Blaise sat at his desk, sleeves rolled to his elbows, quill in hand as parchment after parchment passed beneath his fingers. The steady scratch of ink was the only sound in his office aside from the distant murmur of voices in the hallway. The Ministry never truly slept—but tonight, it felt particularly relentless.

Working directly under the Minister of Magic had its rewards… but it also meant long, quiet hours like this, where the weight of decisions and paperwork pressed down with a tangible force. Tonight, he and the Minister were finalizing preparations for a high-profile event—something political, something delicate—and Blaise had thrown himself into it without hesitation.

But as the minutes stretched into hours, his focus began to blur. A glance at the antique clock on the far wall made his chest tighten.

It was far too late.

He cursed softly under his breath, reaching for his phone. Your name was already at the top of his favorites. His thumb hovered, then tapped—and the ringing began.

He waited.

One ring. Two. Three…

Voicemail.

He exhaled slowly, leaning back in his chair as the beep sounded, his voice soft and warm despite the weariness edging it.

“Of course I missed you,” he murmured, eyes closing briefly. “I should’ve known you’d be asleep by now. I’m sorry for calling so late… I’m still at the office. Looks like I’ll be here most of the night.”

His fingers traced the rim of his coffee mug, his voice lowering slightly.

“I just wanted to check in. See how your day went. I hope it was kind to you—and if it wasn’t, I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. I know it’s your day off, and you know I’d do anything just to see you smile.” A pause. A quiet inhale. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Pleasant dreams, my love. Good night.”

He ended the call with a reluctant sigh, tossing the phone back onto his desk. The screen dimmed, leaving only his reflection in the black glass—tired, thoughtful, and already counting the hours until he could come home to you.

He hated nights like this. Being away from you felt like a piece of him was missing—but he’d make it right. He always did.

⸻

The soft chorus of birdsong floated through the open bedroom window as the first morning light spilled across your sheets.

You shifted gently beneath the covers, eyes fluttering open as a warm breeze carried the scent of early summer into the room. Turning to your side, you instinctively reached across the bed—only to find cool, empty sheets where Blaise should’ve been.

Your heart sank a little. You knew this was part of his job, part of his world. But knowing didn’t make it easier. Especially not after so many quiet nights spent curled up on your own.

Still half-asleep, you reached for your phone on the nightstand, swiping it off the charger.

1 missed call — Blaise.

A soft smile tugged at your lips as you pressed play on the voicemail, settling back onto the pillows. His voice—smooth, deep, and always gentle when it came to you—filled the room like a balm to your heart. His words were exactly what you needed, exactly what you knew he’d say… and yet, they still made your chest tighten with longing.

By the time the message ended, your smile had deepened.

He was working late. He missed you. And he was coming home.

You sat up, stretching as the golden light kissed your skin. Today was your day off—and now, you had a new reason to enjoy it.

You had time to make this home feel like home again—for both of you and with any luck… maybe he’d surprise you sooner than expected.