"Ethari?" Runaan called as poked his head into the his and Ethari's bedroom, gasping slightly when he found Ethari curled into a tight ball with tears running down his face.

"Ethari! What's wrong?! Are you hurt?" he cried, quickly rushing to pull his husband into a hug.

"R-Runaan?" Ethari gasped, looking up at him with large eyes, like he couldn't believe he was there.

"Yes, dear. I'm here." Runaan told him softly, running a hand through Ethari's hair and horns soothingly.

He smiled when the action had it's desired effect and the smith relaxed against him.

They sat together in silence for a while, Runaan patiently waiting for Ethari to tell him what made him so upset.

"I woke up and you weren't there." Ethari finally whispered, so soft that he barely heard him.

Runaan lifted in eyebrow before it clicked.

Oh. Oh.

"Oh, Ethari..." he whispered back, pulling his husband closer as he sobbed.

"I-I thought what if this was all a dream? What if I finally woke up and you weren't here with me but- but-" Ethari couldn't finish and cried harder.

"I'm so so sorry, my love. I never meant to make you suffer so much while i was gone." Runaan told him, voice tight as he struggled not to break down too.

He couldn't, wouldn't allow himself to do so while his husband needed him.

"Ethari, look at me." he told him, using one hand to carefully lift his chin.

There were so many things he wanted to say and do to get rid of all the tears that were filling the smith's normally bright and happy golden eyes but instead went for what he knew Ethari needed right that moment.

"I'm here." he told him, leaning closer and laying his forehead against his

He then grabbed Ethari's hand and placed it over his own chest, right over his heart, "I'm alive."

Ethari stared at him for a moment before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, just focusing on the feeling below his hand.

"You always had such a strong and steady heartbeat." he opened his eyes and finally smiled back.

"Did I now?" Runaan asked, leaning his head to the side to make space for Ethari's other hand that was now touching his neck, right at his pulse.

"You still do." Ethari answered, "You're alive."

"I'm alive." Runaan repeated in conformation, "And I'm staying alive for a very long time now and I won't leave you alone again. I promise."

"You always keep you promises." Ethari gave a weak laugh before pulling him in for a sweet kiss full of love from both sides.

"Hey, do you have anything to do for today? Any orders that can't wait?" Runaan suddenly asked.

"Huh? Oh, not for today, no." Ethari answered in confusion.

"Good. Then scoot over." Runaan took off his shirt and crawled back into bed next to his husband, grinning at the obvious surprise.

"What? I don't have any plans either and want to spend my day lazing around with the love of my live." he chuckled, going over into a full blown laugh when Ethari practically tackled him to the mattres.

They spend most of their day lazing around like he said, cuddled in bed where they talked and shared soft kisses every now and then and where most of the time Ethari laid with his head on Runaan's chest, right over his heart.