Game Of Bliss

(37)

"Flo?" Malachi asks, he knew she was still awake. Her head was resting on his chest, and he could feel the slight breeze of her breath.

"Yes?" Florence replies, smiling as his hand comes to draw patterns against her back, "you know I love you, right?"

"That's a very suspicious way to begin a conversation, Mal," Florence says.

"It's just people have been talking... about us, our relationship," Malachi sighs.

"I know they have, and they have no right to, it's none of their business," Florence hums, "don't listen to them."

"Well some people have made some rather relevant concerns," Malachi says, "and I've noticed some other things too."

"I feel like this as good a time as any to tell you something... I probably should have spoken to you earlier but I was worried," Florence replies.

"Tell me what?" Malachi asks, "... it's me, you have nothing to worry about."

"I can't have children, Mal," Florence whispers, "biologically I am unable to conceive a child."

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you feel you couldn't tell me?" Malachi queries, pressing a kiss to Florence's forehead.

"I just... I know in some cases, when people have found out their significant other can't have children... they leave," Florence says, "I was scared to lose you."

"You're not going to lose me," Malachi assures.

"You don't want kids?" Florence replies.

"Flo... I wouldn't pick anything over you. I've never wanted anything more than you," Malachi says, "if you want a child... a family, there are ways."

"You don't want a family?"

"Not if you're not apart of it," Malachi replies.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?" Florence questions.

"The future," Malachi responds, "what are your thoughts on marriage?"

"I thought you didn't want to get married," Florence states.

"It's not about not wanting... I'd be honoured to be bound legally to you, but I'm bound anyway, I've just noticed you staring longingly at married couples, at rings... is it something you want?" Malachi replies.

"I always thought so, but I sort of just assumed it'd never happen," Florence says, "I thought it was a normal progression of a relationship. But children are meant to be aswell, and then I found out I couldn't have them. I realised it didn't matter all that much. Wedding or not it doesn't change the way we feel about each other."

Malachi knew she was lying. It was the tone she used when she was trying to convince herself that whatever she was saying was the truth. He'd heard it many a time when they were younger when she and Betty would lie about where they'd been.

She wanted to be a bride. She wanted a husband. She wanted a wedding. And if she wanted that... Malachi wasn't going to disappoint. He'd marry the fuck out of her.

-

Florence and Malachi had been out for dinner, they weren't drunk-drunk, but they were both feeling the wine they'd had at dinner. Flo was currently giggling at something Mal had said as they were walking home hand in hand.

"Spin me," Florence insists, and Malachi smiles, raising their entwined hands so she could twirl beneath them, his other hand coming to rest on her waist when she almost stumbled onto the floor.

"Isn't this sweet?" A voice speaks from the shadows.

Being two of the most dangerous people in Birmingham, the couple had never thought twice about walking down sketchy alleyways at night.