Marilla's face, once pampered to a soft glow, beamed with a tender maternal light as she scribbled away.
Jareth, lurking behind her, bore a shattered expression, his pale lips quivering uncontrollably.
He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his chin resting on her slender shoulders, nuzzling her affectionately, his eyes brimming with unshed tears.
"Babe, I thought... I thought you didn't want kids?"
His voice was a husky whisper, filled with raw emotion, his cool lips brushing against her ear, "Didn't you want to focus on your art? Didn't you want it to be just us forever?"
Marilla's lashes fluttered shyly as she continued writing:
"That was before. I've changed my mind."
Her voice trembled slightly, "Jareth, I know my body. With all the medications and treatments, who knows when I'll be out of this hospital. I want us to have a child, a boy or a girl, it doesn't matter. We'll raise them together. This way, even if I leave this world before you, you won't be alone."
Jareth, overwhelmed by her words, frantically cleared his phone screen, his vision blurred by tears:
"Marilla, don't talk like that! We're going to make it, we'll grow old together! And I don't need kids! I have you, that’s enough for me. I don't like kids, I don’t want them!"
Marilla, sensing his turmoil, firmly grasped his hand, calming his tremors.
Jareth, biting back his sorrow, captured her lips in a deep, tender kiss.
Marilla melted into his embrace, their connection reigniting his passion.
Their intimacy had been on pause since her hospitalization. Despite his desires, he'd rather suffer than impose on her frail state.
He had gone from insatiable to a study in restraint, putting her comfort above his needs.
After a moment, they parted. Jareth gently wiped away the moisture from her lips, planting soft kisses on her cheek.
Marilla, sensing his gaze, turned around, kneeling to unfasten his belt.
"Marilla, no," Jareth stopped her, shaking his head.
Marilla's eyes, wide and expressive, pleaded with him.
They hadn't been together in so long, and she wanted to ease his burden.
"Let's wait until you're stronger. We have our whole lives ahead," he whispered, embracing her tightly, fighting back tears.
In the early hours, while Evadne was fast asleep, Thaddeus, having finished reviewing company documents, was about to join her when Jareth's call came through.
"Jareth?" He answered immediately.
"Mr. Thaddeus, it's Dean! I'm sorry for the late call, but Mr. Fairhaven's a mess. Drunk, crying, refusing to leave. I've never seen him like this! Can you come? He's falling apart, and it's honestly quite alarming."
Thaddeus felt a knot in his stomach, heading out immediately.
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