forever yours || s.s

{43} real life/messaging

Layla had been over the moon since the birth of Cassiopeia. She loved seeing the way Amelia interacted with the newborn. Amelia would talk to her, hold her hand, kiss her face, and it was the most precious thing that Layla had ever seen. If you were to tell twenty-two-year-old Layla Downey that five years later, at twenty-seven, she'd have two kids, and be divorced, she definitely wouldn't believe it. Having kids was always the girl's dream, but the divorce wasn't exactly what she dreamed of. 

Because of the newborn baby, Layla had started to think hard about the divorce that had changed her entire world. 

Sure, she loved Chris, but holding Cassiopeia, as she had on this Friday night in December while he was gone made her realize how badly she wanted it to be Sebastian she saw every morning when she woke up and every night before she went to bed. She thought about how she wanted Sebastian to be the one to hold the kids and kiss both her and them before leaving.

She wanted her family back together. 

What Layla didn't know was that Sebastian felt the same. He had voiced how he wanted to fix his family to Anthony, Elizabeth, and some of their other mutual friends. Their friends could see from both sides how the two desperately wanted their family back together again. 

Elizabeth felt sorry for the two, seeing how truly guilty and embarrassed Sebastian had grown to become after he had cheated again on Layla with Eloise. She could see his hurt eyes as Layla and Chris would hang around with the group, with Chris' arm wrapped around the girl. 

It broke her to see two of her friends who she knew loved each other get separated for as long as they had been. 

"Layla, why don't you just talk to them?" Elizabeth had said one day. The two women had gone out for lunch and as they sat down eating, Layla brought the conversation to Sebastian and Chris. 

Layla just shook her head. "I can't Lizzie. Chris would be heartbroken and I doubt that Sebastian would even want me back." Elizabeth took a drink of her wine and set down the glass. "Listen to me, Layla. That boy loves you to death. He has for the past seven years! He was in love with you for a year before you two got together."

She paused, noticing the girl get teary-eyed.

"I know you love him too, I know it in my heart. You two belong together so much. I promise you. Chris, he'll get over it. He loves you too. But, that's exactly why he'd let you go; because he loves you." 

Layla took a few minutes to think. "You really think he'd understand?" Elizabeth nodded. "Chris will get over this. I promise, babe. Chris absolutely knows that you and Sebastian love each other. The longer you go without Sebastian, the longer you're going to be hurting."

Layla took a drink of her water and held the glass to her lips as she looked at her best friend. "Okay, fine." She said once she set the glass down. "I'll do it. I want my family back. I miss Sebastian, Elizabeth." 

Hours later, Layla and Chris sat down in Chris' house. The house was primarily silent except for Amelia who was watching Cassiopeia upstairs while playing with her dolls. "I'm sorry, Chris." Layla finally spoke, after the pair not speaking for ten minutes. 

He looked at the girl with a sad smile. "Sweetheart, it's alright. I know you and Sebastian need each other. I don't think I can ever be angry at you, you understand?" She nodded. "I loved you, Chris, I really did. But I'm in love with, Sebastian. It's always going to be him. I don't want to hurt you." 

Chris wrapped his arm around her, giving her back a soothing rub with his hand. "It's okay, Layla. You don't need to explain. We'll be okay. As long as you don't keep me completely from your life." He joked, making Layla let out an airy laugh. "Don't worry, I don't think I could. Cassie and Lia need their Uncle Chris." She smiled. 

With a shaky hand, Layla grabbed her phone and sent a message to Sebastian which read:

darling
hey, I think we need to
talk when you get a chance,
sebby. 

darling changed sebastian's name to sebby!

sebby
is everything okay,
babe?
it's not the girls,
is it?

darling
no, it's not. it's me.
us, I suppose.

sebby
right, okay.
want me to come over?

darling
uh, no.
would it be alright if
the girls and I come and
stay with you until I can
get my own place?

sebby
all three of you can
stay as long as you want.
you guys don't have to leave.
I'm sure amelia would like it better,
plus it'd be nice to help you with cassie.

darling
i really appreciate it. I'll have chris
drop me off with all of my stuff tonight
along with the girls' stuff. 

sebby
alright, sounds good.
I'll see you soon, doll.
read

Layla felt a sudden relief after messaging Sebastian. She looked over at Chris, who helped bring her and the girls' things down to the car. "Thank you again. I don't know what I'd do without you, bub." She smiled. 

The two shared a hug. Layla shed a few tears which she attempted to hide, not wanting to make anyone feel worse. 

The pair loaded the girls and all of their items into Chris' car. After a fifteen-minute drive, they arrived at Sebastian's. Upon seeing their house, Layla smiled. It was just like she had remembered and she knew that this change is what she needed. 

Chris and Layla got some of the stuff out of the car while Amelia watched Cassiopeia in the car. "I'm going to go get Sebastian. Watch Cassie for me?" Chris nodded. "Amelia, c'mon, baby. Wanna go get daddy?" Amelia sprang to her feet and hopped out of the car, following her mom. 

Layla knocked on the door as Amelia stood there with a wide smile upon her face. "Daddy, c'mon!" She yelled making Layla laugh. 

The door opened and arms wrapped themselves around Layla. 

"Hi, doll," Sebastian mumbled against her hairline. "I'm really sorry, Sebby." She cried against his chest as he held her tighter. Sebastian and Chris locked eyes and he mumbled to Amelia, telling her to give her parents a minute and to go see her sister.

Layla couldn't let herself pull away from Sebastian. "So, what is it we need to talk about?" Sebastian asked. "Chris and I broke up. I know I don't deserve you or your forgiveness, and I want to forgive you and I've found it in me to forgive everything."

Sebastian nodded, kissing her head softly. "But, I want to try again. Not just for the girls, but for us. Elizabeth opened my eyes a little and helped guide me. I've been thinking about this for months, but I-"

She paused. 

"I was scared you wouldn't want me again, Sebby." She mumbled, making Sebastian chuckle slightly. "I'm always going to want you, my love. You and the girls are the best things to ever happen to me. I want you and them, and if we have any future kids, for the rest of my life."

Layla smiled as Sebastian cupped her face in his hands. "I love you, Layla. I swear I will never hurt you as I did before for as long as I live." Layla rolled her eyes as she laughed, pulling him closer. "Just kiss me already, Sebastian. Please." She mumbled. Who was Sebastian to deny the girl he loved to what she wants?

So, he kissed her.