In Stone

33: "That means something."

33: “That means something.”

The first time that Caia had entered this house, it had been with fascination. Then each subsequent time, it had felt a little bit like she was trespassing. She was a guest here, and she kept worrying that she might be overstaying her welcome. Despite her deal with Caspian, despite how kind he was, she had worried that she might be kicked out.

The simple fact was that Caia had never really lived with anyone before. The women that had taken care of her when she was younger had stopped coming after a certain point. Then it had been tutors that had left when the lesson was over.

Now, as she stepped through, she knew she was walking into her home. She was walking into a place that she belonged. With her husband, with her child that was coming, they would make this into a bright, happy, and loud place.

Caia would put her art up when she started sculpting again, which she knew could be soon. But those silent faces wouldn't be the only things in here with her. There would be Caspian, taking care of her lovingly. Then there would be their baby.

“I want more than one,” she declared suddenly as Caspian shut the door behind them.

“More than one what?” he asked, confused as he hadn't been there in her thoughts.

“Child,” she laughed as though it were obvious. “I want a lot. I want so many kids that Elanil complains about it. I want so many kids that we won't be able to sleep through the night for years. I want the biggest family possible!”

Caspian laughed and reached over to touch her face gently. “Alright.”

“Really?” she beamed at him.

“Really. I'll make sure to keep you pregnant more often that not.”

The light that came into his eyes reminded Caia what led to children and she smiled brightly, blushing just a bit. She wasn't embarrassed though, she was excited.

“We'll need a bigger house,” she said, looking around. “We could build up I suppose.”

“Or build out, but is that what you really want to talk about right now?”

“Leave me alone, I'm nervous.”

“About what? You said yourself that this wasn't the first time that we have been together,” he laughed gently at her. He wasn't mocking her, he was just happy.

“Yeah, I know. It's just...”

She wasn't sure how to put it into words. So long alone, and now she was promised someone to be beside her for the rest for her life. She would never have to be alone again. It was hard to express that feeling to someone that had never felt it. The hope, the boundless joy, the feeling of finally receiving the greatest gift ever given.

She couldn't really say it, but she didn't need to. Caspian smiled at her, understanding.

It was in his nature to care for others. It was part of him that had been broken by Rowan, part of him that had been fixed by meeting Caia. He could take care of her forever now. She was his to love, to adore, and to cling onto forever.

Caspian liked being clung to, not because he liked the other clinging, but because he himself wanted to cling. Them clinging to him meant that he could cling just as hard without worry. She was always going to need and want him, and she would never not appreciate that.

“Come on,” he tugged on her hand through the marriage cord.

Slowly, taking all of the time in the world, the two of them walked up the stairs together. They were holding hands so tightly that the cord needn't even really be there.