when night comes ━━ mike schmidt

𝟬𝟭𝟱 epilogue

WHEN NIGHT COMES / Chapter Fifteen

Three months later, Zion awoke with her arms wrapped around Mike like she usually did in the mornings. She pressed a kiss to his neck before nuzzling closer to him.

He hummed in response, grabbing her hand and starting to fiddle with the wedding ring on it. Zion often wondered if it would ever truly become hers or if it would always be known as her mom's. But she didn't want to rush into anything, and she definitely didn't want to make Mike uncomfortable.

BEEP! BEEP! BEE—

Mike slammed his hand down on the alarm clock, shutting it up. His grip tightened on Zion's hands and she laughed softly.

"I gotta get to work, Mikey," She pressed a kiss to his cheek and tried to untangle herself.

Mike groaned and clung harder to her, "Stay a little longer. Please, baby."

"I want to. But I can't," Zion smiled at his bleary eyes blinking desperately at her.

"Give me a real kiss, then," Mike mumbled and pulled her closer before she could agree.

Zion grinned when his lips met hers. Tender, gentle. Mike was always so kind to her. She savored the moment, feeling at peace in a way she hadn't felt before she met Mike; as if all was right in the world now that their lips were finally touching again.

When she eventually pulled away, Zion pressed a kiss to the corner of Mike's eye—where his scar was. A scar he'd received from William Afton, one that wouldn't be gone for a long time. It was a constant reminder of what they'd been through; a constant reminder that, no matter what happened next, they could get through it. Because they had each other.

Pulling herself out of bed, Zion got changed into her work uniform, taking a moment to run a finger over the scar on her shoulder. She wasn't sure how she felt about it. Pained, angry, upset, guilt. If she'd done more, been a better sister—

"You're beautiful."

Mike's voice called out and broke her from her thoughts before they could spiral. Zion looked over to him and smiled wide. Within seconds, he was right beside her, peppering kisses all over her shoulder.

"You're so cute," Zion shook her head at him in endearment.

"Says you," Mike replied before pressing a wet kiss to her neck.

Playfully scowling, Zion batted him away, "Not where the girls can see!"

Mike only hummed in response, having been told the same thing repeatedly but refusing to listen. He pressed a final kiss behind her ear before returning to bed.

Zion gave herself a quick look over in the mirror. She reached for her eyeliner and attempted to put some on—to no avail. She'd ran out. Peering closer at her reflection, she realised it didn't matter. She no longer needed it. The only reason she wore the makeup was to cover her eyebags and now they were virtually gone. With Mike's arms wrapped around her, she fell asleep instantly and stayed asleep the entire night: insomnia was a thing of the past for her.

Zion set her eyeliner down, knocking a pen to the floor in the process. She set it back down on top of the letter she was in the middle of writing. Her eyes caught a glimpse of it, 'Dear Dad', and her stomach churned.

After Freddy's, Zion had realised that life was precious. She only got one life and it could end at any moment. Zion never wanted to live in fear of abandonment again, she wanted to appreciate those around her freely, because she realised it was better to have loved and lost than to be lonely. Her mother was fully on board with the idea of reconciling with her dad. Zion wasn't sure if she'd be able to forgive him for all he did. But she'd like to try.