He meant everything to her. Three years later and she'd still do anything to keep him safe, sacrifice everything to protect him- even if that meant keeping him at an arm's length.
She was the one person who truly knew him. The one person he'd choos...
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— — —
Two Years Post-Victory
Sawyer kept his gaze on his daughter-in-law as his dark eyes narrowed at her. She'd been oddly quiet unlike her usual bold, sardonic personality. It could've easily been exhaustion from being a mother to a two year old, but she hadn't been with Malakai the entire day, so he knew it wasn't that.
He wasn't blind either. She'd spent a few hours at the shelter everyday for the past two years, growing it and helping the less fortunate. Because there would always be people with less— war or not. He wanted to believe that it was fully about helping people, and it probably was to a degree, but it's as he mentioned: he wasn't blind.
He could see what she'd been trying to hide.
"I hope he's being good for Kai." Lily spoke up, breaking the silence that had fallen. "Maggie too. They've got to be tiring them out. Don't you think?" She asked, turning to him. "And they're little devils when they're together. Do you think they need help?"
Sawyer only raised his brow. This was the second time she'd brought them up within the hour when she was supposed to be having the day off from parenting. "Johanna and Kai are fine. You're supposed to be relaxing, Lily. Like this." He explained, leaning back in his chair as sunlight hit his face. "Relax. You deserve it."
"Well, obviously, but what if Maggie doesn't go down? Or Mal—"
"Lily,"
Her dark eyes rolled into the back of her head as she eventually gave in, closing them. She leaned back in her chair, sand resting beneath her feet as warmth from the sun shined down on them. It was rare that she was ever this detached from parenting. She didn't like being away from Malakai, but she guessed that was part of being a mom.
"You, Peia, and Finnick deserve this." Sawyer reiterated, letting out a serene breath. "And honestly, me too. Malakai's Rhett all over again, I swear."
There was a beat.
"So how's the shelter?"
Almost immediately, Lily was sighing, guilt flooding into her system. She opened her eyes, focusing on the stunning water in front of them as her elbows came down on her knees. She said nothing, though, remaining utterly silent.
He knew.
"You know," Sawyer began, leaning forward despite her adamance not to look at him. "I'm not an idiot, Lily. And I've known you seven—eight years now. Don't start thinkin' I don't know you now. Because I do." He paused, either side of his mouth wistfully twitching up. "And don't start thinking that you don't deserve to be happy. Because you do. Dammit, you do."
Lily shook her head, eyes remaining on the tranquility of the waves. "It just feels wrong."
"And it will. I can promise you that." Sawyer said, head shaking. "When I first tried again...I hated it. I felt like I was betraying Aurelia. So I stopped trying. I just took what I had and I held onto it. I don't regret that."
