20 years ago...

The day was long over and the end of tonight's rain caused thick, white fog to overcome the busy streets of New Habbershire as the cab finally arrived at the destination. It was dark and cold, and the atmosphere was rather spooky around that part of the city.

Nathaniel clutched his mother's hand as soon as she came to stand beside him, after stepping out of the still running car. She was quick to pay the driver, not wanting to pay more for gas, seeing he had no intention on turning off the engine.

Nathaniel was too distracted by the scary looking alley his gaze was focused on. He didn't know his mother was serious when she said that they were going to move to Endrik, a continent he had only heard of before in school. He liked his former home in Silverthorne and couldn't think of a better place to live in. He had just started school a few months ago and already made friends.

He was thinking his mother was just teasing him and so he waited and waited until she finally admitted it. But that never came. Instead, he found himself packing all his belongings a day after the big announcement. He didn't even know what to think of it. He had never been on a plane before, never in his six years of existence had he been on vacation. But Nathaniel didn't mind. He knew vacations were something they could never afford.

The Bennetts were not exactly poor, but far far away from wealthy. So how did his mother pay for this trip? Even with the small amount of experience he had in life, he knew a flight from Silverthorne to Endrik was expensive. Especially first class tickets.

But he was far from complaining. He might have just started school back at home, but he was sure he was going to school here too and maybe find new friends. Maybe he could even get a room for himself now? He sure hoped this change of scenery was for the good.

Maura Bennett glanced down at her son. Her precious little thing. As soon as she watched his curious eyes roam the dark area around them, she knew she had made the right decision. She knew he was safe in New Habbershire with his father. She couldn't risk dying and leaving her six year old son behind. Her time had come and she wasted no time on calling his biological father.

"Mum?" Maura heard his concerned voice, drawing her out of her thoughts. She saw him looking up at her, a small frown forming on his forehead. As she smiled at him, she eased the frown away with her thumb, like she always did. Nathaniel smiled back, noticing how her smile didn't reach her eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked her, wanting to know what all of this meant. Why they even moved here in the first place? He had asked her a few times before, but she only told him he would see why and he nodded, not wanting to cause his mother any stress. He had witnessed her faint and have seizures a few times before, so he remained quiet. For his mother's sake.

But now he was here and couldn't understand. The boy was still so young, so innocent. He didn't even know his mother was suffering from a rare health condition, causing her brain to stop functioning a few weeks after discovery. He didn't know that tonight was the last time he would see her. The last time he would hold her hand, kiss her warm cheeks and enjoy her comforting hug.

"Nothing baby. Take your suitcase, we have a few more minutes to walk and then we'll be at our new home." Her voice cracked during the last bit of her sentence. Nathaniel noticed, but once again, he ignored it and did as he was told. Their hands were still embraced in one another and neither of them had the intention of letting go. Ever.

After several minutes of walking uphill, Maura widened her eyes at the sight in front of her. She glanced at the street sign to assure herself that the mansion she just laid her eyes on was indeed their final destination. She picked up her pace, looking down to prevent from stumbling over another loose root.

Her son couldn't help but stare at the big house in front of him. His mouth even opened slightly as his mother was busy dragging him and her suitcase along with herself. As they arrived in front of the wooden double door, which was obviously the front door of the huge property, Maura turned towards Nathaniel and crouched down. She looked him over, tried to quickly clean a few specks of dirt on his jacket and get rid of the wrinkles on his sleeves. The young boy groaned when she went as far as licking the pad of her thumb and running it over his cheeks.

"Mommy, my cheeks are clean. Please stop it." He said, knowing this was a normal nervous tic of hers, uncontrollable and irregular forms of showing her discomfort. He just couldn't understand why she was nervous and why they stood in front of this house. But he was tired and he just wanted her to bring them to their new home, so he could finally sleep. The dark was scaring him and he had no problem sleeping through it.

Maura ran her hand through his hair one last time, before letting out a nervous breath and turning towards the doors again. All of a sudden, she felt heavy. As if the reality of her decision just hit her.

This was the last day she would be alive. The last day she would be with her beloved son. Oh, how she wished destiny wasn't such a bitch. How she wished she could see her son grow up to be the handsome and well-mannered gentleman she always hoped he would turn into.

She hoped he would forgive her for not telling him, but she just couldn't. She couldn't bear his broken face. She wanted to see him smile and kiss him goodnight, knowing he would fall into a deep and peaceful slumber. Even if it was selfish of her, but she wanted to see him happy on her last day. As long as she still could.

So she rang the doorbell twice, just like Age, Nathaniel's biological father told her. They waited for a split second before the door slowly opened, letting out an obnoxious creak. Nathaniel and his mother cringed at the sound. They both hated whenever they heard a door creak.

"Good evening, ma'am. You must be here for master Hypnos. Please come in." She heard the man in front of her say. She nodded, tightening the grip on her son's hand as the man, who looked like a butler, opened the door wider, allowing them to step in. Hesitantly, they did and a sudden- for some reason unexpected- warmth greeted them.

The sound of the door closing behind them made Nathaniel jump a little. From the sounds of it, that door must have been heavy. But his mind didn't linger on that thought as a thousand others distracted him. What where they doing here? Who was this man? And why on earth was there a huge painting of a bucket full of fruit hung up on the wall im front of him?

"This way." The man interrupted Nathaniel's thoughts and he found himself following him involuntarily. His mother's tight grip on him was starting to hurt, but he remained silent. He knew he needed her comfort right now. And from the looks of it, the feeling was mutual.

"Master, your visitors are here." Nathaniel heard the man say and looked up to see who he was talking to. Maura had her eyes already set on the familiar man who was seated behind his desk. He looked just like seven years ago, when they first met: Menacingly attractive.

"Maura." His smooth voice carried out her name as he stood up, took long, confident strides towards the young woman who he had fallen in love with the moment he laid his eyes on her. She looked like she had been losing weight with her hollow cheeks and her unusually pale skin, as opposed to the warm caramel tone he was used to.

"You can leave now." Hypnos Oneiroi told his butler dismissively and waited for him to close the door, before he started talking again.

"Maura." He couldn't help but repeat in a whisper hardly audible. He knew why she was here. He hadn't changed his number in all these years for this very reason. He knew sooner or later, his love would call him again. That she would soon be in his arms again. Even if it took her seven years.

He was happy when he found out that she planned on visiting him with her- their son. He would've been even more excited if he didn't know the reason. If he didn't know that the first time he would see her after so many years, would also be the last time he would see her ever again.

"Age." Her voice was raspy, yet music to his ears. She remembered the name he had introduced himself with, the first time they met. It felt like such long time ago. His gaze shifted from her towards the young boy who was staring at him with wide and curious eyes.

Nathaniel tightened his grip on his mother's hand as the grown man in front of him crouched down.
"You must be Nathaniel." His tone was warm, yet powerful. The young boy blinked, before nodding his head in confirmation.

"Hello Nathaniel, my name is Age. I am-" he cut himself off and looked at Maura, secretly asking permission to tell his son about their relationship. She nodded.
"- I am your father." He looked back at the small creature in front of him, not seeming to grasp the fact that he participated in making this little bean. Hypnos was pretty sure for Nathaniel's age, he must have been too little. But then again, he had no idea about children.

"My what?" Nathaniel took a step back and looked at his mother in confusion. His father?!
"I am your father, Nathaniel." Age repeated, raising an eyebrow at the fear in his son's eyes. Why was he afraid?

"Mommy?" The boy ignored the man in front of him as he tugged on his mother's hand, hoping she would finally tell him what all of this meant.
"He's your father, Nathaniel. Go on, baby. Say hello." Her thumb traced circles on his hand in comfort.

"Hello." Nathaniel stuck his hand out in front of him. Age eyed it, before chuckling and taking his small hand in his rather large one. Nathaniel released a breath when the scary man straightened his back again and continued talking to his mother.

"Are you sure?" Hypnos asked the beautiful woman in front of him, silently hoping she would say no and he could convince her to stay with him a little longer.
"Yes Age. I am." She said determined, though her tone held sadness. The man nodded, before walking past them and opening the door.

"I will show you your room." He said to his son, irritated by the fact that he felt like his heart dropped into his pants when she answered him. Although he did understand her, he didn't want to. He respected her decision, but he didn't want to.

"Do you want your own room, baby?" Maura asked her son and noticed his eyes light up at her suggestion. He always wanted to have his own room. So he nodded eagerly, making his mother and father let out a few chuckles. They arrived in front of a door shortly after.

"Go on, son. Open it." Hypnos nudged Nathaniel, who did as he was told. Mainly because he was curious and excited about having his own room. He loved his mother, but he was a big boy. The moment his eyes wandered around the room, his lips curled up into a happy smile.

Maura watched her son step in and couldn't help, but feel proud. She knew she had raised her child well. Not once had he complained about sharing a room with her back in Silverthorne, but she knew better. He deserved it, she thought. He really did.

"All this... is mine?" Nathaniel turned around looking at his father. Hypnos nodded and couldn't help the smile on his face, knowing at least he had his son now and would always be there for him.

The young boy was so happy, he didn't even think twice before running up to him and wrapping his skinny arms around his father's leg. The man was shocked at first, but before he could really react and hug him back, Nathaniel already let go and turned towards his mother.

"Look mum!" He said excitedly as he practically dragged her inside his new room. Maura was stunned too, but kept her eyes on her son the whole time. This was how she wanted to see him. How she wanted him to remember this night.

Hypnos watched his family with sad eyes. Soon, his son would be motherless. And his life was going to change drastically.
"I'll leave you two alone. It's late, you should go to sleep, son." The man ruffled his son's hair, before leaving the room.

"I want you to go to sleep now and explore your new room tomorrow. You are tired and no child your age should be up at this hour." Maura ordered her son, who nodded. He was tired and exhausted from the trip. So he shrugged off his jacket, stepped out of his shoes and climbed into the bed. His pyjamas were downstairs in his suitcase, but he didn't want to wait until someone brought them up, so he was okay with sleeping in his pants and shirt for tonight.

Maura hummed a familiar tune while tucking Nathaniel in. He smiled satisfied, yet lazily up at her. She couldn't help but grin back, before sitting down on the edge of his new bed. It was a big bed, he looked like a baby in it, but he didn't mind, because it was warm and cozy. Minutes passed in comfortable silence as Maura continually ran her hand through Nathaniel's hair.

"I am very proud of you, Nathaniel. I know this trip was sudden and you weren't the biggest fan of it, but you never complained. I love you so much." When she said that, Nathaniel noticed her voice crack once again. He reached out for her hand and held it tight.

"I love you too, mummy. I'm happy we're here. And tomorrow we can explore my room together." He said, those hopeful eyes of his fixed on Maura. Without thinking, she let out a tear. She didn't know how to answer and so all she did was kiss his forehead, praying to God her son would remember her. That he would remember this very moment. And forgive her for it.

"Sleep now, baby." She didn't have to tell him twice. The warmth of his new bed and the comforting strokes of his mother's hand in his hair were reason enough to fall asleep within the following five minutes.

He didn't notice Maura's hand leave. He didn't notice her lips linger on his forehead, or how her tears fell on his hair when she kissed him one last time. Her silent sobs leaving his room along with her.

But when he'd wake up the next day, he'll wish he did.