***I'm so sorry this is late, life had been crazy but I made this one longer to make up for it! Enjoy!!!* 💕
*Alora POV*
We didn't even bother running back through the Gaunts home. Leaving this place and trying to get as far away as possible, for we didn't know how many others of Gaunts followers would show up after the rain had subsided. That or when the word would spread of Lord Gaunts wareabouts, Marvolo's death, their legacy of their first born taken by the girl with the ancient magic.
I might become famous again. But I didn't care. All I cared about was getting Sebastian to an infirmary to treat his wounds properly or atleast getting him home so Anne could treat him if he fought against the idea.
Which he did.
His wounds were barely healed, one wrong move or another fight would result in them rupturing. Especially the one around his neck, it had hit right next to an artery. Primarily why he was choking on his blood as I saw the light leave his eyes. I pinched my eyes shut remembering. Trying to get the image out of my head.
It was worse. So much worse than I could have ever imagined. If I had known, I might have not-
No.
I'm done with that. I'm done.
I can't control it. I made the decision. I trusted my gut, I trusted Sebastians words. I needed to start looking to myself.
Yes, I didn't go through with it because I didn't want others to control my life. I didn't want to marry Ominis for the wrong reasons. I wanted, for once, to make the decisions that impacted my own life. Not only Sebastians.
I wanted him. I wanted him but in my own way. I wanted him to want me. I wanted him at the right moment. It just so happens it happened right as I was about to sell my life away to another man.
Honestly, the only man I would have been okay with.
I just wish I had figured that out sooner. Maybe I've always known. Maybe I just needed that extra push or confirmation from him to let go of everything and just do what was right for myself. But again, love.... makes our hearts, our minds, our souls, do things we never imagined. Makes us go completely blind to the world around us. Everything logical, completely gets busted out a window.
Love makes us so blind. So fucking blind.
I wince away, Ominis padding my face with a piece of cloth. Trying to wipe some blood off my face. "Ow." I say, flinching away from him from the sting.
"You need to get checked out too." He said, rubbing his thumb over the cut.
"I'm fine."
"Stop it. Your not fine." He mumbled, dropping his hand with the soaked cloth. "Anymore fine and you'll be passing out too from the blood loss."
"What about you huh? Your one eye is completely swollen shut." I said, looking up. It looked so ugly. So swollen, purple swirled with dark blues. Anymore swollen and he'd look like a one eyed troll. I laughed, watching as Sebastian leaned against a tree in the distance, his head leaning back as his eyes were closed. Resting peacefully.
Probably the first time either one of us felt at peace with atleast something, finally not tormenting ourselves anymore.
We couldn't apparate. So we were stuck walking or atleast until Sebastian felt strong enough to fly on a broom.
"Something to share?" Ominis asked, stopping what he was doing as he too leaned down, resting on the tree that we both now shared.
I chuckled, "As bad as your eye looks, I thought you looked like a troll.....So I laughed."
He snorted. "Of all the things you could have said, that surely wasn't something I thought would come out of your mouth."
I turned my head, seeing the side of his face that wasn't swollen. We were still in our wedding attire. Not having the moment to switch out to anything different. We didn't think that far ahead. Especially since everything we owned or needed was inside the house we were escaping from.
"Does it hurt?" I asked.
He shrugged, "Not really, only when I try to naturally blink. Luckily I don't need it to see."
I wanted to crack out a blind joke but nothing came to mind. My breathing starting to slow.
I don't know what compelled me, but I leaned over. Resting my head on his shoulder. I knew eventually we would need to talk. I knew eventually the hard conversation would come and potentially our friendship would end but right now, we were just trying to survive.
I knew I still needed him. He was the world to me. I loved him. I do. I always will. And I hoped that would be okay too. Even if it was selfish.
His body stilled, feeling it shift so he was looking down at me slightly.
"Don't do that." He whispered.
"Don't do what?"
"Make me feel important."
I breathed, if it wasn't for the soft breeze coming off the trees I'm sure I would hear his heart. Beating frantically out of his chest.
"You still are Ominis. You always have been......."
I looked over, Sebastian eyes blinking open as he stretched. His eyes searching over the grassland before finding me and Ominis leaning up against the tree.
He didn't even think twice at the way we were sitting, stretching his limbs before slowly reaching up the tree to steady himself.
Ready to continue on.
Ready to go home.
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The road was long, harsh and sometimes wet. But we found shelter where we could, ate when we found a town and rested as much as possible as we made our way through the farmlands. The forrest was out of reach so we settled for Feldcroft. Figured we would send Anne an owl when we reached there to let her know we were alive and well. I knew Anne would have extra tonics, wiggenweld and other potions to help with Sebastians condition. He was getting better everyday while Ominis swelling continued to dimish to only some light purple bruising. Actually now only seeing a small lump over where his eyebrow would be. We teased him occasionally, laughter filled inbetween the three of us as we picked on eachother. Never really bringing up the wedding or the events. But I knew the silence wouldn't last forever. We would eventully have face what happened and I didn't even think to make my apologies to Ominis about his brother.
I didn't know if he even felt remorse for the loss of his brother, or that his father was unknown and gone.
There was still no news in the daily prophet we came across. All I know is Sebastians name had been taken off, no longer causing him to be a threat or a target for snatchers or other Aurors. Officer Singer must have pulled some serious strings for him and even removing the article from the paper. Maybe even releasing him from his crimes from nine years ago but who knows. Only time will tell when we receive the owl from her.
Sebastian steps quickened when the Sallow home came into view as we passed the tower. The town was still quiet and only seeing the occasional neighbors in the distance passing by doing their daily chores.
"Sebastian slow down, if those damn cuts open-" I yelled after him.
"Relax, Alora! They are about as close to healing as they ever will be."
I sighed, trying to catch up to him with Ominis on my tail. Still as reckless as ever. Even I wasn't stupid enough to start running after having a life changing event where I almost resulted in death. I barely took a blow to the head but you don't see me running down a dirt road.
Unbelievable.
Sebastian stopped right at the gates, seeing his eyes feast on the door. Seeing the slight reflection of tears bounce off his eyes from the sunlight. He was happy to be home.
He looked down at me smiling. Grabbing my hand softly before leading me inside.
The home still smelled the same, and not one picture, not one table cloth or bowl was out of place.
An overwhelming peace of humble and familarity came over me. Breathing in the sight and smells. This place held such fond memories, some filled with tears, fear and hate. But can now all be replaced with new beginnings.
The first thing I did was reach for some parchment and wrote to Anne. Letting her know we were at Feldcroft and to come as soon as possible.
"I need to get this to the owlery in town Sebastian." I said. sealing the envelope, "You think you will be okay without me for a minute-"
"I'll go." Ominis said, reaching for it.
I handed it to him without question. "Your sure? You can stay and rest while-"
He shaked his head, motioning to the couch off in the corner. Sebastian trying to comfortably lay down on it but having trouble as he clutched his chest.
"Fuck!" Sebastian yelled, noticing blood on his hand.
"I'll go, you go ahead and get him cleaned up."
I didn't argue, watching as Ominis wand blinked red to the floor, reaching for the door before closing it behind him. Leaving me alone with Sebastian.
When I turned around, Sebastian was groaning in frustration at himself.
I rushed to the kitchen, grabbing a dish towel and wetting it down. "What in the world did you do?" I asked, shouting over the rush of water.
"Nothing! Absolutely nothing thank you very much. All I did was sit down and the damn skin busted open!" He groaned.
I sighed, rushing over to Anne's potion collection. Looking through all the viles and tonics already made.
Damn it, where does she keep the-
"Found it!"
I grabbed a small vile of wiggenweld potion, rushing back over to Sebastian as he laid with his back on the couch. Groaning in discomfort.
I handed him the vile, "Drink it. No complaining."
He only rolled his eyes at me, bringing it to his lips and swallowed.
I started to unbotton his shirt, trying to get a look at the damage. Seeing the red blood seeping through.
It revealed his hard chest, the freckles coating his skin but now replaced with dark red bloodly and bruised marks from when the spell had hit him directly in the chest.
The wound that was bleed was further up. Right above where his nipple would be. I pressed the cloth into him, helping the bleeding come to a slow.
I gulped, hating to see this much blood leave him. Flashes of dark memories in the basement of the Gaunts home. The blood, his head. Gone. Now even worse, I watched him die and come back to life. Choking on his blood, spilling over his mouth. Causing me to shiver.
I breathed, trying to shake the memory but it made it impossible when the real blood was still seeping through the white cloth.
I felt my body shake slightly, shivering through the memory but it didn't help my breathing. It felt strangled.
Looking up I noticed he was quiet, feeling his eyes on my face. Our eyes meeting. Watching me intently.
"Whats wrong." He said, reaching up and feeling his finger linger on my cheek.
Is he seriously asking me that? He's bleeding again for merlin's sake.
"Your bleeding, thats what." I shot back.
He frowned, "Its just alittle blood Alora. I'll be fine-"
"And what if its not." I said shakily, "I-.....I don't want you to disappear again........"
He groaned, sitting up too fast.
"Damn it Sebastian, your going to open your damn cut again when it just-"
He grabbed my face, forcing me to stop and look at him.
"Hey." He said, rubbing my cheek with his thumb. "I'm not going anywhere."
I felt the tears brim the edges, threatening to fall. Swallowing down the lump in my throat. His eyes so sincere, so calm, so-......... so you.
I licked my lips, looking down at his. Wanting them so badly. Wanting to remember what they felt like, tasted like.
He noticed my hesitation, the circular motion of his thumb stopped.
I wanted to know. I wanted to know what changed.
"Tell me what your thinking."
I inched up, closer to his face. Letting him take my face in his hands willingly.
"I want to know. I want to know what changed. What made you come for me."
His hand grasped the back of my hair, causing my ponytail to slightly come undone. His nails scraping the back of my scalp. It felt so good. Too good.
His eyes thought through my question carefully as his grip on me tightened. Bringing me closer.
"Would you believe I just had to get my head out of my ass?" He said nonchalantly.
I laughed out loud, "Maybe..... " Our foreheads were touching now, eyes closed. Relishing in his touch. "But tell me, really........ what was it?" Pulling away just so I could focus on his eyes.
His dark brown eyes mixed with lust and fear bounced and forth between mine. Seeing him think hard through his mind. He finally sighed, releasing the tension.
"I-...... I had some growing up to do Alora. And I guess... that's hard to do when you're stuck in cold and dark place for so long." I flinched, my heart beginning to ache. My mind immediately going to Azkaban. He must have been so alone. For so long...... "You just-.... start to blame anything and everything around you to fill that void. I guess, what I'm trying to say is-...it was easier to hate you when I should have been blaming myself. And that was wrong..... I'm sorry."
I leaned into his touch.
Yes..... he knows. He's beginning to understand...
"I don't-... I don't expect you to forgive me. Not right away anyway, especially all I've put you through-"
I smiled, "I'd do it all again. If I could have you this way."
His eye brows shot up, "You've said that before, haven't you?" He said shocked.
I nodded, smiling like a fool.
He remembers.