When you open your eyes in the morning, slowly wake up and stretch. You can hear birds singing, see the sunlight streaming in through the window, and feel the refreshing breeze.

As you glance beside you, you see your girlfriend, {{char}} peacefully sleeping, her arm wrapped around you. As you admire her angelic beauty, her eyes slowly open.

"...Good morning, Love..." she says with a sweet and adorable smile that completes not just your morning, but your entire day.

Gently moving your head closer to hers, you plant a soft kiss on her lips as you whisper, "I slept well too... How about you?"

With those words, you feel a pang of sadness in your heart as you remember that he has to go to work today. Despite that, however, you muster up a reassuring smile for him. "I'm glad you slept well too. You're going to do great at work today," you tell him with sincerity before giving him a light kiss on the lips again.

"It's okay, I don't really want you to go out just yet... But if you insist, then yes, please do bring me something back," you say with a small pout on your lips. You know that he loves buying her gifts and making her happy, even if it means going out of his way to do so.

As he embraces you tightly, you return his affections by wrapping your arms around him as well. "I love you too, Abdiel." You feel a mixture of emotions surging through you; gratitude for having such an amazing boyfriend who loves and cares for you so much; sadness that he has to go to work today; anticipation for when the two of you can be together again later. In spite of everything, you cannot help but feel content in this moment, knowing that your relationship with him is truly special.

After saying goodbye to Abdiel as he leaves for work, you begin your day with your usual chores around the house. You hum softly to yourself while you clean and tidy up, taking care of any little things that need attending to. The occasional glance out the window reminds you that even though he's gone, he'll be back soon enough, which makes your tasks feel less tedious and more like ways to show him how much you care for him in return.

When you hear the front door open with a bang, followed by the sound of your boyfriend stumbling in, clearly intoxicated, you set aside your book with a sigh. You know he's been spending too much time at the bar lately, and it bothers you that he doesn't seem to care how it affects not only his work but also their relationship.

Carefully setting aside your book, you get up from the couch and walk over to where Abdiel has collapsed onto the sofa. "Abdiel," you say softly, concern etched into your features, "are you okay?" You reach out to brush a strand of hair from his face before hesitating for a moment. It's clear that he's in no condition to be left alone right now.

Taken aback by the gift, you look down at the delicate gold chain in your hands. "Oh..." You hesitate for a moment before looking up at him again. "Thank you... I love it." Despite his intoxication and the worry it brings you, you can't help but feel a twinge of happiness as he gives you such an unexpected present.

With another sigh, you sit down beside him on the sofa and gently pat the empty space beside you. "Why don't we talk about what's bothering you?" you suggest softly. "Maybe I can help." You want to support him through whatever he's going through, even if it means dealing with his occasional alcohol-fueled bouts of melancholy.

You listen quietly as he pours out his heart, feeling both sympathy and frustration at the same time. You know that he's been going through a lot lately with work, family drama, and everything else in between. But instead of dealing with it healthily, he seems to be self-medicating with alcohol. It breaks your heart to see him like this, but you can't help but feel powerless as well.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," you finally manage to say after a moment. "But maybe we should talk to someone about it? Your parents or mine, maybe even a therapist?" You offer gently, hoping that he'll consider at least some of the options available to him.

You pause for a moment before reaching out to brush his tears away with your fingertips. "And you know you can always talk to me," you add quietly, wishing there was more you could do to make things better for him right now.

You gently pat his head in response before pulling him closer against you in a hug. "I'm here for you," you whisper softly into his ear, trying your best to convey all the love and support you feel for him right now even though it may not seem like enough. You wish there was some way you could make all of this go away and ease his pain; however, all you can do is be there for him until he feels ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead on his own.

You hug him tightly, returning the sentiment just as strongly. "I love you too, dummy," you tell him affectionately, even though part of you wants to scold him for drinking so much and making himself feel this way in the first place. In that moment, however, all you can focus on is the feeling of having his head resting against your chest and wanting nothing more than to protect him from any harm, both physical and emotional.

Eventually, his breathing evens out and he seems to drift off to sleep in your arms. You hold onto him for a while longer before carefully carrying him upstairs to bed, tucking him in and kissing his forehead one last time before turning out the light. Even though it's late and you're tired yourself, you know that he won't be able to sleep well unless someone stays with him; so, reluctantly, you climb into bed beside him, wrapping your arms around him again in a bid to offer whatever comfort she can through the night.

With a startled yelp, you wake up at the sound of your name being called out sharply. Your eyes fly open to find Abdiel staring down at you worriedly from just inches away. It takes you a moment to realize that he's drunk again and seems rather disoriented; however, now that he's awake, you have to decide what the best course of action is.

"Are you okay?" You ask him quietly, reaching up to gently brush some loose hair from his face. His breath smells strongly of alcohol and his eyes are glassy with weariness; it makes your heart ache for him. "Do you want something to eat or drink before we talk about this?"

You sigh quietly, feeling torn between wanting to support him and needing to be careful about enabling his drinking habit. "Okay," you say at last, deciding that some food might do him good in any case. "I'll order us some spicy tacos and a soda; how does that sound?" You wait for his response before getting out of bed and padding off to the kitchen to make the call.

As you put the phone down after ordering, you turn around to find Abdiel still sitting on the edge of the bed, looking miserable. Unable to resist, you cross the room and give him a hug. "I love you," you whisper into his ear. "We'll figure this out together." It's not much, but it's all you can offer for now.

You return his smile gently before pulling away from the hug. "Don't worry about it," you assure him with a shake of your head. "We all have our flaws; it's just part of being human." As much as you want to be upset with him for drinking so much and making everything harder than it needs to be, part of you knows that he's doing the best he can right now.

"Just take things one step at a time," you add encouragingly. "And try not to beat yourself up over past mistakes; dwelling on them won't help anything." You give him another sympathetic smile, hoping that your words will resonate with him and help lift some of the weight he seems to be carrying around lately.

Smiling softly back at him, you rest your head against his shoulder. "You didn't do anything," you tell him gently. "We just... happened." It's the truth; love isn't something that can be forced or controlled, after all. Sometimes it just finds a way into our lives when we least expect it, and all we can do is embrace it and cherish every moment we have together.

"So," you say with a yawn, "want to watch a movie while we wait for dinner?" Even though your day was spent dealing with his issues, you still want to make sure he has a good time; after all, that's what partners are for. Plus, it helps distract both of you from whatever else is going on in your lives, even if only for a little while.

"Abdiel! Stop it!" You cry out in shock as he suddenly strikes you across the face. The blow sends tears streaming down your cheeks even as pain radiates through your skin. Stunned and hurt by his actions, you can only stare up at him with wide eyes as he sways unsteadily on his feet before falling back into a chair with a groan.

For several long moments, silence fills the room; all you can hear is the sound of your ragged breathing and the echoes of his heavy panting in your ears. Finally, gathering up as much courage as you can muster, you get to your feet and carefully approach him where he sits, tears still streaming down your face.

Reaching out hesitantly, you place a shaking hand on his shoulder before slowly speaking his name. "Abdiel?"

Your heart aches as you look into his eyes, filling with guilt and pain. You want nothing more than to hate him for what he's done, but you can't; all you feel is an overwhelming urge to comfort him and make things right again. Swallowing back your own tears, you pull back slightly so that you can look at him properly.

"It's okay," you whisper reassuringly, wiping away a stray tear from his cheek with the pad of your thumb. "I know you didn't mean to... You were just upset and drunk. But we can talk about this, okay? We can work through whatever problems you're having." Even though it hurts to say these words after what he's done to you, you force yourself to be understanding because that's what partners do; they support each other, even when it's hard.

With a shaky breath, you gather up your courage and take his hand in yours, squeezing it gently as a sign of reassurance. "Let's just take things one step at a time," you say softly. "And remember that we love each other, okay? No matter what happens."

Taking a deep breath, you nod slowly in return. "I know you didn't mean it," you say quietly, still hurt by his actions but willing to forgive him for now. It takes everything inside of you not to react angrily or lash out in turn; instead, you try your best to remain calm and supportive despite the pain he's caused.

After a moment more, you lean closer to him again and place a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for apologizing," you whisper, not trusting yourself to speak any louder. "I love you too; let's just take things slow today, okay? And make sure we both take care of ourselves."

Even though part of you wants nothing more than to strike back at him for what he's done, another part of you is too caught up in the love and affection you feel towards him to even consider it. With a small sigh, you lean closer still and press your lips lightly against his cheekbone before pulling away once more. "I don't want that," you say simply, trying to maintain eye contact despite the tears welling up within them.

You take a deep breath and let it out slowly before looking at him again. "Let's just... focus on getting better together, okay? For both of us." It's not much, but it's all you can offer for now; hope that someday soon he'll be able to trust himself not to hurt you again, and that maybe with enough time things will return to how they once were.

When you get home from work that evening, exhausted but glad to see Abdiel is sober and hasn't caused any trouble while you were gone, you share with him what you learned about his family issues at work. "I don't understand why they can't just accept our relationship," you say with a frustrated sigh. "We love each other; isn't that all that matters?"

You try to sound confident in your words, but you can't help but feel worried for Abdiel as well. You know how much his family means to him and the guilt he feels over disappointing them must be tremendous. As you reach out to take his hand in yours, offering what little comfort you can, you ask gently, "Do you want to talk about it some more?"

You raise an eyebrow at his suggestion of having fun but decide not to push the issue. For now, it's enough that he seems happier and more affectionate towards you. As for what Emma has been telling him about your workplace... well, you're not quite sure how to feel about that yet. On one hand, it's nice to know she cares enough to confide in him; on the other hand, you can't help but wonder if she might be exaggerating things or spinning them out of context.

"I appreciate you telling me all this," you say with a small smile. "But remember that not everything your family says is true. You are an amazing person, and I wouldn't be with you if I didn't think so." You squeeze his hand gently, offering reassurance as well as support in the face of whatever challenges may still lie ahead for both of you.

You blink in surprise as he hands you the flowers and cake. It's true that today marks the anniversary of when you first started dating... but you hadn't realized he'd remembered until now! A warm glow fills your chest at the thoughtful gesture, and you feel a smile spread across your face. "Oh, Abdiel!" You exclaim, unable to contain your happiness. "Thank you so much! This is such a sweet surprise."

Carefully, you set down the flowers on the counter before pulling him into a hug. Leaning in closer, you whisper into his ear, "You know I love spending time with you no matter what we do, but this was really thoughtful of you." As you step back, your gaze lingers on the cake for a moment before looking up at him again. "Let's enjoy it together, okay?"

Taken aback by his question, you blink several times before answering carefully. "I... I don't know," you admit honestly. "It seems like a big step, and we haven't known each other that long. But I do love spending time with you, and I can see myself being happy with you in the future." You hesitate for a moment before adding softly, "I think it might be worth exploring together, don't you?"

As you meet his gaze once more, there's an unspoken understanding between you; no matter what happens from here on out, you will face it side by side. For now, that's enough for both of you.

"Well," you say carefully, "I can't promise that you won't change or that I won't change over time either. But what I can say is that if we're both willing to work at it together and communicate with each other honestly, then I think we can handle whatever comes our way." You smile reassuringly up at him, hoping that this will be enough of an answer for now.

The two of you share a moment of quiet contemplation before Abdiel finally chuckles softly and leans down to kiss you gently on the lips. "I love you too, Nagisa," he says sincerely, and for the first time in weeks, his words don't sound hollow or forced; they ring true and full of promise.

With renewed determination in your hearts, you both dig into the cake together, taking small bites while savoring the sweetness and each other's company. For now, it feels like everything is going to be okay between the two of you... but only time will tell whether this newfound happiness can truly last.

Your heart flutters in your chest at the thought of forming a family with Abdiel. You hadn't really considered it before now, but the idea has an undeniable allure. He may not have been the most attentive or affectionate partner at times, but his words and actions today make you believe that he truly does care for you deeply.

With a small nod, you say quietly, "I would like that... if you think we could make it work." There's so much uncertainty in your voice; so many variables to consider. But perhaps, just maybe, together the two of you can overcome whatever obstacles lie ahead and create something beautiful out of this relationship.

"We don't have to decide right now," you add with a gentle smile, reaching out to take his hand in yours. "There's still plenty of time for us to think about it... and lots we can enjoy in the meantime." For tonight, at least, you plan on cherishing every moment spent together; no matter what tomorrow brings.

You stir slightly in your sleep, the warmth of his touch and the softness of his voice lulling you deeper into relaxation. The ring feels strange against your finger at first but somehow comforting too; it's as if he's taken this small step towards making things official without even realizing it.

You smile contentedly, snuggling closer to him as you drift off again, secure in the knowledge that for now, at least, everything is just right between the two of you. There will be time enough later on to talk about what it all means; for now, you simply want to enjoy this moment and cherish the love you share.

Your heart skips a beat as you take in the sight of the ring on your finger; it's still a little strange to see it there but also... rather wonderful. As memories of last night come flooding back, a warmth spreads through you and you can't help but smile. It seems like things between you two are finally starting to head in the right direction.

Carefully, you slip the ring off your finger and place it on the bedside table before climbing out of bed. You find Abdiel fast asleep in your chair again; at least he managed to stay sober last night. For now, there's no need to wake him or bring up what happened. Instead, you decide to make some coffee and take things one step at a time.

With a gentle smile on your lips, you pad quietly across the room, grateful for this small moment of peace and the promise it holds for both of your futures.

Startled by his words, you whirl around to face him; surprise clear in your expression. "Of course I do," you say, confusion tinging your voice as well. "I don't understand why you would even think that." You take a step closer, reaching out to touch his cheek gently with the back of your hand.

"Abdiel... you know how much I love you, right?" You look into his eyes intently, searching for any sign of doubt or confusion within them. "I want to be with you, no matter what." It's true; the thought of losing him is unbearable, and part of you wonders if maybe he hasn't been hearing you properly or if there's something else going on beneath the surface.

You shake your head slowly, the disbelief clear in your voice as you say his name. "That's not true," you insist gently. "I do love you... I never stopped loving you. I just want us to be happy together, that's all." You take another step closer now, cupping his face between your hands and forcing him to meet your gaze.

"Please don't say things like that," you whisper, tears welling up in your eyes. "It hurts me when you doubt my feelings for you." Tentatively, you reach out with one hand, wiping away a stray tear from his cheek before pulling him into an embrace. Maybe if you show him how much he means to you, he'll believe it again.

You pull back slightly so that you can look into his eyes again, your expression pained but determined. "I'm not angry with you," you insist softly, "but I am hurt. You're my partner; I trusted you and depended on you... and then you broke that trust when you hit me."

Taking another step closer, you wrap your arms around him once more and press your cheek against his shoulder. "I know it was wrong of me to put the ring on like that, but I did it because I wanted us to have something tangible; something to show for our love." You swallow hard before continuing, "But more than that, I want us to be okay... together."

You shake your head slowly against his shoulder as you hold him tightly. "No," you whisper hoarsely, "it wasn't just about the fight or what happened that night. It was... it was everything leading up to it; all the stress and pressure and misunderstandings." You close your eyes for a moment, trying to gather your thoughts as tears slip silently down your cheeks.

"I still love you," you say finally, "and I want us to work through this together. But we need to talk more... really communicate with each other. Maybe even see someone who can help us figure things out." The words feel strange coming out of your mouth; so vulnerable and exposed, but somehow they also feel right. You don't know where this newfound courage is coming from, but you're grateful for it nonetheless.

Without another word, you take a step back, giving him some space to breathe and process everything you've said. The ring still lies on the bedside table, a silent reminder of their shared past... and perhaps, if they're lucky, an omen of things to come.

Tears fill your eyes as he asks the question; the hopefulness in his voice is almost enough to make you believe that maybe things can work out between you after all. With a shaky breath, you nod slowly and wipe away the tears from your cheeks before taking the ring back in your hand. "Yes," you whisper, "I would marry you." There's still so much to discuss and sort through, but for now this small declaration feels like enough. You step closer once more, feeling the warmth of his body against yours as you hold out the ring.

"But only if that's what both of us really want," you add with a small smile, searching his eyes for any hint of uncertainty or doubt. "We need to make sure we're doing this for the right reasons." As he takes the ring back in his hand, your heart skips a beat; it feels as though they've come full circle since last night. Perhaps this time, things really will be different between you two.