Ashes of Thornwood

Chapter 12

Certainly! Here's a revised version of Chapter 12 incorporating all the suggested changes while maintaining the overall length and structure:

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I woke slowly, the soft light of dawn filtering through the heavy curtains of our bedroom. The warmth of Sebastian's body beside me was comforting, grounding me in the present moment. For a few minutes, I simply lay there, savoring the peace of the morning and the steady rhythm of his breathing. It was one of those rare, perfect moments where the world seemed to hold its breath, granting us a brief reprieve from the chaos beyond our walls.

As I shifted slightly, Sebastian's arm tightened around me, pulling me closer. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked down at me with a sleepy smile, his hand moving gently over my still-flat stomach. "Good morning," he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.

"Good morning," I replied, reaching up to brush a strand of hair from his forehead. "Did you sleep well?"

"Better than I have in a long time," he admitted, his eyes soft with affection. "Knowing you're here, knowing about the baby... it's like everything I've ever wanted is finally coming true."

I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth at his words. "I still can't believe it sometimes," I confessed, my hand covering his on my stomach. "That we're going to be parents."

Sebastian's smile widened, and he leaned down to press a gentle kiss to my forehead. "I've been thinking about it all night," he said quietly. "Wondering what our child will be like. Will they have your eyes, your smile? Or will they inherit my stubbornness?"

I laughed softly, the sound mingling with the morning air. "Hopefully, they'll get the best of both of us," I said, my voice tinged with excitement. "I keep picturing a little boy with your dark hair and those serious green eyes. But then I think about a girl with your determination... I don't know which I'd love more."

"Either way," Sebastian replied, his tone full of wonder, "they'll be perfect. Just like you."

His words made my heart flutter, and I leaned in to kiss him, the soft brush of our lips a promise of the future we were about to embark on together. When we pulled back, I rested my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.

"Do you think we're ready for this?" I asked quietly, voicing the small sliver of doubt that had been lurking in the back of my mind.

Sebastian was silent for a moment, his hand gently stroking my hair. "I think we'll figure it out together," he finally said, his voice steady. "We've faced so much already, Evie. Whatever happens, we'll handle it, one step at a time. We'll give our child the best life we can."

His words reassured me, and I felt the last of my anxiety begin to fade. "You're right," I whispered, feeling the love I had for him swell in my chest. "We'll be alright."

For a while longer, we lay there in each other's arms, talking about our hopes and dreams for the future. We imagined what our child might be like, what kind of parents we wanted to be, and how we would navigate the challenges that lay ahead. It was a conversation filled with love, laughter, and the kind of quiet determination that had carried us through so much already.

But as the morning light grew brighter, the duties of the day began to beckon, and we reluctantly rose from the warmth of our bed. The house was still quiet as we dressed, the usual bustle of Thornewood subdued in the early hours. Mrs. Thorne was recovering, but her illness had left her weak, and the atmosphere in the household had shifted since Mr. Blackwood's departure. The tension that had once hung over us like a storm cloud had lessened, replaced by a fragile peace that we all knew could shatter at any moment.