Cassian sat in the lounge, his body still tense from the day's events. The weight of his plan, of the power struggle ahead, hung heavily on his shoulders. But as he sank into the plush chair, his thoughts inevitably shifted. He couldn't help it. She was on his mind—always. Seraphina.The soft scent of chai lingered in the air, reminding him of her, of her presence here in their home. The thought of how far they'd come, from the uncertainty of their first meeting to now, filled him with a rare warmth. This house, their home, had become a sanctuary in a way that nothing else could be.The sound of soft footsteps reached his ears, pulling him from his thoughts. He looked up to see Seraphina slowly making her way toward him, her movements still a bit slow but purposeful. The way she held herself, her posture determined even as she moved carefully, struck him in that moment.She stopped right in front of him, her eyes locking with his. Without a word, she gently slid onto his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. Cassian's arms instinctively wrapped around her, pulling her closer, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. The tension in his body, which had been so tightly wound all day, began to unwind with each breath he took."I missed you," she whispered, her voice soft, yet full of emotion. The words sent a shiver down his spine, stirring something deep within him.Cassian couldn't help but smile, his heart racing as he pressed his lips to her temple. "I missed you too," he murmured, his voice low. The weight of those words felt more meaningful in that moment than anything he had said in a long time. He had never truly understood what it meant to miss someone, but now, with her in his arms, he felt it in a way that was almost overwhelming.Seraphina pulled back slightly, looking into his eyes with a tenderness that almost left him speechless. She gently cupped his face in her hands, her thumb brushing across his jawline. The connection between them felt more electric, more real, than ever before.She leaned in then, her lips meeting his in a kiss that was slow and deliberate, as if they both needed to savor the moment. It wasn't a kiss of urgency or passion, but one of quiet longing, a moment where time seemed to stop.When they finally pulled away, their foreheads rested against each other, and for a few moments, neither of them spoke. The world outside seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them in this space, in this shared moment of peace."I'm here," Seraphina whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm here with you."Cassian's heart swelled at her words. She was here, and that was all that mattered. Everything else, the danger, the world he was trying to take down, it all felt distant in that moment."I'm glad you're here," he said, his voice thick with emotion. The weight of the last few days, of everything they had both been through, suddenly hit him all at once. But with her in his arms, he felt a sense of calm, of certainty.He kissed her forehead, holding her close as she relaxed into his arms. The world outside could wait for a while. For now, he had this, and that was enough.After a few moments, the sound of soft footsteps interrupted the stillness, one of the nurses had entered the room, a soft smile on her face as she checked on Seraphina. Cassian didn't move, holding Seraphina close as the nurse did her routine check-up. He wasn't interested in the intrusion; his focus was solely on the woman in his arms.Once the check-up was finished, Cassian looked down at Seraphina, her eyes meeting his. She smiled softly, and for the first time in what felt like forever, Cassian allowed himself to relax.As the nurse left the room, Seraphina nestled back into his chest, her hand resting on his heart.Cassian closed his eyes, letting the calm of her words wash over him. He didn't speak, but the meaning was clear. She was his. And no matter what came next, they would face it together.