Regulus sat in the library, the soft crackle of the fire filling the quiet space as he turned the pages of an old book. The day had been mostly uneventful—just the way he liked it. Now, with evening wrapping the windows in shadows, he allowed himself this small ritual: a favorite book, the smell of aged parchment, and time to let his thoughts drift far from the worries of the outside world.

He was half-lost in the prose when he heard the familiar pad of paws across the hardwood floor. A moment later, your massive gray Maine C00n, Osiris, strutted into the room with the confidence of a king returning to his throne. Without hesitation, the cat leapt onto the couch beside Regulus.

He didn’t look up—at least, not until he felt a soft bump against his arm. A furry head nuzzled insistently against him, golden eyes staring with unmistakable demand. Regulus let out a quiet chuckle as he closed the book and scratched behind Osiris’s ears.

“You’re just like her, you know,” he murmured, his voice fond. The cat responded with a rumbling purr that seemed to fill the entire room.

But Regulus’s hand stilled as the words left his mouth. Her. His eyes flicked to the antique clock on the mantle—and his stomach dropped.

“Oh no,” he muttered. “I forgot to call her.”

Osiris blinked slowly at him, as if confirming, Yes. Yes, you did.

With a wry sigh, Regulus reached for his phone on the side table and quickly dialed your number. It rang once, twice… then went to voicemail. He ran a hand through his hair and waited for the beep.

“Hello, love,” he said, his voice low and warm, colored with a quiet sort of guilt. “I’m so sorry for calling so late. I had meant to ring earlier, but the day got away from me. I figured you’d be asleep by now, so I just wanted to leave you a little something to wake up to.”

A pause.

“Was your day alright? I know you’ve been handling everything with your aunt, and… I can only imagine how difficult that’s been. I just hope you’re being gentle with yourself. Tomorrow’s a new day, and I’ll be here when you’re ready. Sweet dreams, my heart. I love you.”

He ended the call, setting the phone back down with a sigh. His eyes drifted to Osiris, who now stretched out contentedly across his lap.

“Don’t worry. She’ll be home tomorrow,” Regulus said, gently scratching behind the cat’s ears again. “I know you miss her too.”

Osiris mewed softly, as if in agreement. Regulus smiled faintly, then reopened his book, deciding to read just a few more pages before bed. But already, his thoughts were drifting toward morning—and you.

⸻

The next morning, sunlight poured through the open window, the breeze carrying the gentle sound of birdsong into your room. You stirred beneath the covers, stretching with a sleepy yawn before rolling over to check your phone on the nightstand.

You froze for a moment, heart tugging with both guilt and anticipation—you hadn’t called Reggie last night.

Your eyes caught the missed call. One voicemail.

You pressed play.

The sound of his voice, rich and warm even through the speaker, made you smile instantly. His words were soft, filled with care—and they made your heart flutter in your chest. No matter how heavy things had been lately, Regulus always knew how to anchor you.

You cradled the phone against your chest for a moment before sending him a quick text:

I love you too. I’ll see you this afternoon. Can’t wait to be home.

With a renewed sense of calm, you pushed the covers aside and rose from bed. There were still a few things you had to handle today—but now, the thought of seeing him again gave you something to look forward to.

And you were already counting down the hours.