Random Dumb Stuff

It Ends With Us- OneShot

This is set about 3 months after the end of It Starts With Us

Lily

I hear the house door unlock, and I let go of Emerson so she can go run to Atlas. I stay sitting on the sofa, and watch as she waddles over to him and he picks her up.

"Now, why are you still awake, Emmy?" He asks her jokingly.

He walks to behind the sofa and drops his phone there and tries to kiss my cheek, but I swerve my head away.

"Hey-" he starts, putting Emmy down in her play pen and coming over to face me. He sits on the wood coffee table opposite me. "What's wrong?"

I raise my eyebrows at him. "You don't know?"

His eyes widen. "Did something happen? Did I forget something?"

I sigh. "You've been late every day this week, Atlas. Emmy hasn't slept one wink for the last three days, and she's kept fidgeting because she won't sleep without you here."

He stares at me. "I-I didn't know, Lily. I'm sorry, it's just been really busy at the restaurants lately, and we've had someone quit so I've had to stay after normal times."

I cross my arms and lean forwards. "And you couldn't tell me?"

He covers his eyes with his hands. "I thought I did, Lily. I'm just so tired-"

"Well so am I!" I stop myself. I hadn't meant to be too loud. I lower my voice and say, "Could you really not try to be faster when you come home, Atlas?"

He looks up at the ceiling like it's going to give him an answer. "Lily. I have been really busy-" He enunciates every word.

"Too busy for your family?" I snap.

His head comes back down to face me. He looks annoyed, and I know that I'm the cause of that, and that what I've said is completely unnecessary-

Altas quickly moves his hand towards me.

I put my hands up in front of my face. I don't know why I do it, but I do. I squeeze my eyes shut as I wait.

What am I waiting for?

Oh. I know.

Something that will never come from Atlas.

I know that he would never hurt me, but I also know that whatever I just did was now my initial reaction to any rash movement.

My two sides of my mind are fighting each other as I open my eyes.

Atlas is staring at me, mouth slightly open as his hand is hovering over his phone. His phone. That he put next to me.

Neither of us talk. I can't if I tried. My throat feels too hoarse. He picks up his phone and types something and gently sets it beside him.

My hands are frozen up. My heart is racing. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do.

Eventually, Atlas gently places his hands over my wrists and brings them down. He continues to hold my hands, rubbing circles into my palms.

"Lily," he says softly.

I can't look at him. I'm too scared. I don't even know what I'm scared of.

"Lily," he repeats. I don't move.

Slowly, he sits down next to me and holds me in a hug. It's comforting. It's familiar. It's Atlas. Considerate Atlas.

"Lily," he whispers in my ear. "I was sending an email."

I sniff and listen to him. He wipes tears from my eyes, and I don't even know when I started crying.

"I was sending an email to say I'm not coming in tomorrow. So that I can stay with my family. Because you're right; I should never be too busy for my family."

Oh.
Oh.

Oh.

"I'm sorry," I whisper. "I got upset for no reason, and I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be-"

"I'm sorry." He knows that this is for something different. "I know you wouldn't hurt me, I know that, I really do-"

"I know," he says. "I don't blame you for doubting me, and you can. But I swear, Lily, I will never hurt you. Because I know. I know how you feel."

And I think he does.