After the Fact. -Ethan winters x Fem reader-

July 22nd

The next morning felt gloomy- not because anyone was sad. You and Ethan didn't sleep at all. Rose of course got her full 9 hours but you and Ethan? Nada.

You stared at the ceiling and sighed, quiet because you didn't know if Ethan was asleep. Everytime you closed your eyes you saw Ethan lying in a hospital bed- on the verge of death. Then you saw rose, well the flasks- that shade of yellow gave you chills everytime you saw it.

You squeezed your eyes shut.

Then there was Eveline.

Then Miranda.

Then Louisiana.

Then the village.

Then Ethan crumbling apart in your arms.

You rolled over and groaned. The bed shifted beside you. So he was awake.

"You too?" Ethan asked quietly.

You let out a humorless laugh "Yep."

Silence.

The clock on the nightstand read 6:14.

Rose wouldn't be awake for at least another hour.

An hour.

Sixty whole minutes.

And somehow that sounded exhausting.

You stared at the wall.

"Ethan?"

"Hm?"

"What if something bad happens again?" You mumbled looking at your hands. The question slipped out before you could stop it. Ethan let out a breath and grabbed your hand.

You stared at him and your eyes immediately filled with tears.

"Ethan."

"What?"

"You died."

The words came out harsher than you meant them to.

Ethan froze.

"You died trying to protect us."

The room went silent.

"You keep saying you'll protect us but who protects you?"

Ethan looked away.

Nobody ever asked him that.

Not Chris.

Not Mia.

Not even himself.

You sat up, wiping your face.

"I watched you fall apart in front of me."

Your voice cracked.

"I held your hand while you died."

His shoulders dropped.

"You don't get to act like you're invincible anymore. You never were so please. Stay alive Ethan please."

For a second neither of you spoke.

Then Ethan reached over and pulled you into his arms. His heartbeat was steady beneath your ear.

Alive.

Still alive.

"I know," he whispered.

The words surprised you. No arguing. No jokes.

No trying to make you feel better.

Just—

"I know."