Hey Stephen / Larys Strong (3)

11. Guilty as Sin

Larys was visiting the capital as he did every day to see tully and his new little niece Vivian. And of course hoping to cross paths with Willa.

Vivian was fast asleep after keeping luke and tully awake all night. Tully, precious little tully had never looked so tired. Larys smiled plucking vivi from her arms.

"You two take a nap. I got her." Larys assured.

"Thank you," tully yawned out slugging off to bed while luke had fallen asleep on the couch his mouth hung open drooling. Tully was asleep before her head hit the pillow. Larys tucked vivi into a stroller and grabbed her lion toy from Mallory and headed out.

Larys felt quite stable with a stroller his cane rested on the handle as he walked around.

He used to be feared and an outcast in the capital and everywhere he went. But now people smiled and nodded as he passed. He wasnt just a master of whispers he was a prominent figure in the capital. His sister married the prince.

Vivian kicked up a leg giggling. Larys stopped walking and smiled down at her.

"That was a fast nap." Larys informed her. Vivian reached up for him little arms and legs kicking and punching trying to grab hold of something. "Hold on let me get to the bench." Larys told her as if she understood "hi vivian. Hello beautiful," he cooed as they moved "so beautiful like your mama. Yes you are."

What if he's written "mine" on my upper thigh only in my mind? One slip and fallin' back into the hedge maze. Oh, what a way to die. Willa thought as she watched larys and vivian together. He was so good with her. He was so good with everything.

Willa could see their future in that moment watching him and vivian together. She could see it all and she wanted that future with him.

She kept recalling things they never did like Messy top lip kiss, how she longed for their touch. Without ever touching his skin she felt like she was doing something wrong some bad. She felt guilty as sin looking at him and picturing a life he didnt know she was creating for them.

Willa moved to them and larys rose up putting vivian back in the stroller.

"Hello Lord Larys."

"Lady Willa. This is a nice surprise." Larys answered.

"Stephen as has been asking for you." Willa remarked quickly. Larys smiled brightly reaching for her hand. "I was hoping you would come over for supper tonight."

"I would love that." Larys agreed.

"Wonderful." Willa agreed.

"Wonderful." Larys echoed and his chest felt tight. He had never done this before. Dating. Courting a woman. He saw how foolish his relationship or what he hoped would be a relationship with Alicent was. She only tolerated him for his information only had a meal with him on occasion when she needed something. But this with Willa she wanted him to.

"Do i look alright?"

"You look like you normally do." Mallory answered. Larys hesitated.

"You look great like you always do." Tully corrected. "Ignore Mallory."

"I need to look good." Larys whispered fussing with his shirt.

"Why?" Mallory drawled out.

"You have a date!" Tully squealed

"Lady willa invited me over. Stephen wanted to-"

"She wants to have supper with you!"

"Stephen-"

"Loves you because you are the best!" Tully agreed. "Oh larys you look perfect. Perfect. Go get your girl. I want details tomorrow!" She added.

"Thanks tully." Larys kissed her temple. "Wish me luck."

"You came!" Stephen declared.

"Of course." Larys agreed. "I told your mother i would be here."

"We are used to man in our lives letting us down." Stephen admitted and willa was horrified.

"Stephen-"

"What?" Stephen countered.

"Something smells delightful." Larys cut in.

"Invite larys in dont make him stand in the doorway." Willa instructed moving back to the stovetop fire flickering below the pot.

"Thank you for having me. I brought you this." Larys held out the wine. "I didnt know what we would be having but this red goes with everything." Larys assured.

"This looks expensive." Stephen remarked.

"Stephen manners. Thank you Larys ." Willa agreed taking the bottle. It did look expensive. Larys wanted to impress her. Consider willa impressed.

"Mama wore her best dress tonight." Stephen added. Willa turned her back to them to hide her blushing face.

"She looks beautiful..." larys added. "You look absolutely beautiful Willa." She blushed smiling softly back at them.

Steohen turned into a blabber mouth diring supper. Larys and willa barely got a few words in. stephen was happy to tell larys everything and larys was happy to listen. He was always better at listening. True most of the time the secrets and truths he heard were not meant for his ears. When one was not invited to speak he got good at listening. Stephen shoveled good into his mouth as he spoke.

"My growing boy forgets to close his mouth when hes eating." Willa added giving her son a pointed look. Stephen swallowed thickly.

"Sorry mama." 

After stephen went to sleep willa and larys shared a bottle of wine on the couch. Larys built up the fire before joining willa on the couch. She smiled as his hand moved closer to hers.

"This is delicious larys. Thank you."

"Im glad you like it." Larys answered. Suddenly it felt like they had nothing to talk about. Stephen had told them everything. They sat side by side watching the flames flicker before them.