Never in a Million Years |N.R|

|54| Where did the world go?

2 months since 'The Garden'.

"Nat" I sang out, wandering towards the kitchen in search of my beautiful fiancé. I'd woken up to her being gone from our bed, not that that was too surprising. Where I'd allowed myself to sleep in for a while given it was a Sunday (by sleep in I mean 8:00 am), Nat had risen and started her day at the same time she always did.

Something about 'she could sleep when she's dead'.

As I wiped at my still tired eyes, bare feet slapping against the cool concrete floor, she peaked her head up from staring at a tablet as I stepped into the room.

"Hey love" she murmured, annoyingly awake and sprightly with a cup of coffee in her hand.

I grumbled something under my breath as I shuffled towards her where she was resting on the couch, and before she could even comment on my pouting face I threw myself down basically on top of her.

She huffed a laugh as I buried my face in her neck whilst simultaneously pushing the tablet off of her lap to make more room for myself. I finally stopped moving about once I had both legs slung over hers and my arms wrapped around her.

"Morning" I offered, although the word was muffled since my mouth was hidden in her jumper.

She quickly put her mug down, realising that I wasn't going to get off of her until I got at least some cuddles, and returned the affection. Her strong arms circled my waist and hoisted me directly onto her lap, before crushing me in a tight hug; just the way I liked it.

"Morning to you too sleepy" she lightly jabbed, her voice resembling a content hum as she buried her face in my hair.

I was being very clingy, and sickeningly soft, but if anyone other than Nat dared to describe me in such away, I'd be forced to silence them. Nobody could know how hopelessly in love I was, and how shamelessly I was willing to express that around Nat. But only Nat. It meant she got a real kick out of teasing me for it, as well as making the odd comment here and there to our friends to bait me, knowing that I couldn't retaliate at all in the moment else I'd only prove her right.

I'd always get my payback eventually though.

Although that was why our situation was somewhat bittersweet, although more so the former. Nat and I got to spend all day, everyday with one another, being truly ourselves. Of course there were exceptions, like when Steve would just appear to do his laundry, but for the most part our quiet life together was uninterrupted.

I never allowed myself to revel in the feeling though, because it only came as a result of the pain and loss of so many that we swore to protect.

"Can we go into the city today?" I murmured, hoping I'd caught Nat at a good time where she was feeling generous and lenient.

But with the sound of her all knowing hum, any hopes of us leaving the compounds walls together were lost.

"Just like I say every other time you ask me, no. It's too dangerous love, and I know that you don't need me to tell you that."

I huffed in disappointment, absorbing Nat's warmth for a second more before peeling myself away from her lap. She watched me as I wandered over to the refrigerator, obviously waiting for some kind of rebuttal or pushback.

But she was all out of luck. I had no intentions of putting up a fight, since it was a battle that I'd never win. Not since I'd been asking her the same thing for over a month, and receiving an identical answer every time.

No.

"Have you had breakfast?" I asked instead, leaning back slightly to peer around the refrigerator door to see her.