Celeste & Lucien — The Words He's Carried Too Long
Lucien had just opened the car door for Serena when Celeste called softly,
"Lucien."
He paused.
Serena noticed the shift immediately—the way his shoulders tensed, the way his jaw set like he was bracing himself. She gave his hand a small squeeze and stepped aside.
"I'll wait," she said gently.
Lucien nodded and turned back.
Celeste stood at the doorway, cardigan wrapped tighter around herself. She looked older in the late afternoon light—not weak, just… human.
"Walk with me," she said.
They stopped near the edge of the garden. The same place he'd knelt earlier. The same place he'd kissed Serena.
Celeste smiled faintly. "You always liked this corner. Even when you were small."
Lucien huffed quietly. "You used to hide my toys here when I was being stubborn."
"You were always stubborn," she said, then sobered. "Just like your father."
Silence fell.
Lucien looked down. "I don't want to be like him."
Celeste turned to him fully. "You aren't."
He laughed softly, bitter. "I left you."
Her breath caught.
"I should've fought harder," he said. "I should've stayed. I should've—"
"Lucien," she interrupted firmly.
He finally met her eyes.
"You were a child," she said. "And I was a mother who lost."
Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall.
"I don't blame you," she continued. "I never have. I blame a system that thinks love can be measured in bank accounts and signatures."
Lucien swallowed hard.
"I hated myself for going," he admitted. "Every birthday. Every holiday. I kept thinking… if I had refused, maybe you wouldn't have cried so much."
Celeste reached up, cupping his face the way she used to when he was small.
"I cried because I missed you," she said softly. "Not because you failed me."
His composure cracked.
"I was angry," he confessed. "At him. At the world. At myself. That's why I became… like this." He gestured vaguely. "Rebellious. Loud. Difficult."
Celeste smiled gently. "You became strong."
He shook his head. "I became guarded."
"And yet," she said, glancing toward Serena waiting by the car, "you still love deeply."
Lucien followed her gaze.
"She makes you softer," Celeste said. "Not weaker. Softer."
He exhaled slowly. "I want to protect her. I want to do things right this time."
"You already are," she said.
He hesitated, then asked quietly, "Do you… approve?"
Celeste chuckled softly, tears finally slipping free. "Lucien Reed, she was my goddaughter before she was your fiancée."
He smiled, relieved and emotional all at once.
"Don't let fear make decisions for you," she added. "You lost too much time already."
He nodded. "I won't."
She pulled him into a tight hug, pressing a kiss to his temple. "Go," she said softly. "Take care of her."
"I will," he promised. "And I'll come back. I won't disappear again."
"I know," she replied.
Lucien walked back to the car, expression calmer, lighter.
Serena searched his face. "You okay?"
He opened the door for her, fingers brushing hers as she slid inside.
"Yeah," he said, smiling softly. "I am now."
As the car pulled away, Celeste stood at the doorway, watching.
This time… she wasn't losing him.