Doe's POV:

As time passed, we dropped off her key, got ready to sleep, and settled into bed. Xander and mine's opinions on this whole thing evolved in two very different directions.

My brain had somewhat settled from the initial freakout and embarrassment, now attempting to take a more logical route.

I wasn't sure whether my thought was correct, or I was just finding a way to cope and not freak out as much.

Xander on the other hand was a wreck, groaning and hiding his face in my stomach from the odd position he decided to cuddle.

My head was the only one actually on a pillow, his arms folding against my lower back and our legs bent to awkwardly fit into each other.

Leaving me massaging his scalp and neck to attempt to get him to relax.

My route of thinking was leading me to believe that with both of our worries, the best thing we could do would be to just clear the air with the truth as soon as possible.

Xander already said that he wasn't worried about her snitching, just worried about what she might have thought was going on.

Which was... understandable in its own right, but Lily wasn't the type to make those kinds of assumptions right off of the bat. Not with how well she'd come to know both of us.

Xander had been taking the blame for those kinds of things for too long, he didn't want Lily to think of him as that kind of person.

I hoped that she'd at least know that I wasn't one to be used so easily these days.

But again, these thoughts could just be self-soothing.

My real worry, though he already pushed it off, was about word getting out.

"What makes you think that she's not going to say anything?" I asked for my own confirmation.

He only backed up enough to where he wasn't speaking directly into me, his voice still carrying that sullen pout.

"Her job comes with a promised secrecy kept within her family and between ours... So she can't legally discuss this kind of thing to outside sources."

Okay, that did make me feel a little better about this.

"But she could to your parents? To Nico?"

Both of those sprung up different problems in my mind.

The thought of Nico knowing was weird in a very specific way that I was most definitely overthinking, but couldn't help it. Though most of it got dulled from the fact that he was most likely doing the same with Khloe.

His parents though... That was a wild card.

What would they think? What would they do?

The plan was to turn me into a vampire and then introduce all of this.

Get rid of the one reason they may disprove of entirely before even starting.

"She could."

"And that doesn't worry you?"

He pulled back just far enough until I could see his brows furrow, then release with a sigh, leaning his forehead into my body yet again.

"I don't know," He groaned, "I've tried not to think about it. I just think we need to beat her to it. Find her right when she starts opening up and..."

"And?"

Another sigh followed by silence.

'Find her right when she starts opening ' meant go in right as she does.

Which meant meeting her at that kitchen at 5:30 am.

Maybe even earlier since she sets things up before starting to make food.

"I'll figure something out," He finally said.

Oh God not that sentence again from him. More things went wrong when he started a plan like that.

Truly, the best thing I could think of was just to completely come clean. Maybe avoid some finer details... but at least clear everyone's conscience.

Pose it as a purely physical relationship instead of romance to avoid some more complicated scenarios.

I don't think Lily had any desire to purposefully ruin our lives... That wasn't her at all.

I kept my thoughts to myself for the time being, furthering my massage down his back.

"Then we better get so sleep then," I added.

I'll pose my idea tomorrow if his is just awful. Which was very much a possibility.

"Yeah okay," he begrudged, pushing himself up.

I didn't like that sound on him, nor that look in his eyes.

I didn't have that sinking feeling in my stomach or that racing in my chest that told me that something was going to go wrong, so for now, I would try not to stress.

"Hey," I caught his attention, trailing my knuckles down his cheeks, "I love you."

That stress shifted to surprise before melting into that adoration.

"Even though I just got us caught?" He asked, following my light pull to bring his face to mine.

"I'm not letting you take all of the blame for that one."

With how often we'd been testing the waters of public displays, even with his senses, something like this was bound to happen.

There were definitely worse people to be caught by.

"We'll figure it out together okay? We got into it like that, and we'll get out like that."

My words looked to have at least made a dent in his stress, having him reach over to hit the lights and then fall into a normal sleep-cuddling position.

"One of the thousands of reasons that I love you too."

~~~

Yeah, you know how I told him that we'd do this together? I lied.

We woke up at 4:50, and Xander decided that he wanted to take a quick shower to look his best before we took this on.

As soon as I heard the water running, I got this feeling to just go. Just run to the kitchen and execute my plan.

I didn't get a chance to ask him his or run mine past him, but I'd learned throughout my life not to ignore those kinds of feelings.

Which I did feel awful about, but... I can apologize later.

So here I was, bolting through the halls in my tank-top, shorts, unbrushed hair, and the hope that Xander gets himself dried off and hair dried before he realizes that I'm not there anymore.

He's handled fixing all of our problems up until now. It was my turn.

I believed with 100% certainty that my way was the best now to go with. Lying could only lead to something worse happening down the line.

And It'd be better coming from me and me alone.

Save Xander the stress of an intervention when he was already worried about looking like the asshole in that situation.

Those welcoming doors approached quickly, and much to my relief, they were already unlocked.

I threw them open probably a little too hard, turning my head every which way to find her.

The light from the kitchen lead my feet there and that was the next door that got thrown open.

"Lily!" I exclaimed, spotting her over by the dishes that were out drying overnight.

She stiffened at my intrusion, most definitely surprised to see me at this hour let alone at all.

I didn't give her a chance to respond, just approached her and began spilling out my plan.

"Look, what you saw last night with me and Xander, I can explain- that wasn't-"

"Was it consensual?"

I don't know what caught me more off-guard. The question or the very calm way in which it was asked.

Giving such a question after the event she saw while making minimal eye contact as she organized her station.

Vastly different from what I saw from her last night.

"Wh-what?" I asked in my stupor, relaxing just a hair.

"What I walked in on last night," She began with the same tone, "It was consensual, right?"

There was a pointed edge in the way she repeated it, an underlying threat depending on the answer.

"Yes..." I drawled, recovering from the fact that this went very differently in my head, "Yes. It was. in fact I think I may have started it."

Well, no. He started it, but I pushed it.

"Good." She just simply nodded, "I figured as much, but I wanted to hear it from you to be sure."

As I thought- Wait.

"You... figured as much?" I repeated.

A soft smile crossed her face, her eyes finally finding mine.

"Yes. I've seen the interactions you two have shared in my kitchen when you think no one else is watching."

My face warmed, thinking back to those instances, realizing the view she most likely had during all of them.

"Though, I'll admit my reaction to last night's event was a bit... eccentric. I'd theorized my own conclusion about what could be going on between you two, but there's a difference between suspecting something and seeing it with my own eyes," She paused for a moment, looking a tad embarrassed, "The shock got the best of me, even more so since I knew that was something I wasn't supposed to be seeing. Or at the very least, he would have heard me coming"

Putting myself in her shoes in that situation... Yeah, I could understand that.

"One thing about this job is that many tend to forget just how much I can see from my little station. I blend in easily and thus see people when they've let their guard down. There are many risque interactions and secrets I've accumulated over the years, and now that I've ensured yours from the proper personnel, I promise you that it'll never be spread by my lips. Both yours and the prince's secret is safe with me."

The weight in my shoulders dropped at her promise, relief flooding through me at an intense pace.

"And if you ever need someone to talk to about it, I'm always happy to lend an ear or offer advice. When the room is empty of course."

There was a  level of understanding in her words that pulled at my emotions. Like she was telling me exactly what I needed to hear and offering things I didn't realize that I needed.

"I can't imagine only being able to talk about your relationship with the person you're in it wi-" She stopped herself with a little gasp, fingertips lifting to cover her lips, "Is it... a relationship? or is it simply just..."

I found myself smiling. She didn't want to assume anything but was already so supportive no matter what it was.

"It is," I answered," As of just recently. On the day of the blood moon actually. There was... a lot of chaos and repressed emotions up until then that I can get to at a later time but... Yes."

It felt strange talking about it. Relieving and emotional in a strange way, but nearly made a knot tie in my throat.

I'd never been able to talk about him like this.

I didn't think it would be much different than just knowing these things for myself, but it was.

Maybe part of it was her support as well. The extra assurance that he and I weren't a completely abstract idea.

And that someone whose opinion matters to me and who I care about was rooting for me. For us.

"I can only imagine given your circumstance, but you two truly do work well with each other. The difference I see when you two are together versus when you have to eat without the other is astounding. I can't imagine this kind of thing is easy, but I truly do wish you both the best."

A tiny sniffle snuck its way in, "Thank you- so much for everything, Lily, I-"

She opened up her arms and I didn't wait a second filling them, setting my head on her shoulder for the embrace.

"Don't worry about it. You know I'm here if you ever need anything. And I already know that you'd accept nothing less, but I need to hear it from you. He treats you well, right?"

"He does," I could feel the uninvited tears surfacing in my eyes at the topic that felt so nice to finally be able to talk about, "He really does."

Xander already knows he'd have to get me in a very specific mood for me to say these kinds of things to his face without me hiding it behind some kind of passive-aggressive something-or-other.

I never imagined that outside support for this would feel this inviting, this refreshing.

"Good," She patted my shoulder, "I'm sorry if my reaction last night stirred up some panic, just know that I'll always be on your side."

I nodded, wiping away these cursed tears as I pulled back.

Oh yeah, I was definitely taking this woman's suggestion for my middle name.

Now I've just gotta go back and tell Xander.

A crashing from the dining room doors threw that out the window, both of our heads turning to the door of the kitchen where, sure enough, the action repeated itself there.

Xander stood there panting from his run. Wet hair still stuck to his face and the clothes he slept in on his body.

That stiff uncertainty was more than apparent throughout while his eyes switched between the two of us, trying to figure out what had already gone on.

Resulting in a tad more panic as soon as he realized he had no idea how to start.

I saved him any more embarrassment or panic, calmly turning and making my way over to him.

He eyed me warily, looking for any sign from me as to what he should say, but I didn't give him anything.

Just walked to his side, intertwined my hand with his, and held onto his arm with my free hand.

His surprise was entertaining while I leaned fully into him, head resting against his shoulder.

My love.

The soft smile on Lily's face was almost proud as she looked us over, her silent nod being what finally got Xander to breathe again.

He looked to have pieced together the puzzle himself, turning to me to get my grinning nod of confirmation.

I handled it, don't worry.

"Take care of her, Xander." Lily began, taking a few steps closer. "I'd hate such a powerful duo to fall apart."

His hand squeezed mine, back straightening.

"I will," I wasn't just a reply. It was assurance. It was a promise, "And I... Thank you... for your understanding."

She brushed it off with a wave of her hand, "Had I not seen the chemistry you two share first hand I may not, but I've learned through the years what to look for, and you two are nothing short of perfection when you're together."

Again pink brushed my cheeks, and I could only assume his as well.

She giggled at our reaction, turning back to what she was doing.

"Now, both of you go back to bed. I know damn well neither of you are meant to be awake already