The movie had long since ended.
The screen had faded to black, leaving the living room bathed only in the soft glow of the city lights pouring through the tall windows.
The mansion felt unusually still, the kind of quiet that settled deep into the walls.
Sebastian hadn't moved.
Lillian was still leaning against him beneath the blanket, her head resting comfortably against his chest.
At some point during the last half hour, her voice had stopped commenting on the movie entirely.
Her breathing had slowed.
Sebastian glanced down.
She was asleep.
A small strand of her hair had fallen across her cheek, and her lips were parted slightly as she slept.
Her arm was loosely curled around his side, as if she had subconsciously decided he was the safest place in the room.
He studied her for a moment.
"You fell asleep," he murmured quietly.
No response.
Of course not.
He shifted slightly, careful not to disturb her, but the movement made her stir just a little.
"Mm…" she groaned softly, her brows tightening in her sleep.
Sebastian immediately stilled.
"Shh," he whispered under his breath.
"It's alright. Sleep."
Her face relaxed again, and her breathing steadied.
Sebastian exhaled quietly.
"You're impossible," he muttered.
But there was no irritation in his voice.
Only softness.
After another minute, he carefully slipped one arm under her legs and the other behind her back.
Then he lifted her.
Lillian shifted slightly in his arms as he stood, the blanket sliding down onto the couch.
Her head instinctively tucked closer into his chest.
"Mm… Sebastian…" she mumbled faintly.
He paused.
His heart gave the smallest, most unexpected tug.
"Yeah," he whispered.
"I'm here."
She didn't wake.
Sebastian walked slowly across the living room, carrying her easily.
The mansion staircase curved upward in the soft darkness, lit only by a few dim wall lights.
Each step was quiet.
Careful.
Halfway up the stairs, Lillian stirred again.
Her hand shifted weakly against his shirt.
"Too… warm…" she murmured sleepily.
Sebastian huffed the faintest breath of amusement.
"You were the one buried in a blanket five minutes ago."
She didn't answer.
Instead, she relaxed completely again in his arms.
When they reached the second floor, Sebastian turned toward his bedroom.
The door opened with a quiet click.
The room was large but simple—dark wood, soft lighting, and tall windows overlooking the city skyline. Moonlight spilled across the floor in silver streaks.
Sebastian walked over to the bed and gently lowered Lillian onto the mattress.
She shifted slightly when her back met the sheets.
Her hand briefly grabbed at his sleeve.
"Stay…" she murmured faintly.
Sebastian froze for half a second.
But she was still asleep.
Her grip loosened.
He carefully pulled the covers up over her shoulders, tucking them lightly around her.
"There," he said quietly.
"Better."
Lillian curled slightly onto her side, already sinking deeper into sleep.
Sebastian stood there for a moment.
Watching her.
Normally, this would be the moment he left.
Normally, he'd go downstairs, open his laptop, and bury himself in work until the early hours of the morning.
Sleep wasn't something that came easily to him.
Insomnia had become routine.
But tonight…
He didn't move.
Instead, he exhaled slowly and ran a hand through his hair.
"No work tonight," he muttered to himself.
Almost like he was reminding himself of a promise.
Sebastian walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down.
The mattress dipped slightly under his weight.
Lillian didn't wake.
He leaned back against the headboard, arms resting loosely as he stared toward the ceiling.
Minutes passed.
Maybe longer.
Sleep didn't come.
It rarely did.
His mind stayed active, always moving, always calculating the next step, the next decision.
But tonight something was different.
His attention kept drifting back to her.
To the quiet rhythm of her breathing.
To the way she looked completely relaxed, something he rarely allowed himself to feel.
Sebastian turned his head slightly.
Watching her.
"You trust me too much," he murmured quietly.
Lillian shifted in her sleep.
At first, it was small.
Just a slight movement of her shoulder.
Then she rolled over.
Before Sebastian could react, she moved closer.
Her head settled against his chest.
One arm draped across his torso like it belonged there.
Sebastian stiffened immediately.
His first instinct was to move.
This… wasn't something he usually allowed.
Physical closeness like this wasn't part of his world.
But Lillian sighed softly in her sleep, her fingers lightly gripping the fabric of his shirt.
Like she had unconsciously chosen him.
Sebastian hesitated.
Then he looked down at her.
Her hair was slightly messy from sleep, and her face was relaxed in a way he had rarely seen when she was awake.
She looked peaceful.
Safe.
His hesitation slowly faded.
Carefully, almost cautiously, Sebastian lifted one arm.
Then he wrapped it around her.
Pulling her a little closer.
Lillian immediately settled deeper against him, her head resting comfortably beneath his chin.
A small sigh escaped her lips.
Sebastian exhaled quietly.
"Well," he muttered softly.
"Guess this is happening."
His hand rested lightly against her back.
He wasn't used to this.
Not even remotely.
But strangely…
It didn't feel wrong.
It felt calm.
Comfortable.
His thumb slowly brushed once across her shoulder.
Lillian stirred slightly but didn't wake.
"Mm…"
"Don't start talking again," he warned softly.
She murmured something unintelligible.
"Exactly," he said.
"That's what I thought."
Instead, she pressed closer.
Sebastian's lips twitched faintly.
"You're going to ruin my reputation," he murmured quietly.
But he didn't move away.
She stirred again.
"Sebastian…" she murmured faintly.
"Yes?"
"Stay…"
His chest tightened slightly.
"I'm not going anywhere," he replied quietly.
She didn't answer.
Her breathing slowly deepened again.
Minutes passed.
Then longer.
Sebastian stared toward the dark ceiling again.
Except this time, something had changed.
His body felt more relaxed.
His breathing slower.
And with Lillian curled against his chest, her warmth steady and familiar…
For once, his mind wasn't racing.
For once, the silence didn't feel empty.
Sebastian tightened his arm around her just slightly.
"Sleep," he murmured quietly.
And sometime not long after that…
For the first time in a long while—
Sebastian Wolfe finally drifted off too.