Tom watched as the light slowly came back to Evelyn's eyes. It was small at first, hardly noticeable to anyone but him, who knew her grey irises so well that even the slightest change seemed huge. But he cared not for the size of the progress. Houses were only built one brick at a time.

Tom first noticed a change within her when she was able to eat without him coercing her to. For a few days, Evelyn couldn't seem to hold food down—perhaps her stomach had grown used to eating only once every few days. He would softly ask her to eat just a few bites of the meal before she would sigh and push the plate away. But on the fourth day, Evelyn woke up and ate the egg and toast in front of her without him needing to say a word. After that, she seemed to be hungry at mealtimes, even eating the chocolate cake he had placed in front of her for dessert.

Another place Tom saw progress was with her outdoor time. One of his biggest fears with Evelyn's recovery was that she would be too afraid of the world to go out in it again. He held her arm while they strolled through the garden, silently hoping that she would ask to go into London or Hogsmeade sometime. She stiffened every time they neared the lake, though he would have to take her there sometimes. Partially to let her see that there was nothing to fear as long as she stayed away from the water, partially because he needed to work to undo centuries of dark magic. As the color returned to the water, so, too, did the color to Evelyn's face. She would ask to sit on one of the benches in the rose garden or wouldn't pale at the thought of being by the lake. Tom knew that, in time, she would be ready to leave the manor again.

He didn't make either of them go back to school. She wasn't ready and he sure as hell wasn't going to force her to do something she didn't want to do. Especially when he knew that she would heal better here, somewhere familiar where he could easily control and manipulate the environment. Evelyn didn't have a lot of happy memories in Black Manor but he knew that she would someday. Renovating and redecorating seemed to help immensely. She no longer flinched every time they entered the den or the master bedroom.

There were other little changes he noticed as well, like Evelyn picking up books again or placing her parents' picture on the shelf without tears in her eyes. They say that time heals all wounds. Tom knew that it would heal Evelyn's too.

She still had nightmares at night. Deep purple littered her under eyes from several nights of terror. Part of him wondered if she would always have them or if they were something that would leave in time. There wasn't much Tom could do other than hold her and reassure her that she was safe. He wished he could take them, wished that he could take away all of her fear and pain. But the only way to do that would be to obliviate her and he would never do that to her.

So all Tom could do was hold her. He would wrap his large arms around her and whisper comforting words into her ear. The comfort seemed to work—at least until she had another one.

But on the sixth night, something changed.

She'd had another nightmare. Evelyn was thrashing wildly in the bed, the sheets sticking to her sweaty form while her arms struggled in his grip. When she finally opened her eyes, they were filled with unshed tears. It broke his heart that he could do nothing about it. If he could, he would take every single ounce of pain from her and shoulder it himself.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and squeezed it gently. "You're alright, Little Dove," Tom murmured. "You're alright. He's gone. I'm here."

It seemed that most of her nightmares were about Locke. She never said what he did but the terror he felt through the bond every time something reminded her of him filled in the blanks enough. Merlin, he wished he could bring the boy back to life so he could rip him apart again and again and again. His death was far too merciful.

Evelyn relaxed in his hold and took a few deep breaths through her nose. It seemed that his scent calmed her down, something he wasn't complaining about in the slightest. She could sniff him all she damn well wanted.

But when Evelyn fell back asleep, she didn't seem to have another nightmare. She was calm. And when she awoke later that morning, her eyes seemed a little brighter. The bags under her eyes were less dark.

That was when Tom realized that she had truly begun to heal.

After that, Evelyn spent most nights without a single terror. She started to sleep soundly through the night. The lack of exhaustion written on her face and body was a relief to both of them. Now, he could hold her knowing that she was finally getting the rest that she needed.

On the tenth day since Evelyn's drowning, he was walking her through the garden. The skirts of her long black gown swished as she walked in between the bushes that Kreacher maintained so effortlessly. She stopped to sniff the deep red roses as she always did, bending down to suck in their sweet scent while still holding onto his firm arm. But when Evelyn turned to look back at him, she smiled. It was the first time her lips had even remotely turned upward since before the kidnapping.

Her face was radiant, angelic even. She looked more beautiful than ever before, her grey eyes lighting up with a sort of unrestrained happiness that he had never seen in her. Evelyn no longer seemed haunted by the demons of the past, no longer seemed like she was ready to leave this world. She seemed... euphoric.

"What have I done to deserve such a stunning creature like you?" Tom murmured, wrapping his hand around her chin like he used to do. These ten days had been hard. Ever since their kiss on the shores, Tom had taken great care not to bring his lips to her, not to reconnect with her in the bed like he wished to. Evelyn needed to heal and he couldn't let his selfish need for her get in the way of that.

Now, as she looked up at him with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen, it was harder than ever not to drag her in for the most rejuvenating kiss of his life.

"I love you," Evelyn whispered. "I love you so much."

Tom stroked her jaw lightly. "I love you too, Little Dove. Endlessly."

And that was when Evelyn stood on her tiptoes and kissed him.

He wasted no time kissing her back, his arm snaking around her waist as he pulled her to him with such need. Fuck, he missed her. He missed the taste of her lips, the feel of her hair in his hands, the breathless sounds she made as he passionately undid her. Tom kissed Evelyn with hunger. He kissed her like he was a starving man and she was his own personal feast. He kissed her like someone who could never get enough. And that was exactly what he was.

Tom's tongue entered her mouth and he almost groaned at the taste of her. So sweet, just like the cherries she ate only moments again. Evelyn ran her hands through his hair, sighing happily. "I missed you," she said in between his feverish kisses.

"I'm here," he replied in a deep voice. "I'm always here."

It felt like they had been kissing for hours. Sometimes, it was fast, hungry, passionate. Other times, their kisses became slow and lazy, consuming each other with a soft sort of need. Tom was sure that he could die a happy man at that moment as long as the taste of cherries lingered on his lips until the very end.

"My love," Evelyn breathed when the sun finally started to set. Her lips were swollen and red from his kisses. "Perhaps we should go inside where we are not so exposed."

He kissed the column of her throat with a hum. "It's only us, darling. There's no one else in the world."

She giggled breathlessly before pulling away. "Yes, my love, but perhaps I would like to do other things... inside."

Tom stilled. "Are you sure you're ready for that? I don't want to rush you, not when we have all the time in the world. I am more than happy to wait."

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "But I am not more than happy to wait. I want you."

Well, fuck. Who was he to deny a queen?

With a surprised yelp coming from her, Tom picked Evelyn up with ease and swiftly began to walk back toward the manor. She giggled against his lips, kissing him gently while he walked. He grumbled with satisfaction as she tortured him with what was yet to come.

It took far too long to reach the master bedroom despite the fact that Tom was essentially running there. He practically groaned when he finally closed the door with his foot. "You're mine," he grumbled against her lips, still greedily sucking in her taste with his tongue. "You're all mine."

"Yours," she breathed. Evelyn gripped the back of his neck and thrust against him. He hissed with pleasure, though he wasn't sure if it was from her words or her actions. Both had his hard cock straining against his pants, precum already leaking onto his pants as Evelyn surrounded his every sense with her essence.

The air was thick and heavy with longing, most of it probably his as Tom hungrily consumed Evelyn. With her legs wrapped around his waist, Evelyn began to grind into his hard member. Merlin, what was she doing? Her hips were making these little circles that were driving him fucking wild.

"Fuck, Little Dove. I'm not going to last long if you keep doing that." Because it was the truth. Tom Riddle was always in control. Unless, of course, Evelyn Black was grinding her sweet, tight pussy onto him, dripping wetness onto his trousers with each little movement. In those scenarios, fuck control. Fuck anything that kept him from ravaging her as she deserved. Fuck anything that kept him from her.

"I don't think I'm going to last long either, my love. I missed you."

"Oh, believe me, I know." The scent of her arousal was heady in the air, enough to serve as a reminder of how badly they both needed this connection.

Tom's mouth continued to move against her. "You have two options, my darling. The first is that I take my time, savoring every little bit of your aching body with foreplay that'll leave you gasping for me."

She breathed heavily. "And the second?"

"The second is that I fuck you now and make it up to you later."

Evelyn moaned. "Whatever gets you inside of me faster."

"Option two, it is," he said with a smirk against her lips.

Tom strode to the bed and eagerly ripped off her dress. He probably should have taken his time with the delicate buttons, knowing how much she loved the gown, but they were pissing him off and keeping him from her wet pussy. He could buy a new one later.

He groaned when he saw that she wasn't wearing any undergarments, almost as if she had planned this. What was this woman doing to him? He wanted to fall to his knees and worship her where she stood. Or perhaps do other things from that position...

"Fuck. Need you. Now."

The sounds of a belt being undone were accompanied by ripping fabric. Guess he could add new trousers and shirts to the list of things that he would have to replace after today.

In one swift motion, Tom brought Evelyn to his lap and sheathed himself inside of her without another word. He groaned as he felt her tight walls clenching in on him. Thank Merlin she was already dripping.

Evelyn moaned loudly and gripped his hair. This was a new position for them, one he was already enjoying immensely. Typically, Tom was on top of her. Sometimes, she was on top of him and he guided her with one hand on her hips and one on her throat. Many times, he pounded into her from behind with a grip so bruising she had marks for days. But this position, him thrusting upwards from her lap while she ground in circles, was new. And fuck if he didn't enjoy it.

Tom enjoyed looking directly into Evelyn's eyes as he watched each thrust tear her apart. Over and over and over he took what he desired, occasionally biting at her throat or squeezing her hair in his fist. He was still very much in control, though he did like whenever she moved rhythmically to each plunge of his rock-hard cock.

It wasn't long before Evelyn's moans became higher pitched while her nails moved to dig into his shoulders, piercing hard enough to draw blood. "O-oh, Tom," she cried out when his dick hit the spot he knew so very well. "Harder. Harder, please."

"You want me to destroy this sweet little pussy? You want me to bury myself inside of you until you're coated with my cum and unable to walk for days?"

"Yes. Yes, sir." Evelyn threw her head back, allowing him the perfect view of her taut nipples. Oh, he would definitely be worshipping those later.

Tom growled and grabbed her neck with his hand, squeezing just hard enough to cut off her air supply and drive her wild. "Look at you. My good little girl acting like such a slut. Maybe I should fuck that out of you."

Her breath shuddered. "You feel so good inside of me."

He groaned and let go of her neck. "Fuck, Little Dove. I love you. I love you so much."

And that, it seemed, would be the thing that finally caused Evelyn to come undone.

Her walls tightened around him as she cried out into the room but Tom's thrusts never slowed, not even when his cock contracted and began to spurt inside of her. Yes. She's mine again. Knowing that his seed rested inside of her had him hardening all over again, the primal part of him that needed to claim her urging him to do it again and again.

So he did.

Tom flipped them over so Evelyn was resting on the bed, looking up at him with a dazed and euphoric expression. "Tom, Tom, Tom," she muttered happily, cupping his cheek and stroking his thumb.

He kissed her hand gently. "I love you more than the stars and the moon, my darling. More than eternity, more than life itself."

And he spent the rest of the night showing her that.

Tom worshipped Evelyn for hours, never exiting her, not once. He kept them attached as he showed her all of the ways he adored and loved her. His thrusts were long and slow, his kisses sweet, his gaze adoring. Instead of choking her, he caressed her throat with his lips. Instead of telling her what a dirty slut she was, he showered her with praise and affection. His hands wandered to every part of her body so she would have no doubt of his feelings for her.

Every touch was tender, every word adoring, every movement soft. This was about more than just fucking. This was about reconnecting with her in every possible way.

Evelyn came often, seeming to love this rare, soft side of him. He came too, of course, always enjoying the way his cock sprayed into her with each position.

The moon was low in the sky, the sun close to rising, when Tom finally exited from her body. And still, he didn't let her rest, spending the rest of the night caressing her cheeks and looking into her grey eyes, telling her how much he loved her.

"My Little Dove," he said as he kissed her forehead. "My darling." Then, her nose. "My love." Her cheeks. "My Evelyn." And finally, her lips.

It wasn't until dawn that Evelyn's eyes began to droop in that adorable tired way of hers. It endeared him to see her like that and though he wanted to fall asleep with her in his arms, he had something he needed to do today.

Tom pulled away and walked over to the closet, slowly dressing in a similar pair of black trousers to the ones ripped on the floor. Then, the shirt.

Evelyn made a noise of distress. "Where are you going?" she whined. "Don't leave me."

He smirked. She was so adorable when she was needy. Perhaps, when he was feeling a little less tender and vulnerable to his emotions, he would fuck the neediness out of her. But for now, he was more than satisfied with their soft intimacy. It was odd. Tom Riddle almost preferred this gentle lovemaking to fucking. What had the world come to?

"Shh, my darling," Tom cooed, bending down to kiss her forehead as his hands worked on the buttons. "I will be back later tonight. I have something I need to do today."

Evelyn pouted and he chuckled again. "Rest and read some of your books. I will make it up to you when I return."

"Is that a promise?"

Tom grinned. "It's a threat."

. . .

It was later in the day when Tom had finally finished his errand. He was glad he had a good morning with Evelyn because his day was frustrating as hell. First, having to deal with the wretched goblins at Gringott's who guarded his father's vault, then apparating clear, to Little Hangleton to dig in multiple bloody graves, before finally venturing to the burnt shack at the edge of the town to comb through the ashes. His day ended at Diagon Alley where he haggled with the most idiotic shopkeeper before threatening to kill the man just for annoying him.

It's worth it, Tom told himself as he apparated back to Black Manor, his hands still covered in soot from decades-old remains. He quickly cleaned his hands with his wand so Evelyn wouldn't suspect anything.

"Hello, Little Dove," he murmured as he wrapped his arm around her waist. She was in the den, waiting for him with a book in her hands and a relieved expression on her face.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too, my darling." He kissed her forehead and led her to the dining table where they had a delicious dinner prepared by the new cook. Evelyn spent most of the meal recounting the book she read and he happily listened to it. He would listen to her tell him a million books for the rest of their lives with as much joy as he had now.

Tom loved her endlessly. He realized that today when he held her in that bedroom, realizing that every bit of his soul belonged to her. He knew that before, of course, but somehow today it felt more real, like he finally realized that she belonged to him and he belonged to her and that he would do anything to keep it that way. He would die for her. He would kill for her (and he had). Tom would spend every lifetime he was given proving that he deserved her love, that she was the air he breathed, that she was everything to him.

As Evelyn looked at him with bright grey eyes, he knew that his long day was worth it. A thousand long days would be worth it as long as he got to come home and spend every night just like this. With Evelyn looking at him like he was the world and Tom determined to give it to her.

So Tom smiled at her, loving the way she brought joy to the very man who thought he could never feel anything at all. Loving her.

And loving, too, the way the dark ring burned a hole in his pocket.

Oh my. Why am I sobbing? Maybe it's because we only have ONE MORE CHAPTER. Way to ruin my own day. Well, one more unless you include the bonus chapters, which I sincerely hope you stay around to read :)