Reject, A Continuation (discontinued)

Chapter 9

Back on the road, just as I expected I was conked out for most of it. 

Q had changed seats to be beside me and so I was pushed into the middle seat as Archer did not want to sit beside Q. They were growing on each other. Very slowly, but they were. 

I didn't even realize it but I was leaned against Q, his arm draped around me and patting Archer on the head. The little man was also asleep, leaning against my side. 

"You're awake?" Q whispered, making sure not to wake up Archer, "Feeling better?" 

I nodded, trying to shift to a more comfortable position, only to get a bit closer to Q and his warmth. His beard tickled a bit of my face but I didn't mind since he was so comforting. 

"Going back to sleep?" He chuckled, his arm shifting from Archer to my shoulder, his thumb drawing circles on my arm. 

"No," I murmured, "Just closing my eyes." 

"Well we're about an hour away," Q snuggled his head into the top of mine, "Hungry? We have snacks." 

"I'm fine," I sigh, going to move Archer so that his head rested in my lap, "Has he been asleep this whole time?" 

"Yeah he didn't really want to sleep last night, wanting to watch you instead," Q smiled down at us, although looking happy his eyes held so much sadness, "He fell asleep about 20 minutes after you." 

"He looks a lot like you," I murmured after moving Archer's hair out of his face, getting a better look at the sweet child, "He reminds me of you sometimes too." 

"How so?" 

"Well he has a short temper, he's super rash, and he's incredibly sweet and utterly adorable." 

"I'm not adorable," Q muttered, a small frown formed on his cute face. 

"Sure you aren't," I lifted my free hand, patting him on his cheek which a wide smile on my face. "But you're super sweet." 

"Only to you," he leaned down, our noses touching in a small kiss-like contact. "And I guess Archer too." 

"You guess?" I questioned, "Here I thought you were starting to like your son." 

He shrugged, not really clarifying further. Instead he went back to patting Archer on the head, his thumb occasionally brushing against me considering Archer's head was in my lap. I guess he isn't going to be the type of father who verbally says he loves his child but I know he loves him. 

"I do like him," Q admitted, "Maybe I even love him." 

A wide, shit-eating grin spread on my face and I leaned up to peck him gently on the cheek, his beard tickling my lips. 

"I love you so much," he whispered, leaning down to meet our lips together but someone decided to wake up in this exact moment. 

"Marina?" Archer mumbled, sitting upright and rubbing his eyes tiredly, "Marina!" He shot upwards so quickly that he almost headbutted me right in the face. "You're awake! Are you feeling better?" 

"I'm just peachy," I giggled, patting down his bed head into a more presentable look, "How was your nap?" 

"Good," Archer yawned, adjusting himself upright and stretching out. "Are we there yet?" 

"Not yet," Q ruffled his head much to my annoyance, "Hungry?" 

Archer shook his head, "I need to pee though." 

"Great," Zach let out the longest and loudest sigh, "Me too."

"Why did you say anything?" I asked, looking at Zach who once again shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Q did you ask this poor man to just sit there and suffer in silence."