Halo: Let It Die (Book 4, Arbiter x Female human series)

Chapter 32: Do you miss him?

Bria stared at the ultrasound photos of her baby girl. She could see her face her four little fingers, and her toes. She did look relatively human. Bria was relieved that it wasn't Kyle's.

     She started to cry tears of joy as she patted her stomach. "You're going to be beautiful. I promise to give you the best life you could have, it won't be easy by ourselves but we can do it."

     She thought of Thel. How would he react if he knew that he was having a girl? She knew that Sangheili did favor males. At least to raise them as warriors. But she also knew that Thel wasn't traditional like that. Too many times she imagined them in a different scenario than they were in now. They both quit the UNSC to raise a family of their own. Kyle was dead. Life would be perfect for both of them. They could finally be able to be with each other.

     But that wasn't the reality.

     Bria stood and waited for her drink at the cafe, she was thinking about just sucking it up and returning to Thel. But how would he react? She's showing now. Would he just think that she got fat or something?

     "Fruit-infused tea for May!" Micah called out and smiled as Bria approached the counter. "So how did it go? If you want to tell me, that is."

      Bria smiled big. "I'm having a girl!"

     Micah's mouth dropped. "That's amazing!" He came out from behind the counter and hugged her.

     Bria was surprised at first but held on for probably a bit longer than she should've. She wished this was Thel and how he would react.

     He pulled away from her. "I'm so happy for you!"

     Bria looked back at him. He had really pretty blue eyes. "Thank you. I uh, I can't thank you enough for giving me your sister's number."

     "Anything for you, May." He said. She was surprised when his comment made her blush. Why was he so sweet?

     She awkwardly sipped on her drink.

     "How about we celebrate?" He suggested. "Just me and you, my place, tonight after work?" He asked.

     She looked at him again. It has been a while since she went out. "Sure. That sounds nice."

     He scribbled his address onto another sticky note and handed it to her. "6 o'clock sound okay?"

     She nodded. "I will see you then."

After work:

     After work, she had an hour to get ready before she met Micah for her little celebration. She felt a little weird inside, besides growing a hybrid in her uterus. But was this wrong of her? It couldn't be a date, right?

     She wore a black sparkly dress that hugged her bump perfectly. She felt confident in it. Soon she left to go to his place.

At Micah's place:

     Bria looked around his apartment, she didn't know how he could afford a huge apartment by working as a barista, but who knows? Knowing her luck, he's an axe-wielding serial killer.

     He pulled out a chair for her at his dining table.

     "Oh, thank you." She sat down. "It's such a lovely place you got here."

     "Not too bad for a city, huh?" He replied and sat in the chair closest to her.

     "Here." He gave her a bouquet of roses. "I hope this isn't too much."

     Her eyes went wide and she took them. "This is so sweet." She said. It's been a while since she's been appreciated.

     After dinner, they stayed and talked for a long time. Bria felt comfortable with him, she opened up about a lot of stuff. Besides the stuff that makes her seem like a psychopath, like her powers and all that. If she were to start fresh, she wouldn't ever bring that stuff up. She didn't want to scare him away. He was so kind to her and made her feel important. Soon they moved over to his sofa so Bria would be more comfortable.

     "So have you heard about the UNSC?" He began.

     Here we go.

    "I can't say I have." She lied straight through her teeth and felt horrible about it.

     "Well my dad is a part of it, he's a marine." He said  

     "Oh, that's cool," Bria said.

     "What do your parents do?" He asked.

     She looked at him. "I don't know. I don't talk to them much anymore." She said.

     At least she was kind of honest with that one.

     "Fair enough." He shifted. "So tell me about your relationship if you're comfortable with it that is. What made you leave?"

     She looked away. "Oh, yeah. I left because he didn't seem like he had faith in me." She said slowly. "Plus he was always busy, never had time for me." She looked at her stomach. "I might sound horrible, but I haven't even told him about the baby."

     She noticed that sometimes Micah threw his arm around her shoulder. "Sounds like he lost an amazing woman."

     She felt herself blush.

     "I just can't believe that someone would treat you like that. Ever since I met you, I can't get you off of my mind. You're so beautiful and ambitious."

     Bria felt a little bit uncomfortable, but Micah was such a nice guy. What could go wrong?

     Instantly thinking that Micah began to get close to her.

     Oh God...

     But Bria was still, probably shocked.

     He brushed his lips on Brias and every instinct told her it was wrong. Her hands started to get warm, she quickly stood up.

     "I-I'm still in love with him!" She shouted.

     Micah looked surprised.

     Bria grabbed her hair. "I'm so so sorry..." She more meant that for Thel if he could hear her.

     "I thought he wasn't good for you?" He asked.

     "He's probably not. But we've been through so much together." Bria said.

     "You're loyal. That's rare to find these days." Micah smiled sadly.

      "Thank you for understanding. Other men haven't been so nice to me." She said.

     "Well, I'll just say that your husband is a lucky man." He said. "But just promise me that if he ever makes you feel unsafe you will do what is right for you and your little girl."

     "That is very kind of you. Thank you for the dinner too. I uh have to go." She said picked up her stuff and left.

     Poor guy. He deserves a nice girl.

     She didn't know that he thought of her that way.

    Bria walked home from Micah's apartment. She was deep in thought as the whole incident tonight inspired her to go back to Thel. That is if he would accept her.

     But now she had to figure out how to get back.