I pulled my shirt over my head throwing it into the hamper, along with my jeans, getting into the fuzziest warmest pyjamas I owned. Pyjamas were one of the few good things in the world, they were up there on the list with chocolate. The light pink buttoned shirt hung loose on my frame, irritating me as I tried to tie the drawstring on my bottoms as it kept getting in the way. I rubbed my eyes as I made my way out of my room yawning as I walked towards the kitchen. Today was my first day back to university, I'd skipped some lessons opting to spend some time with Maggie instead. It's been weeks since the incident as beautiful as the service had been for Cyrus it was no closure.

I stumbled into the kitchen nearly tripping over the long hem of my pyjamas,slightly out of breath Xavier's home was much too large walking through it daily wasn't the cup of tea for a cringe worthily unfit person. My knees cracked nearly as loud as thunder when I bent down, it sometimes frightened customers. I wasn't exactly the human embodiment of grace. I would have to remember to look for a home that wasn't at all on the large side walking was not my domain. I poured myself some milk into a mug, mugs were so much better then normal glasses and I wasn't going to deprive myself of life's simplest pleasures.

I heard the door open quietly making me stiffen, would I be able to make it to my room, the stairs were near but I wasn't very quick. I was avoiding Xavier since that day, since I'd woken up in his bed wrapped up in his strong muscled arms the warmth of his bare chest pressing into my back, he held me so close to his chest even in his sleep. I didn't want to worry him, he had a business to run, personal matters to deal with he was a busy man. But it was very difficult to avoid him, especially since I was staying in his home, avoiding the man was taking a whole lot of effort from me, energy that I didn't have. Although he didn't seem to appreciate my cowardly ways, often while running out the door I'd feel his dark stormy gaze settled on me, it was slightly unsettling but for the best. He needn't worry about me.

Maybe if I was quiet he wouldn't notice. The thought of staying at Jay's for the night had crossed my mind but that was too drastic a move, that would attract attention, as long as I stayed busy I could keep away from him. The cafe was still closed but I had a key, so I would go there to study when not with Maggie.

I was currently looking for an apartment soon I'd let Xavier know I was moving out, he'd done so much for me, but I couldn't just stay here forever. I heard him close the closet very softly, his coat was off that seemed to put me in gear. I quickly placed the milk back in biting into my lip near painfully as I almost dropped the carton but luckily I managed to place it back in the fridge.

I turned around hoping to stealthily walk up the stairs to get into my room, my eyes on the milk to ensure it wouldn't spill. My breath got caught in my throat as I looked up only for my eyes to be met with with grey ones, seemingly a storm caged within thick black lashes.

He was angry, he had a right to be, but he really was furious and it was terrifying. His brows were furrowed, plump red lips pursed, it was the infamous Night glare but way mellowed out, maybe that was the doing of the pyjamas. My theory was that not even lightening would strike fuzzy pyjamas they were much too precious.

I swallowed thickly as he simply stared at me his jaw ticking, maybe I could get out from the side. He stalked closer to me slowly, his gate predator like, a lion stalking its prey. He made me feel more like a doe eyed gazelle than I ever had, I stumbled backwards unthinkingly his eyes narrowed as I moved away from him my feet propelling me away from him but that didn't stop him. The enticement of a chase only encourages a lion.

My steps were no match for his, three of mine seemed to equal just one of his, but he took his time with the chase, giving the prey the illusion it could get away. My eyes widened as I felt my back hit the counter, I looked back to see my lower back pressed against the high counter, but looking away was my mistake.

When I looked up he was right in front of me, our chests just a breath away, I tried to back further into the counter but it didn't do me any good, he only covered the distance that I created.

I gripped the counter on both of my sides in hopes of stretching away from him but he rested his hands beside mine, leaning over me slightly. He towered over me gazing down at me with those stormy grey eyes. 

"You've been avoiding me." He spoke his husky warm velvety voice ringing out in the tense silent room. I stared up at him wide eyed, struggling to gather my thoughts enough to respond to him.

"N-no." I responded weakly making a furrow form between his brows.
"I should go." I say quietly grabbing the mug of milk and clutching it to my chest as I stare at his arm waiting for him to move it. 

"Where do you think you're going?" He asks huskily and I stare up at him my eyes wide.

"You've been avoiding me for weeks and now you won't even look at me." Xavier says through clenched teeth.

"I haven't been avoiding you Xavier." I say quietly, he chooses not to respond simply staring at me silently, but the Night stare was scary.

"Y-you've done so much for me, I don't w-want to bother you with my problems, none of this has anything to do with you, I shouldn't ale you with my issues." I say softly. He stares down at me silently waiting for me to finish before carefully easing the mug out of my hands and resting it gently on the counter.

"Raine you are not a bother I want you to share your problems with me. You don't know what not seeing you for so long does to me, I want to help you get through this, please don't avoid me. Promise me you won't avoid me ever again?" He says his voice holding a desperation that I couldn't ignore, and I nod.

"I promise." I mumble breathily. His face softens considerably his fingers trailing over the side of my cheek making their way over the curve of my jaw ever so softly, adoration clear in his eyes.

His arms wrap around me softly as he tugs me into his chest. His arms tighten around me as he crushes me to firm warm chest, leaning down to bury his face into my hair, he inhales deeply. Hesitantly I wrap my own arms around him, and his tense large form seems to completely melt against me as his large frame completely envelopes me. His intoxicating scent filling my senses, the warmth that I'd stayed without for two weeks now seeping into my skin through my pyjamas.

"My little love." He mumbled softly into my hair makings a small smile come onto my face, I hadn't heard him call me love for so long, it was the little things that you missed. I snuggled my face into the exposed skin of his chest atop the dress shirt covering the wide expanse of his chest. He was always inexplicably warm, even though he's come from outside in the near unbearable cold he was much warmer then I, and I'd been home for hours. He pulls away from me softly, resting his hands on my arms he still holds me close.

"You haven't eaten have you?" He asks, his tone reprimanding and I go to lie but one look into that stormy gaze and I knew the question was simply a formality. He knew I hadn't eaten and he somehow knew when I'd lied, I shook my head softly.

"Sit my love I'll make you something to eat." He says softly placing a kiss to my forehead and I look up at him slightly dazed as he presses the mug of milk back into my hands. I turn around to make my way to the table but a hand grabs onto my arm, pulling me back towards him gently. I feel him lean down so that his chest is pressed against my back as he presses his face against the side of my head. His chin resting on my shoulder, a shiver passes through me as the heat of his skin seeps in through my shirt.

"If you think I'm gonna let you take even a step away from me after not seeing you for weeks, you are wrong my love. You my little love are going to stay right by me as I cook." He whispers softly into my ear, his lips brushing against my ear as he speaks, he presses a quick kiss to the side of my cheek, nudging it playfully with his nose before leaning away.

His arm wraps firmly around my waist as he lifts me up off the ground setting me onto the counter as if I weigh absolutely nothing, a soft squeak of protest leaving my mouth. He rests his arms around my hips leaning in his eyes full of mischief daring me to try to move away and I freeze in my seat. I look down not wanting to endure the intensity of his gaze.

"You're so beautiful." He mumbles quietly his minty breath blowing against my face as he leans ever closer.

"Stop." I mumble slightly embarrassed, my hand pathetically pushing against his hard chest, not moving him even one bit. His eyes fill with mischief as he looks from my hand on his chest to my eyes.

"What do you want me to stop love, I don't understand." He says suddenly grabbing me by the waist and pulling me into his firm build eliciting a gasp from me. My lips part in shock as I stare up at him. His hand cups my face gently as he leans forward his melting silver eyes filled with mischief that has me uneasy.

He attacks my face with kisses, not leaving one inch of my face untouched. Loud giggles escape me as I try to escape him trying with all my might to push him away, as I squirm in his arms. But he is unrelenting, his constant kisses have my cheeks warming up to the point where my face feels like it's on fire.

"Is this what you meant?" He asks slowly between kisses.

"Yes stop." I say again between giggles trying to turn my face but he only follows.

A husky chuckle escapes him as he finally relents pulling away just enough to give me space to breathe, before going back to trailing kisses on to my jaw, working their way down my throat softly.

"X-Xavier." I say shakily and his head pulls up as he stares at me through content longing filled hooded eyes.

"You want me to stop baby?" He asks softly trailing kisses over my jaw, his tongue flicking leisurely over the tick in my jaw.

"Y-yes." I mumble.

"But I don't want to." He says quietly staring at me with those bright silver eyes, and my mouth falls open, what.

"W-what?" I mumble.

"Convince me, if you want me to stop convince me baby." He says his voice huskier them ever.

"You should stop." I say stupidly before he pouts at me slightly, and only then do I realize what he wants, he wants a kiss.

I lean forward slowly, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek, and he leans back pouting his brows furrowed.

"I'm not convinced love." He says. I bite my lip worrying it as I wonder how to get out of this, staring at him with wide eyes trying to see if I could slip out somehow but he seemed to have me pretty well caged. His arms trapped my sides and his legs prevented me from jumping off the counter he'd sat me on. As I look up back into his eyes everything else fades as I see the look in them, his eyes hold a hope that I can't ignore, it's almost childish, the way that he looks at me.

I let my lip loose from beneath my teeth subconsciously, leaning forward to press my own lips to his softly, keeping them pressed against his. Feeling the heat of his mouth soak into my own before pulling away.

I wrap my arms around his neck embracing him tightly to me. I bury my face into his neck, feeling my heart swell within my chest, he was always there for me, even though I'd rejected him, turned away his advances he was always there, through absolutely everything. Always there to cheer me up, even now. I'd avoided him, shut him out but he wasn't giving up, he never would he would always be here. He wanted nothing in return, not once had he tried to deepen the kiss, touch me in anyway less than innocent, he was only trying to cheer me up tonight, as he always had.

"Thank you." I mumble into his neck and he wraps his arms tightly around me burying his face into my hair.

"You never have to thank me love." He mumbled quietly. We stay that way for what feels like a sweet eternity and never did I wish to move from his warm embrace, but the sound of my stomach rumbling has him pulling away.

"Let's get some food in you." He mumbled to me quietly pressing his lips to mine in an innocent peck before pulling away to take out the pots and pans he'd need.

"What would you like to eat?" He asks.

"Spaghetti." I answer automatically my mouthwatering at the mere memory of the last time he'd made me spaghetti, the man was a legendary cook.

"Alright." He says a soft smile making its way onto his face, the dimple on his smooth cheek popping out amongst the light scruff he had going from not shaving this morning.

I watch him as he cooks, ever too gracefully for his enormous size. He glances up at me frequently as if ensuring I hadn't disappeared, kissing my cheek or trailing his hands over my face as he walked by. Time passes quickly as I watch him cook merrily swinging my feet enjoying the milk.

He soon places a large bowl of spaghetti in my hands with a fork in it. I twirl some spaghetti around a spoon shovelling it into my mouth, my eyes near rolling back as it hits my tastebuds. Only after a few bites do I realize he hasn't made himself a plate, I roll up some spaghetti into my fork offering it to him. His eyes show reluctance but I purse my lips the way he'd done, furrowing my brows giving him his own glare and he smiles. His eyes fill with amusement, dimple popping out as he leans forward wrapping his lips around my fork taking the food I offer him.

"You know you should be a chef." I say swinging my legs as we eat.

"I wanted to." He admits, and my eyes fly up to meet his gaze and I stay silent urging him to continue.

"As a child my mother taught me to cook, and I'd always loved it, those were my favourite times, when we'd cook together. She taught me the little I know. It was my dream to become a chef." He says and an unrecognizable emotion comes into his eyes as he speaks. A forlorn longing, something completely incomprehensible to me in its tormented melancholy.

"Why didn't you?" I ask softly.

"Life doesn't work out the way we want it to, the dream died a long time ago." He answers making me frown.

"Your mom, didn't she push you to pursue it?" I ask.

"She died when I was young." He says simply his jaw ticking slightly eyes filling with a darkness I'd never seen before but I pay no heed to it. I rest the bowl beside me wrapping my arms around him I pull him close, holding him to me.

"I'm so sorry Xavier." I say my eyes brimming with tears, it was so difficult to lose a loved one I couldn't imagine what little Xavier had gone through after losing his mother.

"It's been a long time, it's fine." He answers me quietly.

"No,no its not fine, time only heals flesh wounds, we learn to move on but we never forget." I say grabbing his face within my hands. I press a kiss to his forehead, my eyes closing as my lips touch his warm smooth skin, a tear trailing over my own cheek.

"No baby don't cry, I've made you cry I'm so sorry Raine, don't cry I don't deserve your tears." He says softly brushing the tears away from my face with the pads of his thumb.

"Don't say that, you deserve everything in this world." I say harshly.

"I was supposed to cheer you up." He says his plump lips jutting out sadly.

"And you did, I promise." I say unable to contain myself I press a quick kiss to his pout and his eyes brighten considerably.

"Hearing about your loss reminded me of Cyrus, I'm sorry you went through that so young, nobody deserves that. You deserve everything in this world Xavier Night and don't you think otherwise." I say, and he swallows thickly looking almost surprised at what I'd said, as if no one else had ever said something like that to him before.

"Thank you." He says quietly and I nod in response. Living with Xavier I'd learnt the meanings behind his few words, even the smallest of things he said had meanings beyond a whole book sometimes. As quiet as he was, he was deeply evolved, complicated, difficult to understand but once you fell into tune with him, if he allowed you to that was, you'd see he was far more than what he seemed. Vivid emotions hid behind that well sculpted mask he'd created for himself.

"What was the first thing she taught you?" I ask, really I just wanted to hear him speak, I liked it when he spoke, he had a way of completely catching his audiences' attention, making you focus on him. I liked that. A small breathy laugh escapes him making me confused and he shakes his head as he clutches sight of my expression, making me laugh in return.

"What?" I ask.

"Funnily enough, it was spaghetti." He says looking at me through his lashes and I beam at him, making him smile.

"What about sweets?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"I could never get the hang of those, my mother was more into cooking than baking. We weren't very rich, we couldn't afford baking supplies." Xavier admits and my eyebrows shoot up, he just seemed as if he were born in a button up and dress pants, I couldn't imagine him on anything else. Although admittedly he did look quite good in sweat pants. But I doubted there was an article of clothing that Xavier Night would not look good in.

"Well she was an amazing cook, and you have me to bake for you." I tell him and his eyes seem to brighten at my words. I loved how easy he was to please, the simplest things made him happy. It was nice to hear about him for a change, usually Xavier would ask about me, but never speak of himself. I guess all I had to do was ask.

A yawn escapes me and I rest my face onto his shoulder tiredly, I'd come down to drink milk before going to sleep, this was way past my regular sleeping schedule.

"Let's get you to bed." He says softly wrapping his arms around me, his hands going under my thighs as he wraps me legs around his waist, not giving me a chance to protest he simply starts walking. I was incapable of cooking but was quite capable of performing other daily tasks. Somebody just needed to inform this silver eyed moving mountain thing.

"I can walk." I mumble grumpily, being a slight hypocrite as I wrap my arms and legs tighter around him resting my head onto his shoulder letting out a small yawn but Xavier doesn't say anything. I gaze up at him, wondering why he wouldn't reply, my cheeks colouring as I see him simply staring down at me in admiration. His eyes softening impossibly more as he watches me let out a yawn. I hide my face in the crook of his neck to keep him from seeing my blush.

"Adorable." He mumbled softly almost to himself before carefully opening the door to my room as to not jostle me.

He lays me down on my bed softly, pulling my covers over me, tucking me in securely. Xavier leans down to tuck the covers up to my chin and I press a kiss to his cheek quickly.

"Goodnight Xavier." I mumble sleepily and a small smile comes onto his face as he finishes tucking me in. He presses his lips to my forehead ever so softly, brushing my hair away from my face before mumbling back ever so softly.

"Goodnight my love."