Lilia gazes at you quietly as you lay beside him in his dorm. His usually sharp eyes are now soft, tender with quiet admiration. His fingers reach out to brush over your cheek, then nudge some hair behind your ear.

He knew from the moment you arrived at NRC, there was something about you he recognized. Your eyes, your smile, that sweet charm you seem to carry oh- so effortlessly.

Then he realized. He'd never felt more stupider. How could he not have seen it sooner?

His love from way-back when, reincarnated as you. His spouse, who'd died from an unbeatable, awful illness, now in the body of a human teen. Lilia stroked your cheek with his thumb, a flood of memories hitting him like a tidal wave.

Your first meeting. Your first date. Your first kiss. Your fairytale-like wedding. Your honeymoon. Finding Silver, raising Malleus since hatching, training Sebek. Waking up beside you, or waking up to find you in the kitchen cooking for your little family.

"What is it?" You ask quietly, breaking the silence. Lilia smiles, tenderly swiping his thumb over your lower lip.

"Nothing, my dear. Just..."

He chuckles softly, leaning up to kiss your forehead.

"You're just as beautiful as the day I lost you."