The weekend arrived quietly.
Adrian invited Elara to his house in the morning, not with formality, but with a simple message asking if she would come over and cook for him. He did not specify what he wanted. He did not need to. She already knew.
When she arrived, Adrian watched her move through the kitchen with an ease that came from memory, not habit. Every sound, every small motion, pulled him back to the days when he had learned the shape of his world through her presence alone.
"You still remember where everything is," he said lightly.
Elara smiled as she reached for the familiar spices. "I don't think I could forget even if I tried."
She began preparing his favorite braised chicken. As the scent slowly filled the air, Adrian closed his eyes without realizing it. The aroma grounded him instantly, bringing back evenings when he would sit nearby, listening to her movements, waiting for the moment she would call him to the table.
He stepped closer without a word and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Elara startled slightly, then relaxed when she felt his warmth. His chin rested near her shoulder, his arms firm but gentle around her waist.
"I missed this," he murmured. "I missed knowing you were here."
She leaned back into him, careful with the knife in her hand. "You used to stand like this all the time," she said softly. "Even when you couldn't see."
"I wanted to remember what it felt like," he replied. "So that when I could see you, I wouldn't forget."
The dish simmered slowly. Adrian stayed there, breathing in the scent of the food and of her, smiling in a way he rarely did anymore.
Lunch was simple and familiar. They ate together, unhurried, sharing quiet smiles and small memories. Afterward, they settled onto the couch, a movie playing softly in the background.
Elara curled against him, her head resting on his chest. She snacked on fruit, occasionally offering him a piece without looking. Adrian accepted them absently, his attention nowhere near the screen.
He watched her instead.
The way her lashes lowered when she smiled. The way her lips curved when she concentrated. The way her fingers moved without thought.
So many nights, he had imagined this. Wondered. Longed. Built her face piece by piece in his mind.
When she turned her head to feed him a slice of apple, she caught him staring.
Her cheeks flushed immediately. "Don't keep looking at me," she said, embarrassed.
He smiled and lifted a hand to cup her face. "I waited too long for this to stop now."
She hesitated, then asked quietly, "Are you disappointed?"
His brows drew together. "About what?"
"How I look," she said honestly. "Does it match what you imagined? I always thought I was out of your league."
Adrian shook his head, his thumb brushing her cheek. "You exceeded everything I imagined. I didn't just want to see you. I wanted to understand you. And now I do."
Her breath caught as he leaned down and kissed her, slow and deliberate, filled with everything they had carried separately for so long. She responded instinctively, her hand sliding up to rest against his chest, feeling the steady certainty of his heartbeat.
When they parted, he rested his forehead against hers.
"I yearned to see you," he confessed. "Not just to know you were there. But to see every expression you never knew I imagined."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she smiled. "Then don't look away anymore."
"I won't," he promised.
He kissed her again, deeper this time, his arms tightening just enough to remind her that she was safe, that she was wanted, that she was no longer alone in carrying the past.
Adrian smiled against her lips, his voice low and teasing. "Kissing you like this again… it reminds me of those nights. When I couldn't see anything, but I felt everything."
Elara's breath caught. Heat rushed to her cheeks and she turned her face slightly away, suddenly shy. "You shouldn't say things like that," she murmured, though she did not pull away.
He did not let her retreat far. His hand stayed warm at her waist, grounding, familiar.
"That time," he said quietly, no teasing now, only honesty, "was the best part of my life so far. Even in the darkness."
She looked back at him then, startled by the weight of his words. Before she could answer, he leaned down and kissed her again, slower this time, deeper with feeling. It was not hurried. It was the kind of kiss that carried memory and longing together.
His hand slid along her side, resting at her waist, holding her close. The touch was deliberate, intimate without being rushed, as if he was reminding both of them that this was real, that she was here.
Elara's fingers curled into his shirt, her body responding before her thoughts could catch up. Her heart was racing, not from desire alone, but from the ache of realizing how much they had both missed.
She broke the kiss just enough to breathe. "Adrian…"
He rested his forehead against hers, eyes closed, restraining himself with visible effort. "I know," he said softly. "We don't have to go any further. I just wanted you to know."
She nodded, overwhelmed, and let herself stay there and held in his arms,
*****
The doorbell rang in the late afternoon, breaking the quiet cocoon they had settled into.
Both Adrian and Elara looked up at the same time, startled.
"I wasn't expecting anyone," Elara said softly.
"Neither was I," Adrian replied, already standing.
When he opened the door, his mother's voice filled the space instantly.
"Adrian Vale, do you have any idea how many times I called you today?" Mrs. Vale scolded, her words tumbling out in one breath. "Your father and I sent messages too. Not a single reply. Do you think you can just disappear like that now?"
Adrian barely had time to respond before her voice halted mid sentence.
She stared past him, eyes widening as she spotted Elara standing a few steps away in the living room.
"Elara?"
Elara stiffened, then bowed her head slightly. "Mr. and Mrs. Vale. Good afternoon."
Mrs. Vale's expression transformed at once, surprise melting into delight. "You're here?"
Adrian watched as realization dawned on his mother. She turned back to him with a knowing look. "So this is why you've been unreachable for hours."
Elara's face warmed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude."
Mr. Vale cleared his throat, amused. "Are we interrupting something? If so, we can come back another time."
"No," Elara said immediately, stepping forward. "You're not interrupting anything. It's the weekend. You should spend time together as a family. I should be the one to leave."
She reached for her handbag, already moving toward the door.
Before she could take another step, Adrian caught her hand.
The contact was firm and unmistakable.
Elara froze.
Both of his parents went silent.
Adrian turned to face them, his voice steady. "She's not leaving."
Mrs. Vale blinked. "Adrian?"
He tightened his hold on Elara's hand, not allowing her to pull away. "We're seeing each other."
The words hung in the air.
For a split second, Elara feared what might come next.
Then Mrs. Vale gasped and grabbed her husband's arm in excitement. "I knew it. I knew something was going on between you two."
Mr. Vale laughed softly. "If it's Elara, we have nothing to worry about."
Mrs. Vale nodded vigorously. "We support you completely. We won't interfere."
Elara stood stunned, her cheeks burning. "Mrs. Vale, I…"
She trailed off, unsure what to say.
Mrs. Vale waved a hand. "No need to explain. Just promise you'll come over for dinner soon. I expect a proper meal together."
Adrian smiled. "We will."
"Well then," Mr. Vale said lightly, "we won't stay any longer."
Mrs. Vale squeezed Elara's hand gently before turning to leave. "Take good care of him. And Adrian, don't disappear again."
"We won't," Adrian said.
As the door closed behind them, silence returned.
Elara exhaled slowly and looked up at him. "Are you sure that was okay?"
He lifted his hand and brushed his thumb along her cheek. "They're fine. You don't need to worry about them."
Her shoulders relaxed at his touch and she nodded.