Treasured

55)

Sal's P. O. V.

I quietly entered the room where Wren had taken up residence. Dr. Farre was pleased with his slow, but steady progress. He could sit up for a few hours every day, and although he slept for the majority of the time, he was at least lucid when he was awake unlike the first few days after he arrived.

His voice was wrecked, but with time Dr. Farre was confident it would return. In the meantime, he used his fingers to trace words on our arms or chests in order to communicate since his wrists were still too tender to properly use a quill. His other wounds had not shown any signs of infection, although they were still quite painful, but rest was doing him good.

The door quietly closed behind me, but Wren was already looking at me when I faced him. Cedar was sitting behind him, showing him one of his sketchbooks, and giving him the latest update on everyone else's projects and activities.

I set the tea service down on the nightstand, and poured three cups with varying amounts of cream and sugar. Then I put a croissant on each plate along with some fruit, some cheese, and a little meat. I joined the others on the bed, and between Cedar and I, we managed to feed Wren at a decent pace, supplementing with tea when asked.

"I was just showing Wren the new rock garden," Cedar mentioned, gesturing to his pad of paper.

"Oh...yes, it is everything we hoped it would be," I noddeded, a bittersweet feeling rising in my chest. "It was Robin's idea in order to honor Orion."

"Everyone added a touch to it," Cedar added with a sad smile. "Fletcher found the perfect location, right on the edge of the water garden. It's in the shade, and there's all kinds of bushy plants in the middle of the rocks. June made a few benches, I added little sculptures of birds and squirrels, and Branson made some birdhouses. Sal and Robin planted berry bushes as the border, and Eddie commissioned a plaque with his name on it..."

"It honestly looks like a place he would have loved to escape to," I mentioned. "And now it's a place we can all go when we miss him."

It had been a long couple of months for all of us. The grief came in waves, but I think we were weathering it well, all things considered. Some days were harder than others, but we all comforted each other and the love that we shared helped us endure.

"Do you want to go down to the gallery after we're done here?" Cedar asked Wren.

Lately he had been well enough to sit in there for a few hours a day. It was nice to have a change of scenery, but it was also a larger space in which all of us could gather.

Wren nodded, tentatively smiling. His lips had mostly healed, leaving small, silvery scars. But they were still pretty sensitive so he was careful about moving them or exposing them to extreme temperatures.

We leisurely finished our tea, and then Cedar carried Wren to the gallery. I followed with extra cushions and blankets, and then returned for the dishes. By the time I returned from the kitchen, Robin, June, and Fletcher had joined the other two.

I settled on the floor by the chaise so that I could lean my head on Wren's leg. His fingers gently probed my scalp, relaxing me.

"You know, it's been a crazy year," Fletcher mused, looking serene. "First we met Wren, which was amazing, but also insanely difficult since we didn't want to scare him off. Then there was the whole Trixy thing, where Cedar and Wren were hurt. Then there was the Assasin, Cedar was hurt again, Orion was taken from us, and then Wren was pretty much kidnapped by his wretched family...

"I'm ready for a true holiday. Maybe we could go to the seashore, or somewhere relaxing. I think we all need a change of pace and scenery. Time to enjoy each other and just be..."

"After Wren is able to go of course," June stipulated.

"Obviously," Fletcher chuckled.

"I personally think that would be delightful," Eddie said, leaning in the doorway.

He always managed to startle me, and this was no exception. I jumped a little, earning a comforting pat from Wren, and a few chuckles from the others. Eddie was so quiet when he wanted to be...

"It will be pleasant this time of year," June smiled.

"It's settled then. We'll go as soon as Wren is up to it," Eddie decided.

~

Like most days, our afternoons were spent quietly. June did some writing, Fletcher read to us, and Cedar painted. I eventually went to check on my vegetable and herb garden.

These were my favorite type of days. Nothing significant happened, but they were full of sunshine, satisfaction, and romantic bliss. Things like a seaside holiday were definitely a bonus, but I didn't really need them to be happy. Even in my sorrow, I felt loved and comforted. I didn't take that for granted. My lovers could understand what I had lost, and more than that, they knew who I had loved. Most people didn't have that luxury.

~

I slipped into Fletcher's room. He seemed to have been waiting on me since he was sitting up against the headboard with a single candle lit. A stack of books was on his table by the bed, but he wasn't reading. Instead, he was fondling something in his hands.

I quickly climbed under the covers, nestling into him. I kept quiet, knowing that he would tell me what it was about if he wanted to. He sighed, turning to kiss my forehead before softly speaking.

"This is a crystal, one that Orion gave me. He loved things like this...I often wondered if he would become a naturalist and go off to the Amazon and record everything he found. I think he would have loved to travel," Fletcher reflected. "I miss him..."

I snuggled closer, letting him reveal his feelings.

"I miss him, but I can't be angry about the way he died. Saving someone he loved...that is such a noble thing to do. If I could choose my own death, I would want to do something similar."

"Not me. I want to die in my sleep," I tried to lighten the mood. "I don't like pain..."

Fletcher laughed, squeezing me tight.

"I suppose that's not a bad way to go either," He relented, kissing me properly.

"I don't want anyone to die until we're all fat old men," I frowned.

"Fat, eh?" Fletcher raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. I'll feed you all until we're quite plump. And since you'll be old, you won't be able to exercise," I shrugged.

"I see. Can you imagine Wren getting portly?" Fletcher giggled.

"Oh, he'll be the worst of us all!" I chortled, gleefully. "And we'll all sit in Orion's garden, smoking our pipes and reliving our glory days as we watch the sunset."

"That sounds very nice," Fletcher agreed.

"And we'll take turns complaining about the weather, the government, and our health," I continued.

"Just imagine how sour Branson will be," Fletcher commented.

"And temperamental Cedar will be," I grinned.

"You'll still be your motherly self, tucking us all in with extra blankets and darning our socks," Fletcher teased.

"Oh, you're just jealous that I can knit and sew and you can't!" I teased.

"Maybe I am," Fletcher laughed.

After a few more moments of talking about our future, we finally snuffed the candle and huddled beneath the blankets.

"You know I love you, right?" Fletcher murmured.

"I know. And I love you too," I said.

"Let's grow old together then. We'll make all the others promise in the morning," Fletcher suggested.

"I promise to live until we're all old and grey. And I promise to love you for always," I vowed.

He promised the same, and we sealed it with a tender kiss.

1,349 words.