#ynm

"Darling, I need to go," said a worried William.

He tended to stay up late nearly every night working on new plans for the whole team. Not very good for his health, he knew that, yet he was convinced that everyone needed him to have a work addiction.

You were the only one who could actually force him to sleep properly. Well, sometimes even you failed to get him to sleep, but your voice was almost always sweet enough for him to surrender.

You'd asked him to be with you last night for once and for all because you "were afraid that someone might break into the manor while he wasn't beside you". However, that's not the truth. You missed your husband, which is natural, but you were beginning to depend on him and you weren't admitting it. And of course he had noticed this.

"(Name), I must go to the university," said he as he tried to kindly get your arms off of his torso. "It is getting late..."

Last night was one of those times you'd succeeded in making him go to bed with you. His warmth was very pleasant to have around. He'd let you caress his hair, peck him on the lips, tell him sweet little nothings or rest your head on his chest until you both fell asleep. But the night always ends for a new day to come.

"Please stay, William. I cannot handle being alone for so long," you said as he got ready for work.

"Louis is always here, so you won't be alone. And I will come back early today, but I really need to go."

"You don't seem to understand... I need you with me, Liam. I don't feel good when I'm without you. What if something happens to you?"

"My love," he said as he grabbed your hands, "nothing will happen. I always miss you too, I swear. We can talk about this when I come back home. We'll have some time alone, I promise, but I do need to leave. I hope you understand."

You didn't utter a word. You only nodded with disappointment on your face. It's not that you wished to be a burden to him at all, but you couldn't get yourself to tell him how truly anxious you felt when he wasn't around.

"I'll see you then, my beloved." His hands grabbed your face as he kissed you. "Forgive me. I'll make it up to you."

"Have a nice day, Liam," you finally answered with a genuine grin. He was too sweet for you to just ignore his words.

Even if you told yourself that you could be without him, why did your heart beat so fast? Why did your flesh get so cold? He had only left for work. He wasn't going to die nor was he going to cheat on you, dear heavens. He was coming back.

You finally made up your mind and decided to go out all by yourself. One always needs to learn how to enjoy solitude in the end, you thought.

"Will you take the coffee or not, madam?" asked the vendor. "Please make haste. Others are waiting too."

"I'm sorry, could you repeat the question?"

It was more crowded than expected! There shouldn't be so many children in the streets at that hour! Everything was so loud and overwhelming that you weren't able to assimilate everything at once and your head had begun to ache.

"Yes," you stuttered, "I will take it."

You wanted to rapidly go back home, but you couldn't even get yourself to ask a carriage to take you home. You swore you could feel everybody's gaze of your nape because they "obviously'' knew you were lost. In truth, you were at fault for going out in that anxious state. How on Earth did you plan to go back? The sky was getting darker.

You ended up getting even more lost and tears were genuinely about to run down your cheeks when, as if the gods had found mercy for you, you heard a familiar voice.

"(Name)? What are you doing here?"

There he was, right behind you, a true angel. You ran up to him without saying a thing until you both reached peace (your awaited house). He had practically saved you without knowing it, although there was no real danger outside your head.

"What's wrong? Why haven't you talked at all? Did anyone harm you?" asked William as he made a whole plan to kill whomever had dared to do so.

"No, I simply wanted to go outside and got lost," you shyly responded. "And what took you so long?"

"Long? I finished earlier just to get home sooner..." His expression softened. "My love, what's going on?"

"Nothing. I just missed you."

He took his vest off and looked at you.

"You're lying. You seem to forget that I'm quite attentive."

"You know me too well," you laughed.

"Well, I'm very much in love with you, so I'd hope I know you well," he teased you while sliding his arm around your waist and smooching your cheek. "Tell me. Share your worries with me."

"Fine," you paused. "I think I need you."

"So what? I need you too," he continued teasing you.

"William! Let me finish!" you scolded him. "I mean, I'm a naturally clingy person. And you happen to be the one I cling onto the most... I thought I could handle it, but it's getting to the point where I can't enjoy my days if you're not beside me every second. I suppose I'm somewhat withdrawn and I get easily overwhelmed with new situations, but I can't do this anymore. I fear that something might happen to you while you're outside. Sometimes I want us to simply morph into one single being and never go back, but I don't think you'd want that—no, forget what you want or not, I don't think that's normal..."

"I certainly would love to be forever one with you, dear, but I'm afraid that's not possible. I promise I will spend more time with you from now on. I was thinking maybe we could sleep together more often including tonight? I don't promise I'll fall asleep, but I will stay by your side. Whatever you need, I'm here. And if you need me, I'm all yours."

"Do you understand what this all means though?" you warily said.

"Trust me, I do. I will help you with whatever you need, whether it's by deciding what tea you should drink or by letting your hug linger a little longer on me every morning. But please be aware that you don't exactly need me, my love. You're incredible enough just by yourself and I want you to notice that. Not to sound too conceited, but I think I'm the perfect person to tell you everything that's lovely about you."

"I see you have a way with words, professor. I almost fell in love with you." You looked away to hide your slightly flushed face.

"Only almost? Playing hard to get? Then I'll happily stare at your angelic face once you've fallen asleep tonight and you won't mind because you're not that crazy about me anyway."

"Shut up. Just come here and kiss me all night long," you teased back.