#mathdelia

@the-r3vived asked for Heronchildstairs romantic gestures and got TREAT

Sometimes, Cordelia still couldn't believe this was really her life. That she could be sitting in the couch of her home, running her fingers slowly through James' hair with one hand and Matthew's hair with the other, as they both lay on opposite sides of her lap.

It made her giggle. Matthew might prefer dogs, but he himself was more like an indolent cat that was always draping himself over her and Jamie and asking for pets. And, of course, what Matthew wanted, James soon followed suit and vice-versa, so they had had to come up with this special arrangement that worked amazingly well for all of them.

Meanwhile, Jamie, even though he had grown up more around cats, was more like an eager dog, constantly bringing them gifts - from trinkets and flowers to that sometimes too expensive thing their eyes lingered too long on. It didn't matter if they chastised him for it, he would only smile, shrug, and do it again the next time.

Cordelia wasn't sure which animal she was most like, though Matthew once had called her their songbird and she had felt pride in the likeness. She loved them through songs and stories and strong words when those were needed. Perhaps not quite a songbird. A phoenix. She liked that idea.

It's not that they don't trust him or think he will relapse now that he is back in London, but Matthew actually hates being alone and James knows that (moving out of his parent's house was necessary, and the year away was necessary, but he is at his happiest surrounded by people he loves) and they both just want him to feel happy and cared for and to be close so they can repair their fragile bonds.