Book 3: Heart Strings

Chapter 19: Midnight Stroll

Turning Tides

Chapter 19

Midnight Stroll

Macaque found himself still awake still after days end, so much excitement, and a whole lot of difference. He especially found Wukong looking at him several times that day. It was rather unsettling, and he didn't want to give himself hope. He sighed, and stood up. Perhaps a cool drink of water would clear his head. He climbed down out of his tree house and started toward the pools.

He could see the tree houses dotting the horizon. One of them housed the person he's loved for centuries. He closed his eyes and sighed as he paused for a moment. He walked over to the drinking pool and picked up the cup that sat on a rock. Reaching in he scooped out the water and took a sip only to see the golden eyes looking at him from a rock.

"Couldn't sleep?" Macaque attempted. Wukong sighed, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I tried for hours, and I'm the king of naps." Wukong chuckled and sighed playing with the rim of his cup.

"Ah the eternal question, what would be so strong to keep the great Sun Wukong awake at night?" Macaque sat down ready to listen.

"MK is leaving, and I can't go. I'm going to miss the kid. I've grown attached to him, and he's wedding, and leaving too. I'm going to miss the first years of that." Wukong sighed as he looked down into the cup seeing his reflection. He growled and threw the cup into the water. Its gentle splash was far less satisfying then he had hoped.

"Ah yeah, I've grown used to the kid too. Always helping out, helped me put the shingles on my roof the other day. He's great with his hands, he loves to build. Mind you he's got the muscles to do it now." Macaque chuckled and looked around at Wukong. "I'm so sorry I missed a lot of it." He took a labored breath and shook his head, tears running down his face. "I missed everything they did as babies, as children, teenagers, I tried to kill them. I was so stupid."

Wukong leaned forward trying to see the monkey, at first he thought he was laughing, because Macaque crying? That could never happen...right?

"Macaque...don't be stupid."

"I am stupid as I sit there with my son in Tyla's arms I realize that could have been me with her. I've learned over the years that she really needed me, all three of them did. You did, and I was stupid. I left because they weren't mine, when that was far from the truth. They were as much mine as they were yours and I just feel so horrible about it." Macaque dropped the cup and covered his face. "I can't fix it, I've lost everything." He felt fingers on the back of his head.

"As my last act as king, I forgive you of your past doings, and...free you of your lonely nights." Macaque felt his heart for once in a very long while it felt something other than loneliness. Those soft hands that ran down his hair. Lightly petting him, he reached out, putting his arms around Wukong and burying his face in his chest.

"I'm sorry..." Macaque whispered nuzzling him. Wukong pulled Macaque away from him and got down on his knees and looked up at him.

"We'll need to work together to watch over the people now. Both tribes are here and the staff won't be here anymore. Who knows what will happen in MKs absence.

Macaque was slightly floored unsure of what to say. Was this...a proposal?

"I...I don't understand."

Wukong cleared his throat and pulled something from around his wrist and took Macaques. A mangle with Wukongs symbol on it. The mark of marriage. Macaque looked scared for a second there and almost looked like he was going to deny it out of fear. He felt a bump from behind him. Wukong felt a bump from behind him. Both monkeys chest to chest and their nose touching.

"Just say yes." He heard the gentle voice behind him with a soft giggle.

"Yes..."

"You got that?" Tyla asked, MK held up his phone and turned around winking at them.

"Good night, dad, pop." He walked back toward his hut.

"Why do I feel better? That's so strange. What about you Tao?" Tyla's voice drifted off.