You were so happy to see him approach you, and took him in as a friend without hesitation.
You were so lovely. Many people admired him, sure, but they never hung around him. You, however, latched onto his arm and dragged him all around school. You showed him all of your favourite spots and admitted with a bashful expression about how being around so many people for such a long time made you tired. He could understand that, and by the way your face lit up, you read that right off his face like it was the easiest thing to do.
Despite only knowing each other for a short amount of time, you could read him like no one else could. Or, no one bothered to do so was a better way to put it.
Someone might have mistaken you for a ditz, someone who was blinded by hope and relied on belief alone. They might have laughed at you when you slipped up. You would have given a cheery laugh, unaware of the judgement in their eyes.
They would be so, utterly wrong. You were so much more than sunny days and slow R’n’B songs along the sea line. You noticed things about other people that were hidden to the naked eye, you catered to their every need, it didn’t matter if you had to go out of your way to do so. No matter what anyone seemed to be going through, you just knew. There was understanding in your eyes whenever he longed to say something but decided against it. You never took it to heart, your heart was full of sweet candy and it was a natural faucet of generosity that you gave to everyone. Even if—in his opinion—they didn’t quite deserve it.
Things took a turn and he developed feelings for you. It was out of nowhere. Well, it wasn’t. It was bound to come. You were a kindness in his life that he wasn’t used to. You were a light he had the privilege to bathe in. You were better than most of the people he’s met. It was almost sickeningly sweet, you were. A mouth full of cavities, but the pain would be worth it.
He didn’t know how anyone could stomach disliking you. You’ve never done anything wrong. In fact, you went out of your way for people.
Despite that, he had a feeling that you liked him too. If the blushy smiles and the hesitant brushes of your soft fingers had anything to say. Your affections grew quite obvious—it flustered even himself. He had never, not once in his life, been flustered. He also never talked to a woman the way he did with you. That, and he never dealt with those types of feelings either because he never felt anything for anyone. Sylus had one view on everyone, it was that he didn’t care. He wouldn’t admit it, but he was quite afraid of your rapid dynamic change.
Unknown to you, you had reassured him with your out-there personality and constant state of positivity.
”Everything will be okay!!” You grinned up at him, sending him a cheeky wink. You didn’t know how much the teenager needed to hear that simple form of encouragement. Sylus stared at you for a moment before glancing away, staring at an unsuspecting wall with a dusting of pink along his cheeks. You laughed joyously, unaware of his inner turmoil, and dragged him off somewhere.
The two of you had met in high school. A classic, high school sweetheart romance.
You had grown on him. It was so easy for you to do. You came into his life and never left. A permanent stain of sunshine and glitter.
Sylus could picture your figure, hunched over in front of a canvas, paint in places he questioned how they even got there to begin with. You were a messy artist, that’s for sure. Majority of the paint was on you, rather than the actual canvas you were using. It was.. cute. Your face was relaxed from its usual dazzling grins and cheeky side glances. You were in your element. Even if said element was coloured skin and paint stained aprons.
That day had solidified his love for you.
He tried to deny it, avoided the concept of enjoying your company to that extent.
You were too kind for him, and he didn’t know how to talk to you. He was still silent around you, offering minimal words—afraid of his own humiliation.
He never cared about what other people thought of him. Why did he care now? Why did he want your approval?
Restless nights and silent moments staring up at his ceiling became apart of his routine throughout high school. You had noticed his exhaustion after the second day, and threw him a concerned glance. A voice of silken honey asked if he was alright, and in that moment he could have just crumbled into your arms and gone to sleep.
He didn’t do that. Instead, he nodded. Offering a quiet “I’m okay.” To quell your soft heart—full of concern for him. Sylus felt his chest warm at the sight of your hesitance. You stared at him for a moment longer, doing a quick once over to check if he was at least okay physically. You never pushed for answers. Sylus liked that about you.
It was actually before the two of you graduated when you confessed your feelings for him.
He could remember it clear as day.
Your cute face was scrunched up, eyes directly on the floor.
Sylus was caught off guard by your next words.
You.. liked him? In a romantic way? How??
Heat crawled up his neck and burned bright against his pale skin.
When you looked up at him, he was sure he looked ridiculous. He knew he did, but you only gave him a shy smile and awaited his response.
Silence dragged on and your sweet little smile started to drop. He panicked at the sight, never wanting to be the reason your comforting smile left.
”I like you too.”
Stars danced across the planes your eyes, lit up and so devastatingly gorgeous. He found himself not minding the idea of waking to those eyes staring up at him, grinning and chirping out a bright ‘good morning!’. He found every domestic, mundane little thing so exciting when it came to you. He wanted to watch you sway around in the kitchen, hang out the washing to dry, putting your child to bed.
Sylus swallowed the last mouthful of coffee, enjoying the last moments of morning breeze before re-entering the house. He closed the glass sliding door behind him and kept his footsteps light when shuffling through the kitchen. He cleaned his cup and placed it on the drying rack.
The house was quiet. It was a comforting silence. Like the world had been set right. The man swept his white hair back and pulled out a pan, cranking up the heat on the stove while various other breakfast ingredients set out around him. He loved this silence solely because he knew his family were safe and sound, he knew that both of his girls were curled up in their bed—snug under the warm blankets and dreaming peacefully.
After being so busy with work this week, he had taken the day off to reconnect with his family. His beautiful wife could handle a lot of things, but he knew better than anyone how much you missed him. You would greet him at the door everyday, their little girl clinging to your leg while you present him cookies that you had baked that day. Each and every time, Sylus felt his body become full of warmth and oozing adoration.
Red eyes became soft hues of love and devotion. He would walk towards you, pulling you into a loving kiss by your flour-stained cheeks.
Your daughter would whine and draw out a loud ewww, and he would laugh loudly, detaching from you to pick the girl up and swirl her in his arms. Her joyous giggles reminded him so much of you when you were both in high school. She would squirm, her laugh so free, her smile so bright and youthful.
He would catch your tearful expression in his peripheral vision. He supposed you thought he wouldn’t notice.
Sylus had urged the bright, smaller version of you up the stairs, promising that yes—he would play dress up and have a tea party with her soon.
When he turned back to you, you were wiping under your eyes. Your expression mellowed to a sad contentment. Sylus knew about your family, how you had grown up in a very unaffectionate household. When you told him about the darkness that lurked around each corner, stalking and judging your every move, he had wondered how you had become who you were.
How could someone be in that situation and still come out so bright and happy?
He didn’t voice his thoughts, but you seemed to know the question in his eyes anyway. You told him that even though your home wasn’t surrounded in bubble wrap, even if you didn’t have good parents to guide you and shape you into a functioning woman, it didn’t mean you couldn’t be kind. He had stared at you, in the middle of the school yard, as you expressed that even if you were familiar with darkness, you weren’t someone who would infect other people with it.
Sylus admired your strength and your courage.
And so he pulled you in for a hug that conveyed his understanding, that showed you to the only length he knew how that he would always be there for you. Swaying you in comfort as you wrapped your arms around his waist and just melted. He had grown to know everything about you, and he worked with whatever he could to make sure you were happy. Sylus knew that experiencing a good childhood through the eyes of a mother must have been hard. He guessed that’s why you always dedicated your every minute to your daughter to make sure she was the happiest she could be.
You had been anxious at the prospect of being a mother, afraid that you would become your parents.
When you had told him, he set you down and the both of you talked for hours. He held you tightly against his chest as you spoke through heaving sobs that you were scared, so bloody scared. His arms tightened, fighting the urge to shake you silly and tell you that it was impossible—you were you. You were light, you were caring, you would be an amazing mother. He would be there every step of the way to make sure you were supported.
After you talked that day, your anxieties had lessened. The looming worry still hung near, trying to prod at your weaknesses, but with Sylus being in your corner it was like having a warning beacon that warded off any and all fear.
Sylus thought that today would be about you and your daughter.
He stood proud before the kitchen island and turned his head when he heard familiar padded footsteps.
A little girl popped her head around the corner—his beloved little girl.
”Papa!” She giggled and ran to him, crashing against the back of his legs.
She had a pink onesie on with sparkly soft dragon wings on the back and big fluffy slippers on her feet. Her hair was in all different directions.
Sylus felt the inevitable grin tug against his mouth. He picked her up and held her against his hip. She curled against his chest, resting the side of her head against his collarbone and watched attentively to what he was doing.
”Good morning princess.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.
”What is you doin’?”
He hummed lightly. “I’m making us breakfast.”
”Ooo! Num nums?” She lifted her head from his chest and looked up at him with wide bright eyes. She looked like a perfect mix of you and him. She had his red eyes, but with the soft curve of your eye shape. She had a blend of your hair colour with strands of white it the oddest of places.
“Yes babygirl, num nums.” Her joy was contagious. She was like you in that sense. “We’re gonna surprise mama with breakfast in bed,” he whispered, as if it were a secret. The little girl took it on with a determined expression. “How does that sound?”
”The goodest!” She beamed.
He didn’t have the heart to correct her that goodest wasn’t exactly a word.
”Alright, you go stand over there while I plate everything up. You can carry in the juice.”
The two worked together—well, more like Sylus doing the work and his daughter being the supportive bystander.
Sylus held the tray containing the breakfast he had made for the three of you. It was filled with steaming food that wafted with different herbs. Eggs, bacon, buttered bread, beans, mushrooms, hash browns, pancakes with syrup, and a bowl of fruit. He decided you all would eat in bed and enjoy the morning haze. [daughter’s name] stumbled behind with the jug of juice clutched between her two chubby hands, her face was twisted with determination.
A flash of you, covered in paint, came to the forefront of his mind. The times he would watch you paint, that same determined expression was always present.
He let [daughter’s name] be. He made sure that the jug wasn’t filled right to the top, he knew that if it was the juice would slosh around and splatter against the floor. It would be best if he avoided any mess possible. This was your day, so if a mess was made he would rather you not have to clean it.
Sylus opened the door to your guys’ bedroom, softening at the sight of you curled into yourself.
Your chest rose and fell with each breath. Your face soft with sleep.
He nearly laughed at the mess atop of your head. It stuck up in every direction, tussled and balled up—he knew you would groan about it when you had to brush through your hair. He would help, of course. Your pleading eyes would con him into taking the hairbrush and working through your tangles. You would make eye contact with him through the mirror and give him a grin he had fallen in love with all those years ago.
While you had matured a lot, the essence of time developing your character—you still had the spirit of the woman he first met. You got excited over the little things, tried to pet every animal you came across, and loved with your entire soul.
[Daughter’s name] stumbled in after him and remained by his side. “Mama is so pretty.” She gushed.
His heart swelled, because she couldn’t have been any more correct. “She is very pretty, indeed.” He muttered, just appreciating the sight of you. He had dreamed of waking up with you once, and now he was enamoured. Now that he had it, he would never let it go—for anything.
Sylus set the breakfast tray onto the bedside table and helped [daughter’s name] to put the jug next to it.
He sat on the side of the bed and kissed your temple. You mumbled incoherently and blindly swatted, likely tickled by his stubble. He grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. [daughter’s name] peaked over as he showered your face in kisses and scrunched her nose.
”Pa, that’s gross.”
Sylus only chuckled, stroking your untamed hair as you slowly came-to.
You squinted up at him and just stared. He looked back at you, amusingly.
”Why is there an angel in my room.” You grumbled, rubbing at your eyes.
[Daughter’s name] giggled loudly. “Silly mama! That’s papa.”
Blinking, the sight of your husband became clearer.
Finger brushed white hair, softened red hues with thick eyelashes carving the shape of his eyes. He wore a plain black t-shirt with sweatpants. His glasses were clipped at the top of his shirt, hanging loosely. His reading glasses.
Then you looked to your daughter with a gentle grin, “how silly of me. Your papa just looks too handsome.” You tug her forward, making her squeal and laugh as you wrap your arms around her, hiding her beneath crumpled blankets. Sylus pressed a loving kiss to your lips while your daughter was distracted trying to get free. [daughter’s name] squirmed while you relished in his affections. Giving him another peck, and another—a grin stretched across his lips.
He was greatly amused when [daughter’s name] broke free with a dramatic gasp of air, unaware of the kisses you had shared.
”Maaa!” She whined with a cute little pout. Then, she turned to Sylus. “The food gunna go cold.”
You looked to your husband, a small smile stretching wider. “You made breakfast?”
[Daughter’s name] nestled against your side, awaiting eagerly for him to serve them.
Pink dusted his cheeks. He avoided looking at you, fearing he’d get lost in your beauty. “Of course I did. I thought it would be nice, seeing it’s my day off.” He didn’t specify that he had called in sick, so his second-hand in the business would take over his duties. Only his second-hand knew he wasn’t actually sick, but catering to his wife. “I wanted to do something for you,” he sneaked a glance to you, seeing your blinding grin. He sighed and brought the tray over. “I’ve been busy with work, so today is about you and our little princess.”
[Daughter’s name] giggled, and your face hurt so much from smiling.
How lucky you were to have such a family. A beautiful daughter and an amazing husband.
”Thank you, Sy’. It looks so good,” you glanced to your excited daughter. “Doesn’t it {daughter’s name]?”
”Su’good!!” She had already put a small round pancake into her mouth and grinned.
Both you and Sylus laughed.
The atmosphere was care-free, light and bubbly. The morning sun filtered through and cast a golden light around Sylus. His eyes were the softest feature on his face. Crinkling at the corners, his eyes squinted, a blinding smile present. He was the embodiment of perfection. His stubble was neat and cleanly shaven, but he still looked as young as ever.
[daughter’s name] was digging into the pancakes like no tomorrow, and Sylus wiped a smudge of syrup from her face. She giggled and leaned away, talking around a mouthful of fluffy pancakes. You watched in content how he gently chastised her for talking with her mouth full, and she pouted.
Your heart felt like it might explode.
Sylus looked at you as you took a bite out of a strip of bacon, a look of complete adoration on his face. To this day, it made the little girl in your heart swoon.
“Staring?” You teased gently, looking down at [daughter’s name], who was quite content chomping on blueberries, lost in her own little world.
”You first,” he grinned. It was mischievous—it had you grinning like a fool.
Shaking your head, you blew a raspberry. Childish, yes, but it still made his eyes narrow in a playful manner nonetheless.
”Eat.” You stuck your nose up and he just looked at you, just like he would when you were younger. “What?” You laughed, a little breathless at his unmovable attention.
”You’re just so beautiful.” He murmured.
You bit on the inside of your cheek to refrain from blushing like a schoolgirl. “My hair is a mess, and I’m pretty sure I have crusted drool on my chin.”
He raised a perfect brow. “That doesn’t take away how beautiful you are, my dear. It’s not something that your outward appearance could ever diminish.” His eyes were intense and sincere, he wanted you to know how serious he was. Nothing—not even your messy hair and drool stained chin—could make you anything less than a radiant star in his eyes. “Your beauty resides within. It lives in your eyes, expands with your generosity, and peaks when you fall asleep with our daughter against your chest on movie night.”
”Oh gosh, Sy’..” You looked away from him. Damn him and his poetic words.
He laughed, “now you eat, my dear. I’m taking you both shopping later.”
”Shop shop?!” [daughter’s name] exclaimed brightly, full of unsettled excitement.
Sylus and you share a smile.
”Yes, princess. Shop shop.” He ruffled her hair and she whined in protest.
”Are you sure?” He eyed you incredulously.
”Darling, I would empty my bank account for the both of you if you asked. I’m quite sure.”
”Yippieee!!” [Daughters name] shot up from the bed and pranced around the room. “Shop shop, shop shop, shop shop!!”
Sylus stood up as she took his hands in hers and they both spun around the room. Albeit, Sylus was a tad stiffer in his movements.
Yeah, you smiled, this was everything you’ve ever wanted.