The soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains as Blake stirred from his slumber. He glanced over at Rose, still peacefully asleep, her chest rising and falling with gentle breaths. A smile tugged at his lips as he carefully extricated himself from the covers, determined not to wake her.
Padding quietly down the stairs, Blake made his way to the kitchen. The events of the past few weeks felt like a distant nightmare now, and he was eager to start this new day on a positive note. He pulled out pans and ingredients, intent on preparing a celebratory breakfast for his newly recovered wife.
As he whisked eggs and sliced fruit, Blake hummed softly to himself. The kitchen soon filled with the enticing aroma of coffee brewing and bacon sizzling. He arranged everything on a tray with meticulous care, adding a small vase with a single wildflower he'd plucked from the windowsill herb garden.
Balancing the laden tray, Blake ascended the stairs, his heart light with anticipation. As he reached the landing, however, he noticed Celena's bedroom door was ajar. Curious, he approached, only to find Rose standing motionless in the doorway.
"Rose?" he called softly, nudging the door wider with his shoulder. "Is everything okay?"
For a moment, Rose didn't respond. Then, as if snapping out of a trance, she turned to face him. "Oh, Blake," she said, her voice oddly distant. "I was just... staring at the beauty we created."
Blake's brow furrowed slightly. "Is Celena alright?"
Rose blinked, then smiled. It was a warm, genuine expression that immediately dispelled any unease Blake might have felt. "She's perfect," Rose assured him. "Still sound asleep. I just couldn't help but watch her for a moment."
Relaxing, Blake returned her smile. "I made us breakfast," he said, gesturing with the tray. "Thought we could celebrate your recovery."
Rose's eyes lit up. "That smells wonderful," she said, leaning in to kiss his cheek. "Let's eat in bed. We can wake Celena after."
They retreated to their bedroom, settling comfortably against the headboard as Blake set the tray between them. As they ate, they talked and laughed, reminiscing about happier times and making plans for the future.
"We should take a family trip," Rose suggested, sipping her coffee. "Somewhere Celena's never been."
The day passed in a blur of laughter and family bonding. They built a fort in the living room, read stories together, and even attempted to bake cookies (which resulted in a flour-covered kitchen and slightly burnt, but still edible, treats).
As evening approached, Blake noticed Rose becoming quieter, her responses sometimes delayed. He attributed it to fatigue – after all, she was still recovering.
"Why don't you rest for a bit?" he suggested gently. "I'll get dinner started and look after Celena."
Rose nodded gratefully, retreating to their bedroom. Blake busied himself in the kitchen, with Celena "helping" by stirring a bowl of sauce with great enthusiasm.
When dinner was ready, Blake went to fetch Rose. He found her standing by the window, staring out into the darkening forest.
"Rose?" he called softly. "Dinner's ready."
She turned, and for a split second, Blake could have sworn her eyes were completely black. But she blinked, and they were their normal warm brown once more.
"Sorry, I must have dozed off standing up," Rose said with a small laugh. "I'm still a bit tired, I guess."
Blake wrapped an arm around her waist, placing a kiss on her temple. "That's understandable. You've been through a lot. Come on, let's get some food in you."
As they headed downstairs, Blake pushed away the nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right. Rose was back, she was healing, and they were together. That was all that mattered.
Little did he know that beneath the surface of their seemingly perfect reunion, a darkness was stirring, biding its time and gathering strength for what was to come.
****Author's note***
Next chapter has some adult scenes in it. You might want to skip if you're not into that kind of thing. Thanks..