Thank you guys so much for reading!

Sorry for the delay, but school is finally coming to an end so I will have free time to write more!

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He drove and drove, trying to forget Mary's face. But it was impossible. It crushed his heart to know he made her feel that way, to say those harmful things, without holding back. The worst part is that they were already out, and there was no way to take them back.

He made his way to a park near the neighborhood he and Francis used to live. He took off his helmet and started walking towards the lake in the middle of the park. After a few minutes, he sat on a bench, looking at the lake.

Sebastian sighed deeply. He didn't know if he regretted what he said to Mary. He was mad and he was trying to defend himself from her accusations. He was tired, tired of his life changing so suddenly. But he still didn't regret the choice he made.

Choosing to raise Anne was probably the most difficult decision he ever had to make. Why? Because not only was he the last person to know how to raise a child, but he had to do it with Mary.

He wondered if Francis and Lola made the right arrangement by choosing them. They started to get along quite well, but he guessed today was just a day they knew would come eventually.

"She's not my kid,"

"Then whose kid is she?"

Hearing those words felt like a blunt, sharp knife cutting through his gut. He realized those were the words he regretted. Anne was his responsibility now, even more than that, she was his main priority. And Mary was so much more than his partner in raising Anne, she was his friend, his companion.

He felt things for Mary. Things he never felt before.

And he was afraid of telling her, afraid of accepting that he wanted her and afraid of what she might feel for him, too. That's why he said no to every offer he received from a girl since this situation began.

He remembered the moment they shared when she accepted his help. She was smiling so beautifully at him, and he decided that he only wanted to see her smiling, not crying, not being angry. He wished to make her smile every day, especially when that smile was meant for him.

But he knew that their relationship wasn't in the conditions to reveal his true feelings for her.

Because more than anything, he wanted them to be happy. They needed hope. To know that things were going to be okay was a necessity. He wanted to make things right, to be a good man for Anne and Mary. And he was going to do just that.

He stood up abruptly and ran to his motorcycle. He started to drive back to the house, where a worried Mary was waiting for him.

Mary was pacing nervously around the living room. She was extremely worried about Sebastian. What if something had happened to him? She knew it was a mistake letting him go at that hour. Even though she was hurting, she needed him to be alright or else the pain would be intolerable.

She looked at the clock, it was almost 12 a.m.

She made up her mind to call him. It was physically impossible to be there knowing something could happen to him ─ as it happened to her friends.

As she was about to pick up the phone she heard the motorcycle. She watched from the window as its lights went off. She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding and made her way to the front door jogging lightly.

She became nervous suddenly, not knowing what he was going to say. What if he decided to back out from all of this? Is he going to leave us? She thought to herself as panic washed over her thoughts.

She heard his footsteps. She was right in front of the door, scared, waiting for him to open it.

He opened the door slowly, not wanting to make too much noise. He stopped suddenly, as he saw Mary in front of him, looking at him with such relief, but also with fear. He could see how nervous she was, and he didn't like it. He didn't want her to feel scared of him, or what he could do, like he was a monster who could explode at every moment. He didn't want to be that kind of man, the one that doesn't respect a woman, or doesn't think about her feelings.

"Mary," He whispered. He closed the door with a light movement, blinking his eyes slowly, with tiredness. He was mad at himself for making her feel like this.

Her eyes looked like glass, tears filling them. Tears of relief, tears of sadness… She couldn't even put differences between them. She saw his face filled with worry. She smiled slightly at him, crossing her arms, trying to comfort herself and him.

He looked down for a moment, putting his hands on his jean's pockets. He thought about what to say on his way back, but it looked as though those words went flying with the wind.

Watching him like this and the awkwardness that could be felt in the air didn't help her control herself. She closed the space between them and hugged him tightly, emotions taking over her actions— something she was a master at controlling. But she found that with Sebastian, feelings were all she was made of.

He hugged her back, resting his face in the space between her neck and shoulder. He put his palm on her hair, trying to show her all the affection he could, making up for the words he spitted out earlier. He was usually good with words, but in that moment, those were his enemy.

They were so close. She could feel his heartbeat and he could feel hers. Mary noticed that they always did this. He didn't kiss her on the cheek, or held her hand. They always ended up hugging, something she could get used too. She felt the most loved in those moments. He was so tender that it was impossible for her to resist.

Sebastian was enjoying their closeness, but he knew they had to talk about what happened, and what they could do for things to not get out of hand like that again.

"Mary," Sebastian whispered while he was still hugging her. She turned her head in his direction, facing him.

He looked at her with the most sincere and serious look he could ever give.

"Forgive me, for everything I said," He took her hands in his, rubbing small circles with his thumbs.

"You must know, Mary, that I did not mean those things. I'm glad you and I are the ones taking care of Anne. And I'm glad I get to do this with you, and no one else."

Mary looked down at their hands. She knew Sebastian's apologies were said with the most honest of emotions. He looked sorry, like what happened was all his fault. She knew it was also her fault, but that was one of Sebastian's traits. He always wanted to take matters like they were his responsibility one hundred percent, like it was his mission to make everything right once again. And for Mary, that was one of the things that made him so likeable for her. She always felt protected by him. Even when they fought, Sebastian always came back apologizing, and making her feel present and important.

Saying that he was glad it was with her and no one else made her feel warm and cherished.

"I forgive you, Sebastian, but only under one condition," She looked up at him. He raised his eyebrows at that.

"And what condition would that be?" He chuckled. Mary was always demanding. But he will never complain about that. He liked that about her.

"That you will forgive me, too." She put her hand on his cheek tenderly.

Sebastian's face was serious again. In the past, he didn't like Mary. She was stubborn (well, she still was), she always insulted him and she took things too seriously.

But in moments like this, when she was vulnerable and open, he always found himself amazed. She might be stubborn and serious, but she was always fair, even if she had to admit she was wrong.

He held her hand in his cheek with his own. He gave her a warm smile.

"As you wish, your grace." He joked at her and she laughed, hitting his shoulder lightly.

He smiled at her laugh, remembering the promise he made to himself earlier.

Sebastian didn't know if it was the spark of the moment or his deep secluded emotions for her, but he gathered all the bravery he had and took a step to be closer to her.

He put his hands on her face, admiring her beauty. He felt something pull him closer and closer to her, and Mary just stood there, speechless at his actions.

They were so close to one another. Sebastian could feel her breaths, which revealed how nervous she was at their proximity.

But Sebastian wasn't the only one whose feelings were controlled by the moment. Mary wrapped her hands around his, as in giving him the signal to do what he wanted to do.

Maybe this will be the first time they wouldn't end up hugging, but kissing instead.

He moved his head closer to hers. Their noses touching. Mary closed her eyes, feeling a million butterflies in her stomach.

Sebastian was about to kiss her in the mouth, but the rational part of his mind tried to convince him not do it. Would a kiss change their relationship? Will it make it more complicated? It would certainly made things change, but Sebastian didn't know if they would change for the better, or for the worst.

He decided not to do it. Maybe he wasn't brave enough to face the consequences of that act. He wasn't sure how will Mary react after that, either. He knew it was just the tension of the moment, and deep down, he didn't want that to be the cause of their sudden contact. Their relationship was doing better, but it was still rocky at times.

And the selfish side of him wanted her to kiss him when she was sure of it. When her feelings were made up enough to give him what he so desperately wanted. He sure as hell didn't want to pressure her into doing something she might regret later. That was his biggest fear, hearing her saying they shouldn't have done that. That what they did was reckless and not good for their relationship.

So, he kissed her in the forehead, as tenderly as he could allow his lips to touch her.

Maybe he made the wrong choice by not kissing her. Maybe that was his opportunity to show her how he truly felt. But it was too late, and he hoped he made the right one, because otherwise he would regret that decision forever.

Little did he know that Mary regretted the choice he made.