The Other Side (A Sebastian Stan Fanfiction Story)

Chapter 51

A/N: Hello my lovelies! Been meaning to update since last week and only had time to do it today. Your patience with me has been nothing short of amazing.

This is the last chapter and an epilogue will follow after. Thank you so much for sticking with me through this story. This has been an exhilarating one to write, and one that kept me sane in some trying times over the last few months.

Oh, and forgive the gratuitous smut. ;)

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"Thank you for meeting me," Sebastian said nervously as he carefully eyed the estranged woman he still calls his wife seated in front of him.

On the opposite side, Charlie was the same nervous wreck as her husband was. She was glad Evie agreed to clear out for the day so she could have her house for the day. Her friend slash make up artist didn't need much convincing; she thought a month was long enough for them to clear their heads. Her nerves took over, she had only responded with a small smile as she tried to level with his gaze.

"So this is Evie's place huh?" Sebastian broke another looming awkward moment of silence as he looked around their surroundings. It was a nice open plan layout, there were frames upon frames of awards on one side and Evie's celebrity clients on another. To his back was a floor to ceiling glass window overlooking the New York skyline.

"Yeah, it's uh, it's very home-y. She's been so kind and generous to let me stay here," Charlie responded in a quiet voice before looking around as well.

"That's good to hear. How have...um, how have you been?"

"I'm uh, I'm okay, I guess. You?" Charlie responded as casually as she could. She knew Sebastian could tell otherwise.

He seemed to think about what to say for a split second before speaking again. Gone was the unsure, insecure look in his eyes and was replaced by a sadness underlined with a tinge of frustration.

"I miss you," Sebastian began then chuckled bitterly. "God, I can't even lie about that anymore. And please don't say some bullshit crap about how I deserve it because, heh, I feel it. Every. Single. Fucking. Day."

Charlie could see his eyes blazing now and she had to hold back herself from launching into him. He missed him just as much, if not more.

"God, I miss you too! But I don't know what to do to fix what's happened to us. I've cancelled the rest of the book tour but I...I have no idea what to do from there," Charlie stood up and walked to the balcony overlooking the New York skyline and sighed deeply. Sebastian was behind her just moments after. He put his hands on her arms and gently spun her around so they were standing in front of each other. Charlie kept her head down but Sebastian was having none of it and lifted her chin so she could return his gaze.

"I'm sorry, okay? I've been...I have not put in the work to take care of you this last year. After the miscarriage, I didn't know...I had no idea how to and you kept acting like none of it happened. And I was stupid enough to let you. I should've...," he shuddered. "I should've done more."

Charlie choked out a sob and Sebastian, unable to hold back any longer, pulled her flush to his chest and enveloped her in a hug as the tears she was forcing not to come flowed and flowed unchecked. In between sobs through a broken voice she said her own apologies as well while he continued cooing over her head, offering words of reassurance and acceptance.

They stayed like that, locked tight in each other's embrace until Charlie's sobs slowed down to the occasional sniffle. They both felt so spent physically, but emotionally, a renewed lightness fluttered in their chest at having reconnected after being so out of tune with each other for so long.