Hey! This one shot will be from Sofia's POV, Rafe's girlfriend in OBX, instead of Y/N!
_____
Flashback from 4 years ago:
The funeral was beautiful. It was held on a Wednesday in the middle of January at the same graveyard where Rafe's mom was buried at. "For the loved ones of Katherine, please say your finally goodbyes now."
Rafe was married to a beautiful woman named Katherine, or Kate to those close to her, a few years ago. I introduced them to one another when I was working at the country club for the Kooks. Kate and I weren't close but she was there one day and saw me working. She came up at me and said hi and we talked a bit, catching up with each other.
And then Rafe comes, visiting me while I work, and sees Kate. That's when I knew they fell for each other in that quick small interaction. I didn't even get to introduce them to each other! Not saying I'm mad that they end up falling in love. I'm really happy for them but there's a part of me that wishes what if I just told Rafe not to come visit me that day? Would Rafe and I be together? Or would it be like it is now, me hiding how I truly feel towards him.
When Rafe and Kate started dating and got serious I pushed down my true feelings. I'd hate ruining something beautiful for someone I cared about. Rafe and I have been childhood friends when we first met in the second grade. It was during lunch where Rafe tripped and spilt his milk on me ruining my new Justice t-shirt in which he felt sorry about so the next day he brought me a homemade pb&j.
Rafe was the first person to go up to Kate's casket to say his goodbyes. I saw him. Break down and crying over the love of his life. I watched from afar at first but a few seconds went up to Kate to pay my respect.
She laid there, beautiful as always. But expect she looked... relaxed and at peace. She didn't die a cruel death. She died giving birth to their baby boy, Ezra. Ezra was in my arms right now as he looked down at his dead mother. Rafe was next to me crying and holding her cold and stiff hand as she slept.
All I could do it comfort him by rubbing his back and help take care of his baby. I've been helping ever since we found out about her death. I tried not crying, trying to be brave in front of Rafe but nothing worked and tears streamed down my face. I wasn't close with Kate that much, knowing she didn't really like Rafe's and I friendship, but I still felt bad.
The workers told us they will be burying her now. I had to basically pull Rafe off of her casket so they were able to finally bury her peacefully.
_____
Now:
"Ezra! I'm here!!", I walk inside of Rafe's house. He gave me the keys a few years ago ever since I started to help take care of Ezra. I'm like Ezra's auntie and nanny and friend in one.
"Sofia! You're here.", Ezra comes running down the stairs. He wraps his tiny little arms around my legs. "Did you get it? Did you get it?", he released his grip on me, jumping up and down.
I squat down to be on the same height level as him. "Of course I did, Ez. How could I ever forget?", I reach inside of the grocery bag and pull out his new toy.
"Yay!! Thank you so much, Auntie Sofia! I love you.", Ezra hugs me and we stay like that for a few seconds until we stop.
"But promise me one thing.", he looks at me and nods his head. "Don't tell your dad cause he's going to be mad since you already have so many, okay?", Ezra nods again and smiles. "Ok, good boy. Where's your dad?", I stand up straight looking around.
"He's in his room, Auntie Sofia. I'm going to go open up my new toy now!", Ezra runs into the living room. I put my stuff down on the doubter and go upstairs to Rafe's room.
"Rafe? Rafe?", I call out his name as I walk around looking for him. "In here!", I hear Rafe's muffled voice from his room. I go inside and there he is.
His on his bed, going through Kate's old stuff. I walk over and sit on his bed facing him. "Hey, what are you doing?"
He looks up at me with a small smile and goes back looking through the items. "Hey, Sofia. Just donating most stuff and keeping some for Ezra." On the bed are old photos, clothes, and personal belongings of Kate's and on the floor right next to the bed is a cardboard box labeled 'donations'.
"Oh ok."
Rafe puts most of the stuff in the donation box and puts the rest of it away. "I didn't know you were coming.", Rafe and I were now sitting up against the headboard of his bed.
"Sorry, I would've told you but my phone died at work. Look what I got you though.", I grab the grocery bag. I dumped the bag that contained all his favorite snacks. "All your favorite snacks for my favorite person. One of my favorite people."
Today was the 4th year anniversary of Kate's death. The first year was a bit hard for Rafe but a few months before she gave birth to Ezra, he found out that she was cheating on him with a co-worker. Even though she cheated, it still hurt Rafe.
"You're the best, Sofia. This is why I love you.", Rafe opens a bag of gummies and pop some inside his mouth. He turns his head to look at me and stays like that.
"You love me, huh?", I mirrored him and stole some gummies from him. We smiled at each other and chewed the fruity candy. We stayed quiet from a bit until he broke the silence.
"I do, Sofia.", he grabs my hand, getting my attention again. "I think I've been ever since we met but it went away when I was with Kate. But it didn't go away, it lingered there. For a long time. And over these years I've been focusing on myself and putting myself and Ezra first but now that I've done that I feel ready to admit how I truly feel for you, Sofia. I waited till I believed the perfect time is and I believe it's now. So I'm going to say it and please let me. But I love you, Sof and I mean it. I don't think I can live without you and I can see a happy and an amazing future with you. I realize how late this might be after all these years of knowing each other but I have to let you know before I regret not."
I sit there. Not moving not knowing what to do. Is this some cruel prank? A tear slips from Rafe's blue eyes and I could tell from his face he was trying to read me.
"Rafe, I love you too. I've been but if we you know," I point my fingers back and forth between us. "we have to go slowly. Not rushing it because we know we want each other. Okay?"
Rafe nods his head and hugs me, wrapping his arms around my waist. "Ok, that's good with me, Sofia. I love you and I'll wait as long as I can. Promise."
I push out my pinkie finger while happy tears fall out from both our our eyes. "Promise?"
Rafe wraps his around mine and kisses my hand. "Promise." We chuckled and kiss each other but not for long since we hear small stomps coming closer and closer saying "Daddy! Daddy! Look what Sofia got me!"
