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Chapter 13 Revelation

Garrett returned the following morning to check on his wife and decided to head down the hall to visit his mother.

The Healer let him in, closing the door behind him. His heart warmed at what he saw.

His mother was laying in the bed, still and silent. In the chair next to her, his father was fast asleep, holding her hand.

After being alone for 17 years, raising her son by herself, she was finally reunited with the man she had loved for many years.

Finnian had been an adequate father figure, but not the one he needed. He also wasn't the one Eliza needed.

Finnian had been an abusive alcoholic madman with an excellent public face. They had only caught on years later and by that time, he and his brothers had manipulated them into believing they had changed.

They hadn't.

Finnian Burke was not a good man. Not as terrible as the Deatheaters, but not good by any stretch of the imagination.

Garrett walked over to his mother's bedside and pressed a kiss to her forehead, trailing a finger down her cheek.

He pushed the hair back from her face and stood up straight. He made eye contact with the man across from him.

Severus looked back at the young man before him. He had woken when Garrett entered the room, not wanting to alarm him, he had remained silent. Watching, as his son shared a private moment with his mother.

Garrett smiled, a small quiet smile and looked back at the woman.

"Hey, mum." He said. "Wake up soon. We miss you."

Garrett...

Severus sat up and leaned toward her. Garrett's eyes widened and he sat on the edge of the bed, beside her.

"I'm right here, mum. And-and so is dad and Persephone and Annalise are down the hall." His words came out all at once.

Garrett, my love...

"Yes, mama, I'm here! I'm here, what is it? What do you need?" He took her other hand and held it tightly. Tears sparkled in his eyes.

The children, they're coming to the castle. They need your father's help.

Garrett frowned and turned towards his father, but he had already understood.

"What do I do? What do you need me to do?" He asked.

Take Annalise and Persephone home. Our home. Hide them. Take care of them. They are coming.

"No, mum, I'm staying here, with you. I need to help you. I didn't before, I'd left you here and now look at the state you're in! I need to help you!" He was getting more and more worried by the second, clearly agitated.

Severus stood to place a hand on his shoulder, when Eliza's arm suddenly shot up and grabbed his forearm.

Shocked, both stared down. She was still, her eyes closed, breathing still shallow.

It seemed the movement was involuntary. An automatic reflex to protect her son, even if he wasn't really in trouble.

"Do that again." Garrett said, voice slow and steady once again.