I'm really sorry to anyone who though they'd read this chapter already, my internet completely froze up and I ended up putting the wrong chapter up (this is so embarrassing, I really wanted things to work properly.) I've deleted and re-uploaded to make sure it's all right this time around. There weren't any major spoilers, not really, but it will certainly make a lot more sense in this order! Sorry for making a total mess, please forgive me and keep reading!
"So, the bathroom is upstairs on your left, the kitchen is just through there if you want anything. I'm usually a dreadful host, have I forgotten anything?" Ethan said as he turned the sofa into an impromptu bed.
"No, I think you're doing a great job," Lily smiled. "What time are you getting up later? I don't want to overstay my welcome, you've already been too kind to me today."
"I think it would be very difficult for you to stay too long," Ethan said, squeezing Lily's shoulder. "I imagine I'll get up around eleven or so, long enough to get a decent rest but not quite long enough to mean I won't sleep tonight."
"That sounds fine to me. Thank you so much for this."
"It's not a problem. I'll see you later then, sleep well," he said as he left the room.
Lily slept better than she had done for quite a while. Ethan was right, she was a very heavy sleeper – she didn't even stir when he came downstairs at eleven o'clock and padded through to the kitchen. As he filled the kettle with water she rolled over, still asleep, and let one arm fall over the side of the sofa. He turned the kettle on and stood at the kitchen door for a moment, just admiring how pretty Lily was, even asleep. He usual ponytail had been untied before she went to sleep so her hair was loose, thick strands falling across her face. It was still perfectly straight, even though she'd slept on it. Ethan sat at the end of the couch, first checking hat she slept with her feet tucked up.
"Good morning, again," he said softly. "I'm making breakfast so feel free to join me when you're ready." Lily opened her eyes sleepily, taking a moment to remember exactly why her wake up call was coming from a casually dressed and sleep-tousled Ethan Hardy.
"I forgot for a second where I was," she laughed sheepishly. "I'll come through in a moment."
Lily took a few minutes longer than usual in Ethan's bathroom, trying her best to look somewhat presentable. Brushing her fingers through her hair, she decided against her normal ponytail, instead French braiding her hair down the centre of her head. Looking around the bathroom, Lily spotted a bottle of mouthwash at the edge of the sink. Deciding she'd rather have fresh breath than leave Ethan's bathroom items untouched, she poured a little of the blue liquid into the cap. She knew Ethan's lips had probably touched the white plastic hundred of times before. She made an effort to barely touch the cap with her mouth. Lily dabbed a little Vaseline on her lips – it was one of the few cosmetic items she couldn't live without, and carried with her everywhere.
In the kitchen, Ethan had originally struggled deciding what to cook for breakfast. However, he'd eventually settled on the mini pancakes his mother used to make. When Lily came back into the kitchen, he was spooning batter into the pan, humming absent mindedly along to the radio.
"Pancakes?" Lily asked hopefully, pouring water from the kettle into two mugs.
"Yes. Whatever you hear from Caleb, my pancakes are almost certainly better than his."
"I don't doubt it for a second. Cal strikes me as a little too... haphazard to follow a recipe properly?"
"My thoughts exactly," Ethan said.
Lily continued, "Whereas you're more methodical. Both in work and out."
"If you want something doing, one must do it properly." Ethan's ears were glowing from the complement.
"Since you have a thing for me blushing, can I just say I think it's really cute when your ears go pink?" Lily said.
"Well, if you must," Ethan said, smiling. "I think we can agree to feel a little uneasy about each other's weird likes though." He flipped the pancakes expertly onto a plate, without looking up.
"These are just out of this world, they just taste incredible," Lily remarked as she slid another pancake onto her plate and dusted it with icing sugar.
"What can I say, my mum's recipe never fails." But saying it out loud made it so much more final in Ethan's mind that she was really gone. His face dropped and he took a deep, shuddering breath. He put a finger under his eye to catch a tear before it fell. Lily was silent, but put a comforting hand over his on the table. He flinched, and considered pulling his hand away, before relenting and crossing his fingers into hers, accepting the comfort of having someone close. A few moments later he sniffed and sat up straighter, but didn't move his hand.
"I'm sorry. It's been four months, I shouldn't be -"
"Feeling any different to how you are now," Lily cut in. "It's perfectly acceptable to grieve, Ethan." Guessing why he felt so bad about showing his feelings, she went on, "Just because Cal looks like he's getting on with things, it honestly does not mean you have to follow suit."
"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put a damper on the morning." Ethan was far too accustomed to pushing his feelings aside. Cal seemed so much stronger for just getting on with everything. And yet sometimes Ethan found it hard to even get up in the morning, struggling to find a reason for being after caring for his mother for so long and seeing her sunshine smile every day.
"You're not putting a damper on things. You're being normal and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Your brother included."
They were silent for a while, finishing the last of the pancakes. Ethan spoke eventually, making Lily's heart fly in her chest.
"And who said your bedside manner was unsatisfactory?"