"So your subconscious created a version of me to help you fight to stay alive?" Sebastian hummed in thought, interested in the way her mind worked so close to death. It was oddly fascinating.

"Mhm," Kadence sighed heavily, sinking further into the pillow she rested on. Despite having been out cold for days, her entire body still felt weak. Tired. And anytime she tried to shift about, pain coursed through her limbs. "It was...scary. But I did it. I-I beat it. I-I'm alive."

Sebastian smiled faintly as he gazed down at the redhead before letting out a heavy sigh. "I will not lie to you. The damage Claude dealt to you, how small you are, we all had our fears. Our doubts that you would return to us. We were all worried."

Kadence laughed softly, breathily, her chest aching as she did so. Nobody could blame any of them for that. He was right, she was small. The blow she took quite hard. She's lucky to be talking with the demon before her. part of her still believed maybe she was trapped in a dream. But those ruby colored eyes gazing down at her, with such a fondness in them, comforted her more than anything could.

"'Ow's our lil friend doing?" A different voice spoke up, and Sebastian turned to see everyone crammed in the doorway, trying to peek at the Borrower. Meyrin, Finnian, Bard, Tanaka, even Ciel stood in front of them awaiting a reply. Everyone but Meyrin and Sebastian were dressed for the night, having left their rooms to see her, to see if it was true that she was awake. Bard smiled at him, and chuckled. "Sorry if we startled anybody."

Looking past Sebastian, the Borrower smiled and could feel tears welling in her eyes at the sight of them. Everyone was there, waiting, wanting to see if she was really awake and okay. It warmed her heart so much to know how this people have grown to care for her, and her them.

"Can we come in?" Finny asked in his usual innocent voice, sounding more like he was begging than requesting.

Sebastian frowned, not wanting to overwhelm her so soon after her awakening. "I don't think-" He started, but was interrupted by the redhead's soft voice.

"Of course you can. I-I want to see all of you," Kadence purposefully interrupted Sebastian, knowing he'd be too worried about her to let everyone in at once. But she didn't want them just standing in the doorway.

Finny was the first one to quickly enter, rushing over to the bed and reaching out for her before second guessing himself and immediately retracting his hands. "Y-You're awake still. I went to get Sebastian like Meyrin told me to, we're all so glad that you're awake. We were all so worried, that-that you wouldn't...a-and it would've been all my fault!"

Already, the younger male looked to be on the verge of tears, his hands clasped tightly together in front of him. Tanaka and Bard took it upon themselves to pull him back from the bed just enough to give Kadence some more space.

Kadence smiled softly up at the blonde, and shook her head. "Don't talk like that. I'm alive. I'm breathing. And none of it is your fault."

"They keep telling him that but he refuses to believe it, so hopefully hearing it from you will stop his blubbering," Ciel spoke calmly, now stepping up beside the bed beside Sebastian to gaze at her. His eyepatch was poorly tied, which Sebastian took upon himself to fix as the earl spoke to the Borrower.

Noticing everyone was in their night clothes, Kadence frowned. "I-I hope none of you got out of bed just to see me. How late is it? Wh-What day is it?"

"I don't think any of us have been sleeping very well at all," Tanaka spoke up with a faint chuckle, smiling warmly at the Borrower behind his monocle. "So we'd rest easier if we saw you now, instead of waiting until morning."

"Yes! Especially Sebastian, I 'aven't seen him sleep for days!" Meyrin piped up, adjusting her glasses with a wide grin. "He's 'ad it worse than all of us combined!"

Sebastian couldn't say he didn't sleep at all in general, and simply chuckled as he finished fixing Ciel's eyepatch to ensure it didn't fall from his face. "You could say that. As for the time, and the day, you needn't worry about that tonight. Such a trivial thing for your current state."

Kadence gazed up at Sebastian with a smile, then looked to the others. "As happy as I am to see all of you, I'd...I'd like a moment alone with Sebastian. Please."

While Meyrin, Bard, and Tanaka understood, they had to drag Finnian from her side, the poor boy wanting to stay with her so badly but they finally managed to convince him to come back in the morning when she was more awake.

Ciel, still standing beside Sebastian waited for the others to leave before returning his gaze to Kadence. "I never apologized for how I treated you before, did I?"

"A-And you don't have to, my Lord," Kadence smiled, tugging at the sheets that covered her up. Just knowing that he wanted to was enough, he didn't have to actually say anything. She knew it was hard for him to admit he was wrong, after all. "But, please. I-I really would like a moment with your butler."

Ciel let out an involuntary, slightly offended scoff but still understood what she was asking. He briefly nodded his head, looking to Sebastian. "Don't bother coming back to my room tonight. I'll probably be asleep by the time you are done here."

Sebastian gave him a soft, thankful nod as he watched him exit the guest bedroom. He then turned his focus back to his Borrower with a worried frown. "Is something the matter, my dear?"

"No...nothing at all. I-I just wanted to be with you. Just you for now." Cautiously, Kadence tried to push herself up, but her arms gave out as she tried and she collapsed back down to the pillow with a soft grunt of pain. It wasn't long after that at all when a set of gloved hands slid beneath her and gathered her up into palms she was so comfortable in.

"You're going to hurt yourself more. Simply ask next time you want to get up, hmm?" Sebastian crooned, cradling the tiny woman in his palms and bringing her close to his chest. He used a gloved finger to stroke her tangled hair and her back, being as gentle as he possibly could.

Gladly, she leaned into his touch and his chest, letting his comforting warmth surround her. Just being held by him made her feel like everything was alright. Being close to him was a blessing in her eyes, even if he was a demon. "I-I heard you. What...what you said."

Sebastian stopped stroking her hair to pause, a look of surprise easily taking form on his face. He knew right away what she was talking about. "How? You were still out cold when I said it."

"I-I don't know how. I just did. I-It was so faint, a-and it was echoing, like you were standing at the end of a hallway, and I on the other end. I-I think it helped me, h-helped me feel stronger. To bring myself back to you." She curled her body into him as much as she could without it hurting, and let out a quiet sniffle as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. "I-It means so much to me to know that you feel that way about me. I-I love you, Sebastian. I-I do, even if you saying it back would only be a partial lie."

He knew it, but he was surprised to hear her actually say it, and this soon after awakening. It caught him off guard, and he found it hard to find the right way to respond. He didn't want to say it in return, because it was untrue. He did not love her the way a human could love. But then what was he supposed to say? "I...am unsure how to reciprocate."

Using the sleeve of the nightgown she wore, she scrubbed the tears off her face. "Y-You love me the only way a demon can love. S-So technically...i-if you said it, it wouldn't be a lie, r-right?"

"I have never spoken those words to someone and meant it before. Are you truly sure you are fine with me saying it given the circumstances?" Sebastian questioned, making her lower her arms so he could use the pad of his thumb to wipe away her tears. He'd hate to hurt her without even really knowing it.

"O-Of course I am," Kadence frowned, craning her neck to try and see his face, her emerald eyes pleading silently with him.

Silent for a few moments, Sebastian closed his eyes and frowned deeply. It was hard to say such a thing when he knew it wasn't the form of love she meant when she said it. "I..." He hesitated, before again letting out a heavy sigh.

"I cannot."