“And then it was over. That was the end of the episode and it’ll be at least nine months before the next season premiers,” Luke lamented.

Sebastian chuckled. “I’m sure you’ll survive till then. Sounds like you had a good weekend though.”

Luke nodded. “It was peaceful. What did you do this weekend?”

“I got roped into helping Eddie clean out his attic. We found some interesting stuff but it was still mostly boring.” Emily closed the boot and turned to face the others. Alright, that’s everything. We should leave now while it’s still light out.

Nick nodded and turned to Seb. “You're sure you’ll be okay?”

“I’m not that irresponsible, Nick,” Sebastian laughed. “Plus, Eddie’s with me.”

“I know but... take care of yourself, okay. I promise we’ll be back as soon as possible and I don’t want to come home to find you’ve injured yourself or joined a gang or something.”

Seb raised an eyebrow. “Joined a gang?”

“Or something,” Emily laughed. “Our boy will be fine, Nicky. We are going to miss you dreadfully though.”

“I’ll miss you guys too. Be careful and hurry back.”

Both adults nodded then pulled their son in for a hug. Edmund also got pulled into the embrace and when they finally parted, Nick looked close to tears.

“We better leave before I break down again,” he joked.

Emily smiled sadly. We’ll be back as soon as possible. Don't destroy the house while we’re gone, okay.”

Sebastian nodded then stepped back and watched his parents climb into their car and drive away. He wasn’t sure how long he’d stared after the vehicle had already left sight rang. But Edmund’s hand on his shoulder, guiding him back into the house helped to pull him back into the present.

And, unfortunately, back into the reality of what had just happened.

“Do you want something to drink?” Edmund asked as he sat Seb down on the sofa.

“Hot cocoa?”

“Alright. I’ll be right back.”

Sebastian sat with his legs pulled up against his chest, chin resting on his knees and arms wrapped tightly around himself. He wasn’t sure how he should be feeling. He honestly didn’t even know what he felt knowing his parents were going into some kind of danger at that very moment. Something that they couldn’t tell him about because of a vow they’d taken.

Were his parents a part of some magical society? What would have happened if they’d just broken the vow? Why was it so important that they make a vow in the first place? And what did his father have to do with all this?

Seb’s eyes wandered over to the wall where the last family photo they had all taken was framed. It was taken on Christmas day. Sebastian was in the foreground, holding up the camera like he was taking a selfie, and on the couch behind him Emily sat on one end with Nick’s head in her lap, and Seb’s father, Tristan, was lain half on top of Nick, making a silly face at the camera.

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He remembered the morning that Nick and Emily had broken the news to him all too clearly. His mother’s eyes had been red from crying and Nick looked like the life had been sucked out of him. The atmosphere at home was heavy for a long time afterwards.

His father’s absence seemed to be felt everywhere in the house. There was no one to dance with Nick in the kitchen. There was no one to read aloud books to Emily on cold nights. There was no one to make Sebastian peel in laughter from terrible plant-related jokes. There was one less seat at the table. One less person in the car. One less voice in their conversations. Yet the memories seemed to haunt those empty moments even now.

“Hey, you okay?” Edmund asked when he returned with hot cocoa.

He followed Sebastian’s gaze to the framed picture and realised what he was thinking about.

“He’d be proud of you, you know.”

Seb looked up. “You think so?”

Ed nodded and handed him one of the mugs. “I’m one hundred percent sure. He was proud of you even back then, and he’d be even more so for all you’ve accomplished.”

Sebastian sighed into the cup. “It's been nearly seven years.”

“It has.”

“Why does it still hurt?”

“Because you lost him. It’s okay to still miss him, Baz. He was your dad after all.”

“I know, but isn’t time supposed to heal this shit or something?”

Edmund shrugged. “Healing doesn’t mean it won’t still hurt. It just means you’ll notice the pain a little less. Do you still feel as much pain as you did before?”

“I guess not. I’m defiantly better off than I was that first few months,” Seb decided. “I almost pushed you away back then.”

“There’s no getting rid of me, though,” Edmund said with a cheeky grin that earned a laugh from Sebastian.

They sat together in comfortable silence, enjoying their warm drinks, until Seb asked, “Do you think they’ll come back?”

“They promised they would return as soon as possible.”

“I know but... I can’t stop thinking about what kind of dangers they’re getting themselves into. I don’t even know where they’re going, Eddie.”

Edmund didn’t say anything for a moment and Sebastian wondered if he had said too much. But then Ed put down his mug and moved closer to hug him.

“We’ll be okay. I promise.”

As a new wave of tears gushed from Seb’s eyes, he was grateful that Edmund had moved close enough to hold him while he fell apart. Their lives had become so complicated and frustrating but at least they had the constant of each other.

Sebastian wasn’t sure when he fell asleep, but when he woke up, he found himself in his own bed. Edmund was sleeping beside him, arms still wrapped securely around Seb like a security blanket. It was comfortable and cosy and Sebastian didn’t understand why he’d woken up. He looked around the room and then noticed his phone on the bedside table was lit up.

He heard a faint buzzing from it, which he realised must have been what had woken him. Edmund on the other hand just groaned at the intrusive noise and buried his face into Seb’s dark curls. He laughed lightly at Ed’s actions and then moved carefully to grab the phone so that he could see what the noise was about.

Texts from Luke.

Luke: Sure I’d love to hang out with you for your birthday

Luke: Oh it’s late. Are you sleeping?

Luke: You're probably sleeping

Luke: Why am I still messaging you-- I’m so sorry

Sebastian chuckled at the messages and typed a reply.

Seb: Don't be sorry, I’m glad you’re coming!

Seb: Eddie will be with us. Is that cool with you?

Luke: That’s cool. I should probably get to sleep now, so I’ll see you tomorrow.

Seb: Sweet dreams, see you tomorrow

Sebastian turned off his screen and smiled. Perhaps things would be okay. Maybe, after bowling, Seb could convince Luke to come over for cake. He could invite Lydia, Persephone and Hayden too. If Garret wasn’t working that night, he’d defiantly join them. And his parents would be back in time, hopefully, so they could all celebrate his birthday together.

As Edmund had said, they would be okay. Everything would be okay...