Daylight

Chapter Twenty

It was early morning when Ava rolled back over, sunlight faintly filtering into the room. As she blinked her eyes open, the first thing she noticed was that her head didn't automatically start screaming at her. There was a slight buzzing leftover from the migraine, but she knew that would fade. Slowly, she sat up and smoothed her hands over her face before she glanced to her right to find Sebastian asleep beside her. I wonder when he came to bed. As quietly as she could, she lowered her feet to the floor before going to the bathroom. Once there, she went about washing her face and brushing her teeth, both things she hadn't done the night before.

She let Sebastian sleep as she snuck out of the bedroom and as she moved into the kitchen, the sight of all of the boxes sitting on the kitchen table and on the counters made all that was going on more and more real. Glancing over to the living room, she considered quietly what they'd have to pack there as she walked to find the coffee maker still on the counter. Thank God. She made herself a cup before she moved to sit on the couch in the living room, her mind working things over.

Sebastian had stayed up until close to three after he put Luca to bed, reading him two whole story books before he fell asleep. Groaning softly, he rolled onto his back before opening his eyes. He could hear Ava moving around down the hall, which made him smile. My beautiful girl.

After a few sips of coffee, Ava slid carefully from the couch and reached beneath it. Once she found the box she was looking for, she pulled out the clear plastic bin that contained items for safe keeping. Health records, immigration records, birth certificates and social security numbers and passports. But also... photos, keepsakes. Things she'd managed to hold onto through everything. With the apartment quiet, she opened the box for the first time in years and began to slowly sort through it.

The scent of coffee encouraged Sebastian out of bed. He pulled on his sleep pants, leaving his chest bare, then quietly walked into the kitchen and fixed himself a cup.

When he walked into the living room, Sebastian stopped and stood behind the couch, watching Ava go through photos. He smiled at hospital photos of Luca, then Ava flipped to her wedding photo, making his eyes widen. She's gorgeous.

It was easy to get lost in memories, so much so that Ava didn't immediately notice Sebastian. Her delicate fingers smoothed over the silky photograph and as she sat up to adjust her posture, she glanced up to catch sight of him. Immediately her smile warmed. "Buenos dias, mi amor," she greeted. "Did I wake you? I tried not to."

Sebastian bent to kiss her cheek. "Coffee woke me," he murmured. "I hope you don't mind me looking at these with you."

"No, no, come sit," she replied, tapping the floor beside her. "Here," she continued, reaching out to the overturned pile to pick it up. Angling herself more towards Sebastian, she held out the photos for him. "Luca, born at two forty-three in the morning after eighteen hours of labor," she shared, resting his head against his shoulder. "Six pounds, two ounces. And perfect."

"He's beautiful," Sebastian whispered, feeling a tug in his chest that he'd never felt before. "Such an amazing little boy."

Ava nodded gently as she leaned a bit further into him. "He was worth the wait." She watched as he flipped from photo to photo. "I lost one, before him," she shared quietly. "I... I needed him. That was... only the first time he saved my life." She'd needed someone to love her unconditionally, without strings. He gave her a reason to keep going.

Sebastian turned and kissed Ava's temple. "He's your heart and soul," he murmured. "Just like you've become mine."

She smiled at the corners of her eyes as she turned her head to be able to catch his lips in a kiss. As it faded, she kept her forehead against his for a long moment before she turned back to the other photos, realizing her wedding photo was on top.