Marian sat at her table, staring across from her at the empty seat as the candles burned lower and lower.

While on some days she might have griped about how of course she'd be seated in a table in the middle of the restaurant when something like this happens, her humor was gone, empty as the chair across from her.

Bethany and Carver were both off at college, and despite wanting to come home for the anniversary, Bethany hadn't had the money to take a trip here all the way from the Anderfels, and Marian hadn't had the money to pay for it herself.

No doubt she was having their own night of remembrance, in her own quiet corner of the world.

Carver had said he might be able to make it. He lived closer, and it wasn't as big of a deal to come sit with his big sis on the anniversary of their dad's death, and yet…she'd waited half an hour for him before getting an emotionless text stating he couldn't make it.

She'd tried to pretend that her dad was sitting across from her, but that just made it hurt more.

Worse, part of her felt like she was losing the twins, too.

Their parents were gone and now they were off furthering their lives and…

And she was sitting alone with an empty chair.

With a sigh, she finally hauled herself up from the seat. She'd lost her appetite and there was no point in taking up space she wasn't going to use. As she grabbed her coat and turned to go, she nearly walked into a man who had just approached. He had one hand on the back of the empty seat, and the other out to steady her, in case their near collision made her lose her balance.

Piercing blue eyes met her own as he awkwardly straightened up and ran his tawny fingers through his hair, at a complete loss for words.

He seemed embarrassed and so she leaned toward him, confused. "Can I help you?"

"That's what I was going to do," he replied, met her gaze and then looked down. "Help you." There was a pause before he motioned to the table. "You looked so lonely, and I was hoping perhaps I could help you save face from being stood up."

Marian stared at him for a long, quiet moment, blinking slowly. Then, she couldn't help but let out a loud, sharp laugh. "You…you thought I got stood up by a date?" Then, even as heat drew to his cheeks, she laughed and shook her head. "No, no. I'm sorry. I was hoping to meet my brother, but he couldn't make it. Ass decided to text me after I was already here, and I just…"

He let out an awkward laugh. "Well, that makes more sense, I suppose. I shouldn't have made assumptions. I mean, who would stand up such a lovely—" His eyes widened and he stopped mid-sentence. "I'm not hitting on you. I promise. I would never prey on someone when they're getting stood up—which you weren't, but—"

"Do you wanna get out of here and get a burger somewhere?" She held her hands up when he looked at her, those gorgeous blue eyes wide. "As a thank you for being so ready to save my dignity. If you'd like, I can promise not to hit on you, too." Even as he let out a half laugh, she motioned to herself, a smile in place. Maker, but it felt good to smile. "I'm Marian, by the way."

"Sebastian." He hesitated, though as she started toward the door—slowly—he turned and matched her pace. "So. A nice, pleasant dinner with no flirting."

"Definitely," Marian nodded. "I absolutely promise not to bring up how gorgeous your accent is."

Another laugh. It was a heavenly sound. "Well, I thank you for that. If you did bring that up, I'd be hard pressed not to mention your lovely smile."

"Well, it's a good thing we've promised to be good and proper," Marian nodded.

For just a second, as they stepped out of the restaurant, she thought she saw her parents across the way, arm in arm and smiling.

Of course, it was just the reflection of a couple passing by, and when she looked back at the storefront, it was empty.

Somehow, that emptiness didn't reach her this time.